Each year, more than 50 million people experience hemorrhoids, and nearly everyone who reaches the age of 50 will get them at least once in their life. Hemorrhoids can be itchy and uncomfortable, but they are not usually painful, and most of the time they go away on their own after a few weeks or months. If they are causing you discomfort, however, there are many ways to take care of them so that you can get on with your life. Here’s what you need to know about hemorrhoids and how to deal with them as quickly and painlessly as possible.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins in the anal canal. They may result from straining to have a bowel movement or from pregnancy, among other causes. Hemorrhoid bleeding is when blood comes out of the rectum. Hemorrhoids don’t cause any symptoms but they can bleed and it can be very painful if you move around a lot. With hemorrhoid bleeding, there will usually be blood in your stool. Sometimes this blood can also come through your anus even if you haven’t been sitting on the toilet for too long. If you’re wondering how it works, let me break down how: Straining while having a bowel movement puts pressure on the hemorrhoidal vein and eventually leads to swelling which stretches this vein more than usual. After time has passed (this varies depending on how severe the hemorrhoid is), that vein becomes swollen with tissue that sits outside of it.
How do they happen?
A hemorrhoid is a swollen vein in the anal canal. It can be caused by straining to move stool. Sitting too long on the toilet, pregnancy or aging can also cause it. A hemorrhoid may bleed and feel painful as it swells and attaches itself to nearby tissue. The most common symptom of a hemorrhoid is bleeding that happens when you have a bowel movement or after sitting for too long on the toilet. Some people with hemorrhoids experience no symptoms at all or only minor symptoms like itchiness around their anus or a lump near their anus that they may not even know is a hemorrhoid until they see their doctor.
Dealing with the pain
Itchy, painful hemorrhoids are a common problem for many people. The best way to deal with the pain is to take medication like over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. If you have more than just discomfort and irritation from hemorrhoid bleeding, it may be time to see your doctor about stronger medications or even surgery. For temporary relief of itching and burning from hemorrhoid bleeding, try a topical cream that can be applied at home.
Treatments
There are a lot of options for treating hemorrhoid bleeding and other symptoms. If you’re looking for relief from your symptoms, read through the following testimonials from patients who have dealt with hemorrhoid-related issues.
I found that I had to apply pressure to my left buttock every time I went to the bathroom, says Lisa M., a 43-year old mother of two. My stool was soft and it still hurt when I sat down.
Lisa tried using an over-the-counter ointment but found it wasn’t very effective at reducing the pain or bleeding. She eventually visited her doctor where she learned she had hemorrhoids and was given some medication that worked well to control her bleeding and pain.
Prevention
Many people experience hemorrhoid bleeding at one point in their lives. There are many ways to prevent hemorrhoids from happening in the first place. For example, to avoid straining while using the toilet, you should sit rather than squat on the seat. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated by drinking 8 glasses per day. Additionally, it is best not to strain when going to the bathroom. Drinking more water will help make bowel movements softer so they won’t need as much force or effort when pushing them out.
I hope this post has given you some helpful advice about what you can do if you have experienced hemorrhoid bleeding or if it’s something that concerns you! If it doesn’t seem like things are improving with your current treatment plan then talk to your doctor about other options for dealing with these types of symptoms.
