First, after I got hemorrhoids I started to find out how do you get hemorrhoids.
The main reasons why you get hemorrhoids are straining during a bowel movement, sitting too long when going to the toilet. These causes combined with eating wrong often result in hemorrhoids. Among women, pregnancy is also a major cause of hemorrhoids.
How do you get hemorrhoids? This is a common question among individuals who have an issue with their bowel movements. Telling whether you have hemorrhoids or not is relatively easy, there are a few diagnostic procedures that you can perform by yourself and clinical diagnosis that can be performed by a doctor.
Watch this video to prevent getting hemorrhoids!
Before testing for hemorrhoids, it will be best if you know what hemorrhoids are. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that are present within the anus area or lower rectum. This condition is often common among the elderly, especially people above the age of 50. You can experience either external or internal hemorrhoids. Usually, the external hemorrhoids develop on the outside while internal hemorrhoids develop inside your rectum. If you are suffering from hemorrhoids you can get help from this method. Click to get help.
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- Wikipedia on hemorrhoids
How do you get hemorrhoids?
As previously mentioned, there are two types of hemorrhoids; internal and external hemorrhoids. These two different hemorrhoids feature different diagnostic procedures. Therefore, in order for you to answer the question of how do you know if you have hemorrhoids, it will be best to understand the distinct characteristic of these types of hemorrhoids.
1. External hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids develop outside the anus and are characterized by severe itching, bleeding, pain, cracking, and difficulty in sitting. These hemorrhoids are the most troublesome and most common; fortunately, they can be treated easily. Furthermore, getting rid of external hemorrhoids is relatively easy when compared to internal hemorrhoids. The best part is that most hemorrhoids often disappear by themselves.
Here are ways on how you can tell if you have hemorrhoids;
· Reasons for blood in the stool
As an individual with external hemorrhoids, you will be able to see blood spots in your stool after experiencing bowel movements. Usually, the blood spot is visible on the outer layer of the stool, and it is often bright red. The amount of blood that comes out during bowel movement is often minimal. However, if you experience a significant amount of blood in your stool, it will be best to contact your physician, as soon as possible.
· Blood clots
Blood clot tends to form when hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed; this often leads to immense pain. When hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed, it blocks the blood from flowing leading to tremendous pain. In addition to blood in the stool, blood clots are among the significant signs of hemorrhoids. Therefore, the presence of blood clots is among the ways in which you can tell if you have hemorrhoids.
· Itching
Itching around your anus, also known as pruritus ani, is often associated with a yeast infection, genital warts, sweat buildup, proctitis, stool leakage, and anal fissures as well as hemorrhoids among others. Despite having several causes, pruritus ani can be used as a self-diagnosis procedure for hemorrhoids. However, this symptom should be backed-up by blood in stool or blood clots.
2. Internal hemorrhoids
How do you know if you have internal hemorrhoids? Unlike external hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids testing is often carried out by a physician. In order to confirm a diagnosis, the physician will have to perform some examination to assess for any abnormalities within your anus area. The test is known as a digital rectal exam. During this process, your physician will insert a well-lubricated and gloved finger in your rectum and assess for any abnormalities.
How do I know if I have hemorrhoids is a question that can be answered with not only physical examination but also through radiation tests. Your doctor might consider using a barium X-ray in order to have a full image of your entire colon. You first have a barium enema before the physician takes an x-ray of your lower gastrointestinal tract.
At times they might suggest for additional examination known as sigmoidoscopy. A sigmoidoscopy procedure involves a digital camera used by your doctor in the diagnosis of internal hemorrhoids. The camera is known as a sigmoidoscope, and it fiber-optic and relatively small in size. Using the camera, the physician will have a clear view of the side of your rectum, making it easy to examine for internal hemorrhoids.
Some of the common signs associated with internal hemorrhoids include;
· Painless bleeding. Unlike external hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids are painless. You might experience bleeding during a bowel movement. You will notice bright red spots of blood in your toilet or tissue after a bowel movement.
· Protruding hemorrhoids. When not treated, internal hemorrhoids can grow and get pushed through the anus leading to pain and severe irritation.
3. Thrombosed hemorrhoid
If you are looking for ways in which you can tell if you have hemorrhoids, assessing for thrombosis within your anus area will be best. Thrombosed hemorrhoids occur when a blood pool forms within external hemorrhoids, leading to a clot known as a thrombosed hemorrhoid. A common characteristic of a thrombosed hemorrhoid include;
· Swelling
· Severe pain
· Hard lump within the anus
· Inflammation
If you experience any of the above signs, the chances of you having hemorrhoids are high.
How do you get hemorrhoids?
The best way in which you can remain safe from hemorrhoids is by understanding how do you get hemorrhoids in the first place. According to experts, the primary cause of hemorrhoids has not yet been discovered. However, there are several factors that are associated with hemorrhoid development including;
· Family history of hemorrhoid
· Chronic complication
· Sitting for an extended period particularly in the toilet
· Straining while having a bowel movement.
Hemorrhoids can be genetically inherited from parent to child; this means you have a high chance of developing hemorrhoids if your parents have one. Additionally, obesity, lifting heavy objects consistently, and straining your body constantly are associated with an increased risk of developing hemorrhoids.
When you strain excessively without having breaks to sit can lead to the development of hemorrhoids. Furthermore, anal sexual intercourse, as well as diarrhea, is associated with elevated risks of developing hemorrhoids.
During pregnancy, the chances of developing hemorrhoids are significant. This is associated with the enlargement of the uterus intern, increasing pressure on your colon’s vein, which makes it bulge.
How do you get rid of hemorrhoids?
