What Causes Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids and What Causes Them

Hemorrhoids are an inflammation in your anal canal due to swollen veins. This is a common problem with a lot of people and is not usually serious but can be very painful. Many people get hemorrhoids at some point in their lifetime. There are a few factors that can result in developing hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids develop when there is too much pressure in the pelvic and rectal area. The tissue inside the anus usually fills with blood to control bowel movements. If you strain when having a bowel movement too much pressure will cause the veins in the tissue to swell up and stretch out. This is one of the causes of hemorrhoids. Constipation and diarrhea may also cause excessive pressure and cause inflammation in the anal canal. Women that are pregnant can also develop hemorrhoids during the last 6 months of pregnancy due to excessive pressure in the pelvic region. The hemorrhoids can worsen during labor and be extremely painful.

There are two different types of hemorrhoids. First there is, internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are usually small and veins swell up in the anal canal wall. In more severe cases they can be big and swell out of the anus at times. These can be very painful if they swell up and get squeezed by the buttock. If these hemorrhoids swell up, you may see mucus and the toilet or toilet paper. Second there is, external hemorrhoids. This type hemorrhoid appears as a bump or dark area surrounding the anus and can get irritated by cloth and cause a hard painful lump in the anus. The usual symptoms for both internal and external hemorrhoids are bleeding during bowel movement, blood on toilet paper, itching, rectal pain, and pain when cleaning the anal area.

There are a number of methods you can apply when it comes to keeping hemorrhoids under control. It is believed that constipation is one of the main factors that can cause, and irritate existing hemorrhoids. It is highly recommended that individuals with existing hemorrhoids make the effort to soften their bowel movements. This can be achieved by increasing the fiber in your diet. Fiber is also a good source to control diarrhea, which is believed to aggravate hemorrhoids. The recommended daily dose of fiber is about 25 grams, while the average American diet only contains about 15 grams. Fiber can be found in many different food products such as fruits, vegetables, cereals and grains.

Drinking plenty of fluids may also be recommended to soften your stool. There are also several over the counter treatments that will give you relief from hemorrhoids. Although these are effective to making you feel better, they are only temporary and symptoms will usually come back. One example of an over the counter solution is local anesthetics. This will temporarily relieve burning and itching by numbing the nerve endings. These types of products should only be limited to the lower anal canal. Local anesthetics can sometimes cause an allergic reaction and should be discontinued immediately if this occurs. Another popular over the counter remedy is protectants. Protectants can prevent irritation to the affected area by creating a barrier on the skin. This barrier reduces burning, pain, itch and irritation. These are highly effective for temporary relief of hemorrhoids; however a more permanent solution should be considered if the pain is too uncomfortable.