Hemorrhoids are common occurrences, especially as you age. Every individual has hemorrhoidal tissues made up of muscle, connective tissue, and blood veins. The swollen veins may develop either in your lower rectum or in the area around your anus. Besides aging, other contributing factors like pregnancy, constipation, and lifting heavy loads will likely increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids. If you feel embarrassed talking about how hemorrhoids affect your life quality, Dr. Ven Kottapalli in Lima can help.
What are the various types of hemorrhoids you are likely to have?
Your healthcare provider may diagnose hemorrhoids depending on their location. Internal hemorrhoids appear inside your rectum. Therefore, they can be internal, external, or prolapsed. Though affected blood vessels may bleed, they are not always painful. Thus, you might have them without ever knowing. Unlike internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids have symptoms. These bulging blood vessels that develop outside your anus can be painful and itchy and bleed occasionally. Though external hemorrhoids are not fatal, they can be uncomfortable and bothersome.
Finally, prolapsed hemorrhoids can either be internal or external. Prolapsed hemorrhoids bulge and extend outside your anus, causing you pain and discomfort.
What are the symptoms you are likely to have with hemorrhoids?
The symptoms you might have will depend on the location of the hemorrhoids. For instance, you may not know you have internally swollen and distended veins unless they extend outside your anus. Additionally, internal hemorrhoids may fail to have symptoms. However, if they show symptoms, you may see blood in your stool or on the toilet paper. Such signs indicate rectal bleeding.
On the other hand, external hemorrhoids may cause the following symptoms:
- Pain and irritation in your anus, especially when you sit
- Rectal bleeding
- Itchy anus
- Fecal leakage
- Painful bowel movement
- Hard and aching lumps near your anus
The good news is, though hemorrhoids are irritating and painful, they are not life-threatening. Most often, they resolve independently without treatment. However, you should seek professional evaluation when the bleeding is consistent and fails to recede because it might be resulting from a different condition apart from the hemorrhoids.
What are your risk factors for developing hemorrhoids?
You are likely to have hemorrhoids when you exert too much pressure or strain the veins in your anus. The forms of straining that might increase the pressure on your lower extremities include lifting heavy weights and constipation. However, you may be at risk of having swollen veins if you have a family history of the condition.
Other risk factors of hemorrhoids include eating a low fiber diet, being obese, straining during bowel movement either because of constipation or diarrhea, and engaging in anal sexual intercourse. Additionally, pregnancy may also force the veins in your colon to bulge. During pregnancy, your uterus enlarges and presses on your veins. As a result, the blood vessels extend, bulging your hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are likely to resolve over time without treatment, with symptoms like bleeding and swelling taking longer to resolve. However, your doctor may advise you to contact him for further evaluation when the bleeding extends beyond the expected time. Do not let hemorrhoids embarrass you when you can call and get help and care from your doctor.