Internal Hemorrhoid Symptoms

Internal Hemorrhoids: symptoms and treatment

Internal Hemorrhoid symptoms start to occur as a result of veins in the anus swelling and breaching the anal wall.  The purpose of this article is to acquaint you with the causes, symptoms, and treatments typically associated with an internal hemorrhoidal condition.  Internal Hemorrhoids are not usually regarded as being of the same severity as External Hemorrhoids, but they nonetheless require specific lifestyle changes and dietary modifications, and frequently require care under a doctor’s supervision to be fully remedied.

Internal hemorrhoid symptoms occur when overt pressure is exerted on the veins of the anus and pelvic region during bowel movements.  In the course of normal digestive health, the tissue that comprises the anus engorges with blood during bowel movements, which assists to the body to control the flow of fecal matter.  Over-straining results in the veins remaining engorged for too long a period, which in turn stretches the veins and consequently incites tears in the anal wall, leading in time to the formation of the Internal Hemorrhoid.  Other conditions such as chronic diarrhea or the attendant pressure on the pelvic region women experience during the first two trimesters of pregnancy can also contribute to the formation Internal Hemorrhoids.

Internal hemorrhoid symptoms amongst pregnant women are very common, and deserve special mention.  Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to Internal Hemorrhoids because of the constant pressure exerted onto the pelvic region by the developing fetus.  This pressure can cause the hemorrhoidal veins to become enlarged and thus stretched, making a breach of the anal wall inevitable.  Internal Hemorrhoids are, however, typically a transient problem for pregnant women, and usually clear up following delivery. You can find further information on this condition by reading the H.I.C. article hemorrhoids during pregnancy.

Internal Hemorrhoids have a variety of symptoms that can include bleeding during bowel movements and residual blood deposited on toilet paper after wiping the anus. Itching, burning, rectal discomfort, and pain associated with cleaning the infected area are also typical internal hemorrhoid symptoms.

Internal hemorrhoid symptoms might include blood on the surface of the stool, mucosal residue on toilet paper following wiping, as is the sensation of fullness after having had a bowel movement.  Internal Hemorrhoids are usually smaller than External Hemorrhoids, although this is not always the case.  In the event the hemorrhoid bulges and is consequently squeezed by the anal muscles, severe pain may follow.  Internal Hemorrhoids can also be extremely painful if their supply of blood is retarded or stopped.

Internal hemorrhoid symptoms are not typically painful, although they can be very uncomfortable. In order for your doctor to properly diagnose the presence of Internal Hemorrhoids, they will ask you a series of questions and perform a physical examination of the rectal region. This is to ensure that Internal Hemorrhoids are indeed present, rather than another condition such as colon or rectal cancer, which might manifest with similar symptoms. In almost all cases, treatment will progress with several goals, which include relieving the symptoms of the Internal Hemorrhoid, relieving pressure to the pelvic and rectal region, as well as making changes to your bowel habits. Since prevention is one of the most important factors to consider, doctors frequently suggest keeping your stool as soft as possible to induce easy bowel movements, and making a bowel movement as soon as you feel the need, in order to ensure the likeliest chance of not developing Internal Hemorrhoids.

Internal Hemorrhoids are usually first combated with some regiment of home hemorrhoid treatment.  There are several common strategies for addressing internal hemorrhoid symptoms with treatments beginning with changes to your diet.  Adding fiber, either dietary or bulk, is typically the first course of action recommended, which includes increased consumption of water as well as a  greater consumption of fruits, grains, and vegetables.  Employing stool softeners to assist with easier bowel movements and applying ointments to stop the itching associated with internal hemorrhoids are also frequently recommended, in addition to bathing in warm water several times a day, which assists to alleviate internal hemorrhoid symptoms such as swelling and itching.  In the event your hemorrhoids are of a more severe degree, a physician’s intervention might be required.  In the event your condition does not respond to a home hemorrhoid treatment, discuss with your doctor what other hemorrhoid remedies are available which are best suited to your situation.

Internal hemorrhoid treatment can be addressed with one of the five a non-surgical, but medical interventions, known as fixative procedures, each of which will be performed by your physician on a same day basis in either their office or a hospital.  These procedures have in common one objective: to disrupt the hemorrhoid’s blood supply and thus eliminate its presence completely.  These procedures include: (1) Rubber Band Ligation, which consists of your doctor tying off the hemorrhoid with one or more rubber bands to cut-off blood flow to the infected tissue, and thus facilitating the hemorrhoid’s dissolution; (2) Sclerotherapy Therapy, a procedure in which your doctor injects a hardening chemical into the base of the hemorrhoid; (3) Infrared Coagulation, where the hemorrhoid is subjected to intense infrared light for a short duration, which causes the vein to clot and thereby disrupts blood-flow to the infected sight; 4) Laser Coagulation, which is a relatively newer procedure and involves using an electrical current on the hemorrhoid itself, which also disrupts blood flow to the hemorrhoid, reducing its size and the attendant symptoms, and 5) Hemorrhoidectomy, a surgical procedure that is fully invasive and requires a much longer recovery period, as well as presenting many more risks.  The Hemorrhoidectomy is typically performed in a hospital and involves completely excising, or removing, the internal hemorrhoid from the anus.

Internal Hemorrhoid Symptoms are similar to those of colon cancer and other diseases of the digestive system. Therefore, it is importantthat all symptoms are investigated by a physician specially trained in treating diseases of the colon and rectum. If you still have questions about internal hemorrhoid symptoms or treatment after reading this article please leave us a comment and we will do our best to get you the answer.

written by,  David Gilbert
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