Hemorrhoids


Hemorrhoids, which are also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum. They may result from straining during a bowel movement or the increased pressure on these veins during pregnancy, among other causes. A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are common. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of hemorrhoids. Fortunately, effective medications and procedures are readily available to treat hemorrhoids. In many cases hemorrhoids may require only self-care and lifestyle changes.

Symptoms
Hemorrhoid symptoms usually depend on the location:

• Internal hemorrhoids. You can't see or feel these hemorrhoids. But straining or irritation from passing stool can injure a hemorrhoid's delicate surface and cause it to bleed. You may notice small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl water. Because internal anal membranes lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers, these hemorrhoids usually don't cause discomfort. Occasionally, straining can push an internal hemorrhoid through the anal opening. If a hemorrhoid remains displaced (prolapsed), it can cause pain and irritation.
• External hemorrhoids. These hemorrhoids tend to be painful. Sometimes blood may pool in an external hemorrhoid and form a clot (thrombus), causing severe pain, swelling and inflammation. When irritated, external hemorrhoids can itch or bleed.