05/06/2022
𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗱.
𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬:
These are under the skin around your a**s. Signs and symptoms might include:
Itching or irritation in your a**l region
Pain or discomfort
Swelling around your a**s
Bleeding
Internal hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the re**um. You usually can't see or feel them, and they rarely cause discomfort. But straining or irritation when passing stool can cause:
Painless bleeding during bowel movements. You might notice small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet.
A hemorrhoid to push through the a**l opening (pr*****ed or protruding hemorrhoid), resulting in pain and irritation.
Thrombosed hemorrhoids
If blood pools in an external hemorrhoid and forms a clot (thrombus), it can result in:
Severe pain
Swelling
Inflammation
A hard lump near your a**s
When to see a doctor
If you have bleeding during bowel movements or you have hemorrhoids that don't improve after a week of home care, talk to your doctor.
Don't assume re**al bleeding is due to hemorrhoids, especially if you have changes in bowel habits or if your stools change in color or consistency. Re**al bleeding can occur with other diseases, including colore**al cancer and a**l cancer.
Seek emergency care if you have large amounts of re**al bleeding, lightheadedness, dizziness or faintness.
𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬:
The veins around your a**s tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell. Hemorrhoids can develop from increased pressure in the lower re**um due to:
Straining during bowel movements
Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
Being obese
Being pregnant
Having a**l in*******se
Eating a low-fiber diet
Regular heavy lifting
𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:
As you age, your risk of hemorrhoids increases. That's because the tissues that support the veins in your re**um and a**s can weaken and stretch. This can also happen when you're pregnant, because the baby's weight puts pressure on the a**l region.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:
Complications of hemorrhoids are rare but include:
Anemia. Rarely, chronic blood loss from hemorrhoids may cause anemia, in which you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your cells.
Strangulated hemorrhoid. If the blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off, the hemorrhoid may be "strangulated," which can cause extreme pain.
Blood clot. Occasionally, a clot can form in a hemorrhoid (thrombosed hemorrhoid). Although not dangerous, it can be extremely painful and sometimes needs to be lanced and drained.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
The best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to keep your stools soft, so they pass easily. To prevent hemorrhoids and reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids, follow these tips:
Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help you avoid the straining that can cause hemorrhoids. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.
Drink plenty of fluids. Drink six to eight glasses of water and other liquids (not alcohol) each day to help keep stools soft.
Consider fiber supplements. Most people don't get enough of the recommended amount of fiber — 20 to 30 grams a day — in their diet. Studies have shown that over-the-counter fiber supplements, such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel), improve overall symptoms and bleeding from hemorrhoids.
If you use fiber supplements, be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, the supplements can cause or worsen constipation.
Don't strain. Straining and holding your breath when trying to pass a stool creates greater pressure in the veins in the lower re**um.
Go as soon as you feel the urge. If you wait to pass a bowel movement and the urge goes away, your stool could dry out and be harder to pass.
Exercise. Stay active to help prevent constipation and to reduce pressure on veins, which can occur with long periods of standing or sitting. Exercise can also help you lose excess weight that might be contributing to your hemorrhoids.
Avoid long periods of sitting. Sitting too long, particularly on the toilet, can increase the pressure on the veins in the a**s.