In addition to how do I know if I have hemorrhoids, how to make hemorrhoids go away is among the frequently asked question when it comes to hemorrhoids. As previously mentioned, getting rid of hemorrhoids is relatively easy. You can either treat hemorrhoids from home or your doctor’s office. However, hemorrhoids often disappear after some time without any treatment. When your hemorrhoids fail to disappear after an extended period of time here are some things you should consider doing;
· Relieving pain
Getting rid of hemorrhoid’s pain should be your first step when looking for ways on how to make hemorrhoids go away. Soaking yourself in a tub with warm water for approximately 20 minutes will aid in minimizing the pain associated with hemorrhoids. You might as well consider using a lukewarm water bottle in relieving pain associated with external hemorrhoids. When the pain becomes unbearable, it will be best to use a counter medicated suppository, cream, or ointment to reduce the burning sensation and itchiness.
· Get rid of constipation
Constipation is highly linked to hemorrhoid development; therefore, getting rid of it will aid in preventing the hemorrhoids from becoming severe. When seeking ways on how to make hemorrhoids go away, fiber supplements should be your first priority. Fiber supplements aid in preventing constipation.
Since constipation is highly associated with hemorrhoid development, preventing it should be your number one priority. You might consider using over-the-counter fiver supplements to aid in softening your stool. Some of the commonly used fiber supplements are methylcellulose and psyllium.
· Medical diagnosis
This is the most effective method when it comes to getting rid of hemorrhoids. If home remedies are of no help, you should consider giving the medical procedure a try. Usually, your doctor might recommend the use of rubber band ligation. This process involves cutting blood circulation to hemorrhoids with the use of a rubber band. When places around hemorrhoids, the rubber band blocks blood circulation to hemorrhoids, which makes them shrink in size. Note that this process must be performed by a medical doctor; therefore, you should not try doing it at home.
You might as well consider using injection therapy if you find rubber band ligation not suitable. Injection therapy or sclerotherapy is a process in which your doctor injects chemicals directly into your blood vessel, causing hemorrhoids to shrink in size.
Nutrition and hemorrhoids
Nutrition plays a significant role when it comes to answering the question; how do you get rid of hemorrhoids? Your nutritionist might recommend you to consume foods that are rich in dietary fiber. This is because foods rich in fiber aids in softening the stool, making it easy to pass during a bowel movement. Therefore, using foods rich in fiber will aid in not only getting rid of hemorrhoids but also preventing the development of hemorrhoids.
Additionally, drinking water, as well as other liquids such as clear soup and fruit juice, will aid in improving the functionality of fiber in your diet. It will be best to ask your physician about what amount of liquid will be sufficient for you. Usually, this will depend highly on the level of your physical activity. According to the 2015-2020 dietary guidelines for Americans, the recommended dietary allowance of fiber was 14 grams per 1,000 calories consumed.
Diet is critical as well when it comes to preventing the development of hemorrhoids that are associated with chronic constipation. Therefore, you should try avoiding consuming foods that are low or have no fiber such as;
- Chips
- Cheese
- Meat
- Ice cream
- Fast food
- Highly processed foods such as hot dogs
- Prepared foods such as snack foods and some frozen dishes.
Preventing hemorrhoid development
After understanding ways on how to make hemorrhoids go away, preventing them from reoccurring is critical. Some of the aspect you should consider in order to prevent hemorrhoids from worsening or developing include;
· Avoid straining during bowel movement
· Increase in water consumption. Drinking a considerable amount of water, you be able to prevent your stool from hardening.
· Always use the restroom as soon as you feel a bowel movement coming.
· Regular physical exercise. This aids in preventing hemorrhoid development by improving your bowel movement.
· Consume foods that are rich in dietary fiber. Some of these foods include; pears, whole wheat, oatmeal, brown rice, bran, carrots, and buckwheat. High fiber content aids in softening stool hence preventing constipation from occurring.
Complication associated with hemorrhoids
There are several complications associated with hemorrhoids; however, these complications are rare. Some of these complications include;
· Blood clots in swollen vein
· Iron deficiency anemia.
· Bleeding
When you undergo proper treatment, you will experience an improvement in the condition within a short period. Following your doctor’s prescription and maintaining the regimen, which includes physical exercise and avoiding sitting for an extended period, will aid in preventing further complications associated with hemorrhoids.
When is the right time to see your doctor?
Hemorrhoids are characterized by symptoms such as mild pain and itches, which can be managed from home. However, there are some significant signs that make a trip to the doctor relevant. Some of these hemorrhoid signs that require a visit to the doctor include;
· Rectal bleeding
· Severe pain and discomfort due to hemorrhoids
· Persistence of hemorrhoids despite trying over the counter drugs
· Stool with signs of blood in it.
When you experience a significant amount of rectal bleeding, and it is accompanied by faintness and dizziness, it will be best for you to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Despite hemorrhoids being perceived as a minor health issue, you should not let that belief prevent you from being examined. Your ultimate goal should be relief from hemorrhoids, which means you have to schedule a visit to your doctor’s office.
If you have been diagnosed with hemorrhoids and the symptoms are not fading with the use of fiber supplements, you should consider increasing your water intake. Furthermore, over-the-counter pain killers and a warm bath will aid in managing the pain associated with hemorrhoids. However, paying a visit to your doctor’s office is still highly recommended.
Final verdict
As we come to a conclusion, we hope that we have answered your question regarding how do you know if you have hemorrhoids? How do you get hemorrhoids? And how do you get rid of hemorrhoids? Through regular physical exercise, consuming food high on dietary fiber, and drinking water, you will be able to prevent the development of hemorrhoids significantly. Furthermore, you should consider visiting your doctor when the symptom persists.
