If you haven’t had hemorrhoids yet, chances are good that you will have them at some point in your life. More than 50 percent of people have some experience with them by the time they are 50 years old. With odds like that, it might be a good idea to know what to look for, what to be concerned about, and when to seek help for them if you get them.
Hemorrhoids are actually very similar to varicose veins, except that rather than being in the legs, they are either inside the anal canal (internal hemorrhoids) or outside of the anal canal (external hemorrhoids). External hemorrhoids are generally more painful than internal hemorrhoids, because there are more nerve endings at the anal opening than there are on the inside.
One tell-tale sign that you have external hemorrhoids is the bulging of veins at the anus. They may be inflamed, painful, itching, and tingling, and they could possibly bleed if irritated by wiping too hard or having a difficult-to-pass bowel movement. They are easily caused by constipation or even diarrhea. The extra straining you experience to have a bowel movement when you are constipated can cause the veins to swell, possibly creating an external hemorrhoid.
Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include the vein at the anal canal being inflamed, itching at the anus, pressure when you are sitting down or standing up too long, a full and throbbing feeling, and the feeling that, even after you have a bowel movement, you still have to go. With these symptoms, there can sometimes be bleeding which you will want to have checked out by your doctor to make sure that all you have is a hemorrhoid and not something more serious.
External hemorrhoids can become thrombosed, which means they are bigger and lumpier than simple hemorrhoids. They may require medical attention if they are too bothersome or painful. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, making it more difficult to participate in everyday activities.
External hemorrhoids can be caused by things other than bowel movement problems. Sometimes, heredity plays a role in whether or not people will get hemorrhoids. Since hemorrhoids are a vein problem, people who have blood flow or circulation problems in their families may be more prone to getting hemorrhoids.
Another thing that commonly causes hemorrhoids is pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, she has a lot more pressure put on her anus with the added weight of the baby and the additional weight gain which accompanies pregnancy. There are also usually changes in bowel habits and hormones which can add to the hemorrhoid problem.
Being overweight or obese is another factor that creates hemorrhoid problems for many people. The added stress on the rectum and anus from the extra weight can put pressure on the veins and create a hemorrhoid problem.
Whatever the cause of your external hemorrhoids, you can find help to treat them. External hemorrhoids may mean a little pain and inconvenience, but if the hemorrhoids are brought under control as soon as they are discovered, then the pain and inconvenience may be minimal.
If you have external hemorrhoids and they become more painful or bleed, then you will want to seek help from your doctor. Taking care of them right will help avoid problems later.