What Are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins, similar to varicose veins, in the lowest part of your rectum and anus. Sometimes, the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins bulge and get irritated, especially when you poop. You might also hear them called piles.
Hemorrhoids aren’t serious, but they can cause unpleasant symptoms. They’re one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding. They often go away on their own. Treatments can also help.
Hemorrhoids are very common, especially in older people. About 1 in every 20 people in the U.S. has them. They affect over half of people over 50.
Types of Hemorrhoids
You might hear about several types of hemorrhoids:
Internal hemorrhoids
These are so far inside your rectum that you can’t usually see or feel them. They don’t generally hurt because you have few pain-sensing nerves there.
External hemorrhoids
You get these under the skin around your anus, where there are many more pain-sensing nerves.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids
These happen when an internal hemorrhoid stretches down so far that it bulges outside your anal opening. They usually go back inside your body on their own. Even if they don’t, they can often be gently pushed back into place.
Thrombosed hemorrhoids
A blood clot can turn an external hemorrhoid purple or blue. This is called a thrombosis or a thrombosed hemorrhoid.
Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids may have no symptoms at all. You might notice blood on your poop, on toilet paper after you wipe, or in the toilet bowl.
Prolapsed hemorrhoid symptoms might include:
- Pain, especially when you poop
- Moist bumps that look pinker than the surrounding area
External hemorrhoid symptoms may include:
- Pain while sitting or at other times
- Bleeding
- Itching
- Swelling
Thrombosed hemorrhoid symptoms may include:
- Serious pain
- Itching
- Bleeding
What’s the difference between hemorrhoids and anal fissures?
Both conditions can cause pain, bleeding, and itching in the anal area. But while a hemorrhoid results from swollen blood vessels, an anal fissure is a tear or cut in the lining of your anus. Constipation and straining to poop can cause either problem.
Causes
What causes hemorrhoids?
Pressure building up in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen because of:
- Pushing when you poop
- Straining when you do something that’s physically hard, like lifting something heavy
- Extra weight, like obesity
- Pregnancy, when your growing uterus presses on your veins
- A diet low in fiber
- Anal sex
You may get hemorrhoids when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.
Risk Factors
A few things can raise your risk of this condition:
Genetics
You may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, like your parents, had them.
Age
Older people may be more likely to get them because tissues in the anal area tend to grow weaker as you age.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy raises your risk in a couple of ways. The weight of the fetus puts extra pressure on your rectum. You’re more prone to constipation, too.
Too much sitting
A mostly sedentary lifestyle, or a job in which you have to sit for long stretches, also raises your risk. When you don’t move around a lot, blood can pool in your anal area and put pressure on the blood vessels there.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. They’ll probably need to do one or both of these exams:
- Physical exam. Your doctor will look at your anus and rectum to check for lumps, swelling, irritation, or other problems.
- Digital rectal exam. Your doctor will put on gloves, apply lubrication, and insert a finger into your rectum to check muscle tone and feel for tenderness, lumps, or other problems.
To diagnose internal hemorrhoids or rule out other conditions, you might need a more thorough test, including:
- Your doctor uses a short plastic tube called an anoscope to look into your anal canal.
- Your doctor looks into your lower colon with a flexible lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope. They can also use the tube to take a bit of tissue for tests.
- Your doctor looks at all of your large intestine with a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope. They can also take tissue samples or treat other problems they find.
Credit: webmd
