Hemorrhoid symptoms and treatment

Hemorrhoids develop when veins in the anus swell and bulge. These are caused by increased pressure on the area, for example by pressing hard when defecating, holding stools for too long, coughing for a long time, or giving birth. Most of the time, hemorrhoids are harmless and go away on their own. Sometimes surgery is needed. 

What Are Hemorrhoids? 

Aimmoroides are veins that bulge in the lining of your anus. 

It contains a network of veins that play an important role in holding up your stool. Too long or too much pressure on these veins can cause them to swell and bulge. The bulges can be on the inside of your anus but also come out through the anus. Straining too hard when defecating, holding up your stool too long or too often, prolonged coughing, standing for a long time, but also being pregnant and giving birth are among the causes of hemorrhoids. These bulges cause all kinds of complaints, such as pain and itching in the area, but also spontaneous loss of some stool or loss of mucus or blood when defecating. About 30 percent of the Western population sometimes suffers from hemorrhoids. They are more common in women. People over the age of 50 also suffer from it more often. Most of the time, hemorrhoids are annoying, but still quite harmless. In many cases, they will pass overtime on their own. A high-fiber diet and lifestyle changes can make a big difference. In addition, there are creams that can relieve some complaints. If the bulges continue to cause complaints, various treatments are possible, including surgery. These are effective and usually cause few additional complaints. 

Causes of hemorrhoids

The cause of hemorrhoids is increased pressure on the veins in the lining of the anus. This pressure is caused, among other things, by pressing hard when defecating, for example, because you don’t actually have enough urge, or because your stool has become too hard holding stool for too long, causing it to accumulate in the rectum pregnancy or giving birth standing for a long time prolonged coughing Symptoms of hemorrhoids The main symptoms of hemorrhoids are: pain and/or itching at the anus loss of mucus or blood loss of stool after going to the toilet a feeling of pressure when hemorrhoid comes out difficulty wiping 

Do you have a lot of pain or regular blood loss? Then it is wise to contact your doctor. Then you may need medical treatment to get rid of your complaints. In addition, blood in the stool can also be a symptom of other more serious conditions, such as a tumor in your intestines. This better is traced in time. 

How are hemorrhoids diagnosed? 

If you come to the doctor with the above complaints, he will first ask various questions in order to determine the nature and severity of your complaints more precisely. The doctor will also examine your anus. This is done by means of a so-called rectal examination. The doctor will then wear gloves and use a finger to examine the inside of your anus for bulges. Sometimes the doctor can also view this area through a viewing tube. This examination is called a proctoscopy. You may also be referred to a medical specialist for this. If there is a suspicion that your complaints are not caused by hemorrhoids, additional examinations may be necessary to determine the cause. 

Risk factors

Hemorrhoids are common in people over the age of 50. Their blood vessels have, on average, become weaker over the years. Women are also at risk for hemorrhoids, as they are often caused by pregnancy and giving birth. People with bowel problems may also be at greater risk of developing these bulges if their condition results in harder stools or constipation, for example, requiring them to push harder on the toilet. Risk factors for hemorrhoids are: 

press hard holding up stools standing for a long time a low-fiber diet too little exercise not getting enough moisture pregnancy and giving birth.

Treatment of hemorrhoids

Often, hemorrhoids will resolve on their own over time. To make them heal faster, you can do the following things yourself: drink enough; at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day. This way your stool will remain soft. provide a diet with sufficient fiber, and eat wholemeal products, bran, vegetables, and fruits on a regular basis. Consider taking fiber supplements. go to the toilet immediately as soon as you feel the urge and do not hold your stool for too long. do not go to the toilet more often than necessary. don’t press too hard when defecating. wipe gently and do not use rough toilet paper. If necessary, opt for moist toilet paper, but without alcohol, perfume, or other substances that can cause irritation. make sure you don’t have to stand for too long at a time.

You will, in principle, also receive this advice from a general practitioner. If these work insufficiently and if you keep complaints, this can proceed to a simple procedure, such as sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation. The first method is also widely used for varicose veins. An irritant is injected into the vein, causing it to shrink and die. Your body will repair the damage on its own. With rubber band ligation, a rubber band is applied around the hemorrhoid, so that it no longer receives blood and will shrink. In some cases, surgery is required, such as doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation or stapled apoplexy. With both procedures, you will be locally anesthetized or completely anesthetized. The doctors then use different instruments to get to the hemorrhoid. This is then separated from the surrounding tissue and from the blood supply by stitches or special staples, which will also cause hemorrhoids to shrink. 

Prognosis

Hemorrhoids are relatively common. About 30 percent of the Western population has suffered from it. By adjusting your eating and living habits, you can help them heal faster and prevent further bulges from forming. If this works insufficiently, various simple or more radical treatments are possible to solve the problem. These are generally safe and cause few additional complaints.