Hemorrhoids Causes, Diagnosis & Treatments


Introduction to Hemorrhoids

A Hemorrhoid is a blood vessel that is found in the surrounding areas of the rectum and the anus. Hemorrhoids themselves aren’t an abnormal-find, they are actually a naturally occurring part of the human body, but when they begin to swell they can cause a variety of health problems. Many people treat Hemorrhoids as a disease or abnormal, but they’re completely normal and you shouldn’t be alarmed at their presence unless they’re causing you pain or distress.

Hemorrhoid Swelling Causes

Swelling occurs in Hemorrhoids when the pressure builds up in the small vessels that complete the Hemorrhoid. This causes them to swell and grow in size due to the extra blood being pumped into them. As more blood enters the Hemorrhoids they develop in size, and this is where they become painful. Below, we look at some of the main causes of Hemorrhoid swelling.

· Eating a low fiber diet is a common reason that swelling can occur, and this is because when a person is generating bowel movement, there is less of a caliber to operate. This subsequently causes the pressure to increase inside the blood vessels, which in turn initiates the swelling.

· Pregnancy is often associated with Hemorrhoid swelling, and this is usually attributed to the extra pressure that the uterus exerts on the rectum and anus. Alongside the physical changes, pregnancy can also cause hormonal changes that are capable of weakening the muscles that control the rectum and anus.

· Obesity is a common cause of swelling, largely due to the extra amount of waste that passes through to bowels.

· Diarrhea can cause swelling similar to that of an obsess person – Because the immune system is so busy trying to keep the body running healthily, the blood vessels in the anus can become less important to the body, and with the added movement that passes through the bowels, they can quickly become irritated and begin to swell.

· Colon Cancer has been known to make the Hemorrhoids worse.

· Rectal surgery can sometimes cause the symptoms to develop.

Diagnosing Hemorrhoid swelling

Diagnosing Hemorrhoid swelling is thankfully relatively simple, and there are some common signs that denote that swelling is occurring. Constant itchiness, pain in the anus or rectum, feeling an odd sensation of fullness and/or bleeding. If you experience any of these symptoms, head to the doctors a soon as you can to get professionally diagnosed. If your symptoms are too painful to be examined by a doctor, a blood test may be taken to determine your symptoms without having to put you through a painful physical examination.

Hemorrhoid swelling treatments

Preventing Hemorrhoids in the first place is by fat the most effective form of treatment, and this is why your doctor will advise you on proper hydration and diet to ensure you minimise the chances of developing swelling in future. Once the symptoms have already developed, there are a range of treatments available, but the type of treatment you receive depends entirely on the severity of the swelling.

Hemorrhoids that are deemed not too severe are treated by light medication as well as making certain lifestyle changes, such as sitting in a warm bath tub every evening. Avoiding certain foods such as spicy foods is also recommended, and this should reduce the hemorrhoids naturally in time.

If severe inflammation is found to occur, over the counter creams and/or suppositories will be used to try and reduce swelling and decrease the discomfort that the patient is in. Treatment can go on for a few months depending on the severity and the patient’s reaction to the medicine. In extremely severe cases, surgery may be necessary to manually remove the Hemorrhoids and correct any other problems that may be found. This is usually a last resort, and will only be attempted after multiple treatment cycles have been attempted through medication.

Whilst it may be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about your problems, it’s important to understand that the problem is treatable, and in most cases, it’s a quick solution. Don’t put yourself in physical pain because you feel awkward about visiting your doctor. If you need support, ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the appointment with the doctor.