Hemorrhoids Treatment

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What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are masses or clumps of tissue in the anal canal composed of blood vessels and surrounding tissue made up of muscle and elastic fibers. The three major hemorrhoidal cushions or masses are right anterior and posterior and left lateral.

The presence of hemorrhoids is not a disease. Everybody has hemorrhoids.

They are considered a disease when they become enlarged. But this only happen to only 4 percent of the entire populace and hits both men and women on an equal basis. Hemorrhoids are common from 45 to 65 years old.

The blood in the hemorrhoidal blood vessels is bright red because the supply comes from a network of arteries that pass through the supporting tissue of the hemorrhoidal cushions. From the hemorrhoids and anal canal, blood is drawn to the anal veins which drain in two directions. First is upwards to the rectal area. Second is downwards to the skin circling the anus. The line in the anal canal marking the transition from the anal skin to the lining of the rectum is called the dentate line.

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal and external, and their difference is based on whether the hemorrhoid is formed below or above the dentate line. A hemorrhoid formed at the top of the anal canal is called an internal hemorrhoid. If it comes from the lower end near the anus, it is an external hemorrhoid.

When the vessels of the anal cushions enlarge and the supporting tissues swell in size, the condition is called an internal hemorrhoid. The mass of bulging tissue and blood vessels extends to the anal canal where it causes difficulties. For external hemorrhoids, it is not yet known how they are formed.

There are several theories on how hemorrhoids enlarge: low-fiber diet, prolonged stay in the toilet bowl and constipation. Unfortunately these theories are not backed by laboratory experiments. Pregnancy, on the other hand, is an obvious cause of hemorrhoidal enlargement but the reason is not yet clear. Pelvic tumor also is a cause of enlarged hemorrhoids. The tumor presses on the veins that drain blood coming from the anal canal.

A theory suggests that hemorrhoids are formed because of the hard stool passing through the anal canal. The force drags the hemorrhoidal cushions downward. Another theory proposes that enlarged hemorrhoids are caused by the loosening of the supporting tissue that attaches the hemorrhoids to the muscles of the anal canal. The loosening comes with age and the hemorrhoidal tissue slides down into the anal canal.

There is one physiological fact known about enlarged hemorrhoids. When there’s an enlarged hemorrhoid, the pressure in the anal sphincter is increased. The sphincter is the muscle that surrounds the anal canal and controls the bowel movement.

But is not yet clear of the elevated pressure comes after or before the enlargement of hemorrhoids. It is most probable though that the strong force created in the sphincter during the excretion of hard stool drags the hemorrhoids downward and enlarges them.

Hemroids