2009-11-06 13:46:03 -
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Hemorrhoids are dilated veins, or varicose veins, located inside of the anal canal (internal hemorrhoids), or at the anal opening (external hemorrhoids). Hemorrhoids may be undetected until bleeding occurs and may be present for years.
Causes of Hemorrhoids
Increased pressure in the veins produces hemorrhoids. The veins may become enlarged during a bowel movement. Pregnancy, may raise the pressure in these veins.
Signs
and Symptoms of Hemorrhoids
Precisely why hemorrhoids develop is unknown. Researchers have identified a number of reasons to explain hemorrhoidal swelling, including the simple fact that people's upright posture places a lot of pressure on the anal and rectal veins. Aging, obesity, pregnancy, chronic constipation or diarrhea, excessive use of enemas or laxatives, straining during bowel movements, and spending too much time on the toilet are considered contributing factors. Heredity may also play a part in some cases. There is no reason to believe that hemorrhoids are caused by jobs requiring, for instance, heavy lifting or long hours of sitting, although activities of that kind may make existing hemorrhoids worse.
The commonest symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bright red blood in the toilet bowl or on one's feces or toilet paper. When hemorrhoids remain inside the anus they are almost never painful, but they can prolapse (protrude outside the anus) and become irritated and sore. Sometimes, prolapsed hemorrhoids move back into the anal canal on their own or can be pushed back in, but at other times they remain permanently outside the anus until treated by a doctor.
Small external hemorrhoids usually do not produce symptoms. Larger ones, however, can be painful and interfere with cleaning the anal area after a bowel movement. When, as sometimes happens, a blood clot forms in an external hemorrhoid (creating what is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid), the skin around the anus becomes inflamed and a very painful lump develops. On rare occasions the clot will begin to bleed after a few days and leave blood on the underwear. A thrombosed hemorrhoid will not cause an embolism.
Hemorrhoids produce rectal bleeding, rectal pain and rectal itching. There may be blood on the stool and there may be a mucus discharge after bowel movements. A lump may be felt in the anus. Sometimes, there is the sensation that the rectum has not emptied completely after a bowel movement. This is usually seen with large hemorrhoids only. There is often inflammation and swelling of the rectal tissue.
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