The fact that you don’t come across many people with this condition doesn’t mean it is non-existent-from men to women, children, and the elderly, the number is huge.
Have you ever come across a person with hemorrhoids? It is hard to notice persons with this condition because, in most cases, the symptoms are felt only to the person who haves them. The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids can be bleeding, a sensation of tissue prolapses, itchy and painful swellings, or going to the toilet become painful.
If you now and then see some blood on the toilet paper or in the stool there is a big chance you are developing internal hemorrhoids. The best way then is to prevent them from flaring up and becoming painful hemorrhoids, watch this and see how it can help you from getting hemorrhoids.
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What Causes Hemorrhoids?
Even though it is not clear about what causes the disease, some possible factors are linked to its cause. These factors are:
- Chronic constipation complications
- Long time sits and more so on the toilet bowl
- A pattern of the disease in the family
- Straining during a bowel movement
Internal Hemorrhoids Symptoms and Signs
Hemorrhoids are mostly swollen veins in the rectum or the lower rectum. 40% of the people suffering from the disease are asymptomatic, meaning the signs may not be so apparent. However, to some people, internal hemorrhoids symptoms are displayed, even though the way they show varies from one individual to the other.
The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids are as follows:
- Bleeding
Bleeding is the most evident sign in a patient suffering from hemorrhoids. The blood from bleeding hemorrhoids is usually bright red, which can be seen dripping on the toilet bowl, the stool itself, or as stains left in the toilet paper.
- A sensation of tissue prolapses
Hemorrhoids can form inside or outside the anus. The internal hemorrhoids can prolapse, and that is when the swellings show outside of the anus. With the swelling, it gets hard to control the bowel movement, and one may experience an unexpected leakage of stool.
Other forms of tissue prolapses may occur in the form of mucus discharges, irritation, and perennial pain. However, for internal hemorrhoids, the pain is controllable, which is not the case with external hemorrhoids.
- Itchy and painful swell near the anus
With hemorrhoids happening in the rectum, a lot of pain is experienced around the anal region. In most cases, a swelling also develops in the area, causing extreme pain.
- Bowel movements become painful
Anal fissures are a frequent source of pain during defecation. The swelling also makes the use of tissue papers difficult because of the pain when the swollen part is touched.
How are Internal Hemorrhoids Treated?
Even though it is believed that this condition ends by itself, there are some known ways on how to get rid of hemorrhoids in case the disease is symptomatic. They range from non-operative medical interventions to office-based surgery procedures. However, that will depend on factors such as age and severity of the condition.
If you are suffering from hemorrhoid, but don’t know how to treat it, here are some of the treatment options you should consider:
Conservative medical treatment
Conservative medical treatment focuses on diet and lifestyle. It is the basic and the key to preventive as well as curative measures to the disease. The patient is required to drink lots of water, avoid stress, reduce fat consumption, and exercise regularly.
Consuming fiber-rich foods also helps the patient avoid constipation by reducing shearing action, which is one of the major causes of hemorrhoids.
Nonsurgical office-based procedures
These are methods used to treat the disease but are mostly done in offices. They include methods like:
- Rubber band ligation– Deals with less critical grades of the disease; grade I and II. The procedure involves inserting a rubber band around the base of hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply to the tissue making it shrivel.
- Sclerotherapy– The procedure involves the injection of the hemorrhoid vein with a liquid containing drugs such as polidocanol, quinine, or zinc chloride chemical solution to harden it. It is used to treat internal hemorrhoids that are too small for rubber band ligation.
- Infrared coagulation– in this type of treatment, the infrared light wave is directly applied to the hemorrhoidal tissues through the applicator’s tip. This method treats grades I and II of the disease.
Surgical procedures
In case a patient has grade IV of the disease, surgery is recommended. It is also crucial in treating grade III patients and those with thrombosed hemorrhoids. More on hemorrhoid grading here.
The Bottom Line
Hemorrhoids might not be deadly, but they cause discomfort and pain. Identifying it in its early stages can help in diagnosing it and preventing any prolonged effects that might require a more complicated treatment procedure. Stay safe; prevent hemorrhoids.
