Sunday March 16, 2008
Frequently asked questions
What are haeo
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. This common problem can be painful, but usually it is not serious.
Veins can swell inside the anal canal to form internal haemorrhoids or they can swell near the opening of the anus to form external haemorrhoids. You can have both types at the same time.
What causes haemorrhoids?
Too much pressure on the veins in the pelvic (hip) and rectal (buttocks) area can cause haemorrhoids.
Normally, tissue inside the anus fills with blood to help control bowel movements. If you have diarrhoea, constipation or strain to move stool, the increased pressure causes the veins in this tissue to swell and stretch. This can cause haemorrhoids. Pregnant women can get haemorrhoids during the last six months of pregnancy.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of both internal and external haemorrhoids include bleeding during bowel movements, itching, and pain in the rectal region.
Is there only one type of haemorrhoid?
There are two types of haemorrhoid, the internal haemorrhoid and the external haemorrhoid.
Internal haemorrhoids often are small, swollen veins in the wall of the anal canal. But they can be large, sagging veins that bulge out of the anus all the time. They can be painful if they bulge out and are squeezed by the anal muscles.
External haemorrhoids occur outside the anus, and when they bleed, the blood pools, causing a hard painful lump. This is called a thrombosed, or clotted, haemorrhoid.
How are haemorrhoids diagnosed?
Your doctor can tell if you have haemorrhoids by asking about your past health and doing a physical exam. You may not need many tests at first, especially if you are younger than 50 and your doctor thinks that your rectal bleeding is caused by haemorrhoids.
Your doctor may just examine your rectum with a gloved finger or use a short, lighted scope to look inside the rectum.
Rectal bleeding can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as colon, rectal or anal cancer. So, if the first exam does not show a clear cause of your problems, your doctor may do further tests to rule out cancer.
How are haemorrhoids treated?
For most external haemorrhoids, home treatment is all you need. This includes slowly adding fibre to your meals, drinking more water, and using over-the-counter ointments for a limited time to stop itching. You also may use stool softeners.
The same home treatments can be used for most internal haemorrhoids. If your haemorrhoids are very painful and severe, you may need to consult your doctor for other invasive or surgical treatments.
How could we avoid haemorrhoids?
As the cause of haemorrhoids has yet to be confirmed, the best way to avoid them is to refrain from straining.
You can do that by drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, exercising and going to the toilet only when you have to.
References:
1. Haemorrhoids - Topic overview, WebMD, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hemorrhoids-topic-overview
Related stories
Stapling it away
RSS
