Symptoms and Treatment of Internal Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids is a condition that results from too much strain during bowel movement as a result of current conditions like pregnancy, constipation, old age, or anal intercourse.

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids namely external and internal hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids can be extremely painful but internal hemorrhoids may take a long time to be detected. Here we will look at the symptoms that will help you recognize internal hemorrhoids and get a cure at the soonest possible time.

One of the most common manifestations of internal hemorrhoids is blood. Usually, you will notice a bright red substance on your stool or toilet papers. Since most of us flush the toilet before seeing the stool, it is unlikely that you will notice the bloody red symptom of internal hemorrhoids. It could be likely that the hemorrhoids can develop and get pushed to the external region of the anus which could cause pain, bleeding, and itchiness.

The initial thing to do if you suspect that you have internal hemorrhoids is to consult a doctor to confirm your suspicion. There are many other conditions that may be mistaken for hemorrhoids if you are not a physician like fissures, local irritation, or itching.

If you have internal hemorrhoids, you need to get a prescription from your doctor. Normally, the first thing they will give you is a suppository which will be inserted through the rectum. The method works by drying out the hemorrhoids and provide fast relief.

In some cases, surgery will be required to treat internal hemorrhoids and there are many surgical treatments available now which will depend on your situation and the extent of the hemorrhoids. Both external and internal hemorrhoids can be completely treated and pose no danger to your life. However, if ignored, it can result to fatal conditions such as colorectal cancer.

It is best to prevent the growth of hemorrhoids so that you would not have to experience any discomfort and treatment. As much as possible, make sure that you have a balanced diet program. Eat food rich in fiber and drink the minimum of intake of water required everyday. Have a good exercise regimen so that you can prevent constipation.

There are instances when hemorrhoids is a normal condition such as during pregnancy or old age so you need to be aware of these symptoms so that you can get the best form of treatment method immediately.

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The Matter of Internal Hemorrhoids

Also called “piles”, internal hemorrhoids are swollen vascular tissues in the anus and rectum. It’s a common disorder and most people are embarrassed to talk about it. More often than not, hemorrhoids sufferers would rather endure its irritating symptoms than get checked by a doctor. The patient’s deficient knowledge of hemorrhoids is usually the cause for dangerous complications, like anemia, to come about.

Internal hemorrhoids may be caused by straining and pressure in the anus and rectum from constipation, diarrhea, pregnancy, obesity and other predisposing factors like jobs that require sitting or standing for extended periods. Usually an improvement in bowel habits and increased intake of fiber and fluids in the diet can treat this ailment. Otherwise, they will continue to swell or inflame with the trauma of straining and abdominal pressure.

These are initially painless and they don’t normally protrude outside the anus. One of the first symptoms of inflamed hemorrhoids is bright-red blood on the stool during bowel movements. You can visually confirm the blood on the stool or on the tissue after wiping. During defecation, swollen hemorrhoids may be pushed outside the anus and prolapse (slide out) and then retract (pull back) afterwards. Internal hemorrhoids that don’t retract can cause symptoms of pain and itching.

It’s important to have a confirmed diagnosis of internal hemorrhoids from a doctor to exclude other diseases that cause rectal bleeding. Doctors may perform a rectal exam though it might not be conclusive due to the fact that they’re usually soft. At this point, your doctor will use exploratory devices such as an anoscope or a protoscope to confirm their presence.

Treatments depend on the severity of the symptoms. If detected early enough, internal hemorrhoids can simply be treated with personal improvements of healthy bowel habits and proper diet. For mild itchiness or irritation, doctors would recommend creams and ointments together with warm baths to relieve the symptom.

Internal hemorrhoids manifesting acute signs of severe bleeding with intolerable pain and itchiness are treated with infrared light, Barron ligatures, or sclerotherapy. Infrared light therapy on the surface of the hemorrhoids will cut circulation to the small bleeding veins causing them to return to normal size. Barron ligatures or rubber band ligation is performed by placing rubber bands on the base of the hemorrhoids causing them to necrose (or die) and fall off. Sclerotherapy involves injecting chemicals around the inflamed vascular tissues causing them to shrink.

It usually takes a few treatments over a few weeks to completely cure the prolapsing internal hemorrhoids. Typically one to two swollen veins are treated at a time. It’s important to treat all the hemorrhoids to completely stop its symptoms.

It’s important to know how to prevent internal hemorrhoids as well as its recurrence by practicing healthy habits. If you have the urge to defecate, then go. Use stool softeners if bowel movement is causing you to strain and push. Don’t sit or stand for long periods of time. Eat foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables and grain. Drink plenty of water. And remember to exercise.

As embarrassing as discussing internal hemorrhoids may be, it’s more embarrassing to know that you could have done something about it instead of wishing it to pass. There are many treatments available for hemorrhoids and it’s important to get diagnosed and treated before complications occur. It’s been said many times that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. It’s become a cliché but that doesn’t undermine the fact that it is true.

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