Many people will experience hemorrhoids at some point in their life: about half the population of developed countries will get them by the age of 50.
Your likelihood of developing hemorrhoids increases as you get older, and many women get them during pregnancy, although in this case, the hemorrhoids often disappear again naturally once the pregnancy is over.
Hemorrhoids is therefore a very common condition, but fortunately not usually a dangerous or life-threatening one.
They are simply swollen and inflamed small veins in the wall of the anus.
The symptoms of hemorrhoids depend a lot on exactly where in the anus they develop: inside or outside of the pectinate line, which divides the anus approximately into two halves.
This line is significant because there are no pain receptors on the inside of it, only on the outside.
External Hemorrhoids One of the primary symptoms of external hemorrhoids, those that develop below, or outside of the line, is therefore pain, itchiness and discomfort from the region around the anus, even in the early stages of development.
This occurs particularly during or for a while after bowel movements, and while cleaning yourself.
As they grow larger, the pain can also occur while sitting for prolonged periods, or any other position or activity the puts extra pressure on them.
External hemorrhoids can also bleed, especially while cleaning yourself after a bowel movement -- fresh blood will appear on the toilet paper.
Bleeding can also occur at other times when the hemorrhoids are put under extra stress.
You will also be able to feel (or see, if you're examining someone else or can arrange a suitable mirror) one or more soft lumps around or close to the anus.
Internal Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids that develop above, or inside of, the line, however, are generally not painful, at least in the early stages; indeed, many people are unaware that they have internal hemorrhoids until they have grown quite large.
Often the first symptom will be bleeding from the anus during or just after emptying your bowels: bright red, fresh blood will appear on your stools, in the toilet pan and on the toilet paper.
As the hemorrhoids become larger, you may also need to strain harder while emptying your bowels, to force the stools past the obstruction caused by the hemorrhoids.
The swollen hemorrhoids can also cause a prolonged or continual feeling that your bowels are full and need to be emptied, even just after doing so.
Emptying your bowels can push internal hemorrhoids outside of the anus, particularly if they are large.
Such prolapsed hemorrhoids can generate symptoms of pain and discomfort similar to external hemorrhoids.
They can return inside the anus after a while, of their own accord, or they can be assisted in doing so with pressure from a finger.
The most severe cases, however remain outside permanently and cannot be pushed back inside.
Large or prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can prevent the anus from closing properly, allowing fecal matter and mucus to seep out.
Closure of the anus around prolapsed hemorrhoids can also cut off their blood supply, resulting in the formation of a hard clot, or thrombosis.
Other Conditions There are also a number of other conditions, such as anal abscess, anal fistula and anal fissure, that share many of the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
Some of these respond to the same treatments as hemorrhoids, and so misdiagnosis isn't too much of a problem.
Others however, such as rectal and anal cancer, do not respond to such treatments and the consequences of delayed or improper treatment can be very severe.
Therefore before embarking on a program of self-treatment, you should always consult your doctor, or similarly qualified medical professional, to confirm your diagnosis.
Your likelihood of developing hemorrhoids increases as you get older, and many women get them during pregnancy, although in this case, the hemorrhoids often disappear again naturally once the pregnancy is over.
Hemorrhoids is therefore a very common condition, but fortunately not usually a dangerous or life-threatening one.
They are simply swollen and inflamed small veins in the wall of the anus.
The symptoms of hemorrhoids depend a lot on exactly where in the anus they develop: inside or outside of the pectinate line, which divides the anus approximately into two halves.
This line is significant because there are no pain receptors on the inside of it, only on the outside.
External Hemorrhoids One of the primary symptoms of external hemorrhoids, those that develop below, or outside of the line, is therefore pain, itchiness and discomfort from the region around the anus, even in the early stages of development.
This occurs particularly during or for a while after bowel movements, and while cleaning yourself.
As they grow larger, the pain can also occur while sitting for prolonged periods, or any other position or activity the puts extra pressure on them.
External hemorrhoids can also bleed, especially while cleaning yourself after a bowel movement -- fresh blood will appear on the toilet paper.
Bleeding can also occur at other times when the hemorrhoids are put under extra stress.
You will also be able to feel (or see, if you're examining someone else or can arrange a suitable mirror) one or more soft lumps around or close to the anus.
Internal Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids that develop above, or inside of, the line, however, are generally not painful, at least in the early stages; indeed, many people are unaware that they have internal hemorrhoids until they have grown quite large.
Often the first symptom will be bleeding from the anus during or just after emptying your bowels: bright red, fresh blood will appear on your stools, in the toilet pan and on the toilet paper.
As the hemorrhoids become larger, you may also need to strain harder while emptying your bowels, to force the stools past the obstruction caused by the hemorrhoids.
The swollen hemorrhoids can also cause a prolonged or continual feeling that your bowels are full and need to be emptied, even just after doing so.
Emptying your bowels can push internal hemorrhoids outside of the anus, particularly if they are large.
Such prolapsed hemorrhoids can generate symptoms of pain and discomfort similar to external hemorrhoids.
They can return inside the anus after a while, of their own accord, or they can be assisted in doing so with pressure from a finger.
The most severe cases, however remain outside permanently and cannot be pushed back inside.
Large or prolapsed internal hemorrhoids can prevent the anus from closing properly, allowing fecal matter and mucus to seep out.
Closure of the anus around prolapsed hemorrhoids can also cut off their blood supply, resulting in the formation of a hard clot, or thrombosis.
Other Conditions There are also a number of other conditions, such as anal abscess, anal fistula and anal fissure, that share many of the symptoms of hemorrhoids.
Some of these respond to the same treatments as hemorrhoids, and so misdiagnosis isn't too much of a problem.
Others however, such as rectal and anal cancer, do not respond to such treatments and the consequences of delayed or improper treatment can be very severe.
Therefore before embarking on a program of self-treatment, you should always consult your doctor, or similarly qualified medical professional, to confirm your diagnosis.
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