Health & Fitness Blog

When the blood veins which are located in lower rectum, or within the anus become swollen and engorged and start itching and causing pain, the diagnoses is often hemorrhoids. This condition of swollen painful veins can be either internal, or external, causing the vein to protrude from the anus. On occasion, both types will occur at the same time for some unlucky sufferers.

Inordinate amounts of pressure on the veins of the anus often result in hemorrhoid formation. One of the most common causes of hemorrhoids is straining during bowel movements due to constipation. Conversely, frequent diarrhea can also cause strain, which can form hemorrhoids. A lack of fiber in the diet, or an inadequate fluid intake can raise your risk of suffering from hemorrhoids. Overweight people have a greater risk of hemorrhoids, and the increase in blood volume during pregnancy, as well as the strain of labor and delivery can make hemorrhoids a common problem for women. Hemorrhoids are also a risk factor for individuals who have jobs that keep them seated for extended periods of time.

Hemorrhoids are often accompanied by itchiness, pain, burning or irregular lumps of flesh around the anal area. The presence of fresh, brightly colored blood that occurs with bowel movements is also indicative of hemorrhoids. A routine physical examination given by a physician is often all that is needed to diagnose a case of hemorrhoids.

While hemorrhoids are decidedly unpleasant, they are often not a serious health concern, unless they become severe enough to cause intense pain or significant bleeding. Any rectal bleeding should be discussed with a primary care physician so that diagnoses that are more serious can be ruled out. Treatment for the first stages of hemorrhoid pain is often an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream or the use of medicated pads to temporarily reduce the symptoms. Other home remedies that are helpful in treating the pain and itching are sit baths, swabbing the inflamed area with witch hazel, or taking a stool softener to help ease constipation. For persistent cases that do not respond well to these measures, surgery can be an option, but surgical intervention is often a last resort. Surgical measures are a hemorrhoidectomy, or the stapling of the inflamed tissue to block blood flow. Other options for treatment may include an injection of chemicals to shrink the tissue, the use of lasers to treat with heat/infrared light, or a rubber band ligation of the inflamed vein.

The most common treatment for a case of hemorrhoids is often the use of medicated pads and over-the-counter creams, which temporarily reduce the symptoms. It should be noted that these ought to be considered for short-term use only. Sitz baths, witch hazel, or using suppositories to softener the stool can help to ease symptoms. The more persistent or severe cases might indicate that surgery is in order. Surgical intervention is invasive and usually considered only when other remedies have failed and the problem is significant enough to warrant the use of invasive procedure. This option usually entails removal of the involved portion of vein or stapling off a section to block the blood flow. Chemical injections are another option used to shrink swelling tissue, and there is also a procedure in which a rubber band with which the involved section of vein is tied off so that it will wither and shrink. Lasers utilize infrared light or heat to harden a hemorrhoid until it shrivels and dies.

Modification of one’s lifestyle is often prescribed to attain and then maintain a life free of hemorrhoids. A sufficient fluid intake (drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water every day) is crucial to maintaining a healthy digestive tract. Exercise also keeps the body healthy and bowel movements more regular, which in turn prevents the reoccurrence of constipation, and thus the reoccurrence of hemorrhoids. A revision of diet to include foods fiber rich foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables (or the addition of a fiber supplement if needed) will also help retain a healthy digestive system. Hemorrhoids are uncomfortable, and while they may not be a major health concern, they are certainly an undesirable one but hemorrhoids are both avoidable and treatable.

Although having hemorrhoids can be difficult and painful, in most cases they are not dangerous or life threatening. Hemroid relief can be obtained with over the counter creams which reduce swelling and itching but the best thing you can do is to add more fiber to your diet to reduce flare ups and prevent hemroids from occuring in the first place.