Hemorrhoids can reoccur if the underlying causes for the hemorrhoids were not treated or addressed appropriately. Common causes of hemorrhoids include low-fiber diets, pregnancy, frequent straining with bowel movements, obesity and chronic diarrhea.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are very common, with half of the US population over 50 having at one time consulted a doctor about these painful, itchy, sometimes bleeding bumps along the anus. They are bunches of enlarged veins, external ones that you feel as bumps or internal ones that occasionally protrude through the rectum.
If you strain frequently, perhaps due to constipation, or lift heavy weights you may cause them. Typical symptoms include bright red blood drops. They can make it hurt to clean properly after a bowel movement. Increasing fiber and fluid intake can help prevent hemorrhoids.
Minor hemorrhoids may be treated with lubrication and use of stool softeners. Doctors may use an instrument to put rubber bands around them to make them clot or fall off, inject them with a clotting agent, use infrared light to heat clot, or surgery for removal.
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Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine -
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MountainView Hospital answeredYou only need to worry about your hemorrhoids if they're causing you problems. While they may be annoying, they are not life-threatening.
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Swedish answeredSee All 6 AnswersHemorrhoids are swelling in the rectum or anal area that may protrude through the anus when straining. They usually contain enlarged veins and are most common in people over the age of 50. Three out of four people will develop hemorrhoids at some time in their lives.
While many people associate hemorrhoids with painful surgery, only a small percentage of patients actually require surgery. New, comfortable office treatments have taken the fear out of treating hemorrhoids.
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Brigham and Women's Hospital answeredSee All 3 AnswersAlthough hemorrhoids during pregnancy are sometimes caused by blocked circulation from the increased size of the fetus, they frequently are caused by straining from constipation. To prevent hemorrhoids, eat correctly, and add fruits, raw vegetables, bran products, and lots of water to your daily diet. If you do suffer from hemorrhoids, try lying on your side with your hips elevated on a pillow, or soaking in a warm tub. You can use over-the-counter ointments, but ask your doctor first, as some medication in ointments can be absorbed through the skin and affect your baby’s system. -
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 6 AnswersHemorrhoids are caused by pressure building up in the veins of the rectum. This increased pressure -- due to strained bowel movements, pregnancy, chronic constipation, or other factors -- can cause these veins to stretch, bulge, and form hemorrhoids. The tendency to get hemorrhoids may also have a genetic component and, therefore, run in families. -
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Parkland Medical Center answeredSee All 4 Answers
To diagnose hemorrhoids, your doctor will probably start off with some questions about symptoms, bowel habits, diet, and family history. An examination of your rectum and anus will follow. While external hemorrhoids can be easily seen, internal hemorrhoids require your doctor to feel for lumps with their finger or to look for other abnormalities using different kinds of tubular scopes designed for viewing the rectum and anus. If you're over 50 or have symptoms of something more serious, they may perform a colonoscopy to examine your entire colon.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersInternal hemorrhoids lie under the lining of the lower rectum. They become problems when they fall down into the anus (prolapse), where they get rubbed and squeezed by poop. This rubbing causes them to bleed. Sometimes internal hemorrhoids prolapse right out of the anus and may need to be pushed back inside. Internal hemorrhoids prolapse like this because we strain at stool (so avoid straining when pooping by eating enough roughage and not postponing going to the toilet). Delivering a baby also can cause prolapsing hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids are a system of veins that lie just under the skin at the anal margin. They cause problems when they clot, or thrombose. This often happens with straining, and produces a very painful purple lump (a pile). This will gradually go away by itself, leaving a tag of stretched skin. Alternatively, the clot can be removed through a small incision. -
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Swedish answeredInternal hemorrhoids develop inside the anus. The most common symptoms are bleeding during movements or protrusion through the anus upon straining.
External hemorrhoids develop around the anus and can be very painful, especially if a blood clot develops within them. They can be felt as a firm lump or lumps around the anus. -
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NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answeredSee All 6 AnswersSymptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump near the anus, which may be a blood clot. Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include bleeding (bright red blood on stool or toilet paper), and itching. An internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus, and cause pain and irritation. Some individuals with hemorrhoids have no symptoms.
Hemorrhoid symptoms can resemble other conditions, including fissures, fistula, abscesses, or irritation and itching, called pruritis ani. Constipation and diarrhea may exacerbate hemorrhoids, or cause similar symptoms. Consulting your physician when you have any of these symptoms, such as blood in stool, is important to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. -
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Dr. Michael T. Murray, ND , Naturopathic Medicine, answeredA low-fiber diet high in refined foods contributes greatly to the development of hemorrhoids.
Individuals who consume a low-fiber diet tend to strain more during bowel movements, since their smaller, harder stools are more difficult to pass. This straining raises the pressure in the abdomen, which obstructs venous blood flow, increases pelvic congestion, and may significantly weaken the veins, causing hemorrhoids to form.
A high-fiber diet is perhaps the most important component in the prevention of hemorrhoids.
A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains promotes peristalsis, the normal rhythmic contractions of the intestines. Furthermore, many fiber components attract water to form gelatinous masses that keep the feces soft, bulky, and easy to pass. The net effect of a high-fiber diet is significantly less straining during defecation; therefore, a significantly lower risk of developing hemorrhoids is achieved.
The diet should also contain liberal amounts of flavonoid-rich foods, such as bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, buckwheat, and citrus fruits to strengthen vein structures.