What Are the Causes of Hemmorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids can cause intense pain but they rarely lead to serious long-term problems. A hemorrhoid is a swollen vein either inside the anal canal, as with internal hemorrhoids, or outside of the opening of the anus, as with the external hemorrhoid.

Causes

• Hemorrhoids result when too much pressure is placed on the blood veins in the rectal and also the pelvic area. Diarrhea and constipation are two leading causes of hemorrhoids. Pregnant women may also experience hemorrhoids as they reach their sixth month of pregnancy because there is increased pressure on their pelvic areas. Childbirth also causes hemorrhoids or makes existing hemorrhoids worse. Anal infections or diseases of other organs, such as cirrhosis of the liver, may also cause hemorrhoids. It's also possible that sitting too long on the toilet, wearing thong underwear or receiving anal sex can result in hemorrhoids.

Symptoms

• A doctor can diagnose hemorrhoids by taking a look during a rectal exam, but many symptoms can point to hemorrhoids, including itching in the anal area, pain in the rectal area while sitting, blood found in toilet, stool or toilet tissue, hard sensitive lumps around the anus, and pain during bowel movements. For internal hemorrhoids, a colonoscopy might be needed to diagnose the problem.

Treatment

• Over-the-counter creams can treat hemorrhoids. Such creams are designed to shrink the hemorrhoids so that they suffer less irritation and begin to heal sooner. Another over-the-counter medication, witch hazel, can be applied with cotton balls or Q-tips to reduce itching associated with hemorrhoids. Sitting in a warm bath and taking stool softeners are additional steps to relieving pain. If the above treatment options do not remedy the problem, surgery might be needed to remove the hemorrhoids.

Complications

• While there are few instances in which hemorrhoids cause serious complications, remember that increased bleeding from the rectal area should be investigated by a doctor and might result in the need for surgical intervention. Enlarged hemorrhoids can result in blood clots that can potentially kill the tissue surrounding the hemorrhoid.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent hemorrhoids, you must prevent the situations and circumstances that cause hemorrhoids. Because straining during bowel movements is the leading cause of hemorrhoids, it is recommended that you maintain a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of water. Other steps include wearing only cotton underwear, preferably the styles guaranteed not to ride up and irritate the anal cavity. Avoiding scratching the area, regardless of how strong the desire and avoiding perfumed toilet tissues will also help to prevent and relieve hemorrhoids.