When treating a condition such as hemorrhoids, or any other condition, it’s extremely important that the sufferer understands what he is up against. Knowing the root causes of the problem as well as the symptoms related to the condition makes it much easier to a person to adapt a better lifestyle that supports both relief and recovery.
What is a hemorrhoid?
Piles are formed when the pressure on the veins located around the anus increases abnormally. The veins become swollen and can cause extreme pain and discomfort. Piles can occur both inside and outside the anus.
Internal hemorrhoids are those located in the internal part of the anus. They are very difficult to diagnose in the initial stages as they do not cause any significant symptoms. A person usually becomes aware of them when blood is found on the stools or when the hemorrhoids prolapsed or protrude through the anus.
External hemorrhoids are those that can be diagnosed at a naked eye. They develop beneath the skin in the outer part of the anus and can cause itching and pain as well as bleeding. The symptoms tend to aggravate during a bowel movement. When the blood inside the enlarged vein clots, it forms a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.
What causes a hemorrhoid?
As I’ve stated above, piles are formed by an abnormal increase of venous pressure in the veins near the anus. Irregular bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea), extreme exercise, a low fiber diet, straining and aging are usually within the causes.
Piles are usually attached to overweight people, pregnant women, constipation sufferers, weight lifters or those above the age mark of 50. Keep in mind that if you don’t fit into one of those categories you can still suffer from piles, but you will usually be at a lower risk. Chronic liver disease can also increase your risk of suffering from hemorrhoids.
What is the most common symptom?
The most common symptom, and the one that causes the most visits to the doctor, is when blood occurs during a bowel movement. The blood can be found on the outside of the stools, toilet paper or in the toilet itself.
If that happened to you I urge you to go to the doctor as fast as possible, because although hemorrhoids are the most common cause for anal bleeding, there are also other potentially dangerous conditions such as cancer.
How to prevent hemorrhoids?
Piles are usually benign and will disappear in a few days. There are still some behaviors one can adopt to accelerate the healing process. The major idea behind prevention is to keep the stools as soft as possible to avoid pressure and straining on the affected veins. This can be achieved by an increase of fiber and water in the diet as well as the adoption of a low intensity exercise program. Going to the bathroom as soon as the urge appears and avoiding sitting on the toilet unnecessary time usually helps.
If any of the above situations or symptoms sounds familiar to you, I advise you to see your doctor so that he can take a better look at you and put you on the right treatment.