Internal and External Hemroids

Hemroids or hemorrhoids (also commonly known as piles) are enlarged veins of the anal canal and lower rectum  which may undergo inflammation causing pain and/or bleeding.

Hemroids are a very common ailment affecting about 4-5% of the population. More than 50% of adults aged 50 years or more suffer from hemroids symptoms at some point in their life.

Hemroids are not serious or life threatening, however they are a greatly embarrassing condition preventing you from conducting a normal life. Fortunately, many effective treatment options are available nowadays to cure hemroids naturally at home in a relatively short period of time.

Hemroids can arise inside the anal canal forming internal hemroids, or they may develop outside the anus forming external hemroids.

Hemroids Symptoms

Symptoms of hemroids differ according to the type of hemroids, internal or external hemroids, and include any one or more of the following:

• Anal bleeding during bowel movements. You may see blood as a bright-red blood on the surface of stools or on toilet paper. This is the major symptom in internal hemroids, while it is minimal in external hemroids unless trauma to the hemorrhoidal tissue occurs by hard stools.
• Anal pain may be present especially during bowel movement, and discomfort may be present most of the time. Pain is the major symptom in external hemroids, while it is mild or even absent in internal hemroids. However, if internal hemroids is protruded through the anus (prolapsed internal hemroids), pain may become severe with bowel motions.
• Anal itching and irritation.
• Peri-anal mass is evident and can be seen and felt around or near the anus in external hemroids. However, in internal hemroids, no mass can be seen or felt, unless prolapse occurs through the anus. Sometimes, thrombosis (blood clotting) occurs in the external hemroids.

When to call a doctor?

In general, medical consultation is recommended in every case of anal bleeding with a special emphasis on the following conditions:

• Individuals over the age of 50 years.
• Individuals having a positive family history of colorectal cancer.
• Individuals with severe pain and/or excessive bleeding.
• Cases not improving with home remedies.

What are the causes of hemroids?

Hemroids are caused by increased pressure inside the anorectal veins causing their enlargement. This can occur due to a variety of causes:

• Excessive straining during bowel movements as in constipation.
• Prolonged sitting on the toilet.
• Preganancy.
• Obesity.
• Inherited tendency to develop hemroids.

How can you cure hemroids?

There are several options for curing your hemroids according to the type, severity and duration of hemroids. Traditional medical treatment includes medical (pharmaceutical) treatment, non-operative procedures, and surgical procedures.

Also, the recent introduction of natural hemroids remedies by companies provided a good alternative option for those where traditional methods are ineffective.