Diagnosing Hemorrhoids

For some people, hemroids are funny and maybe the source of a joke. And while it’s true that a problem with hemroids might not be the worst thing that could happen to a person, it can cause itching, anal bleeding and in some more extreme cases a great deal of pain and discomfort.

If you do have itching, discomfort when using the bathroom, blood on the toilet paper or in the fecal material or any pain in the anal area, you may potentially have hemorrhoid problems, but a medical exam is necessary to rule out any potentially more dangerous conditions. Only a complete colonoscopy can give your doctor a full picture of your colon health but sometimes a sigmoidoscopy will be done in its place. Depending on whether your doctor recommends a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy, will determine how much of your colon is viewed. A colonoscopy looks at the entire bowel but the sigmoidoscopy only sees the last couple feet.

A colonoscopy is a very safe medical procedure that is a good tool to ensure proper long term health. With a high risk of colon disease in your immediate family, you will be required to get screened at age forty, but most people don't need to have an initial exam until age 50. If your test results come back negative, then you will only need to get a colonoscopy every 5 - 10 years. While the colonoscopy is a little embarrassing, the process involved in cleaning out your bowels the day before is quite vile. Generally a heavy duty laxative is prescribed which helps clean all the material out of the anal cavity. A strong laxative like this is going to require an easy day with a toilet near by. Believe it or not, the laxative is considered the worst step. After that, the colonoscopy seems fairly tame. You will be given something to relax and possibly a pain killer.

There are other diseases which can seem like hemroids but can be potentially more dangerous, so consulting with your doctor is the best course of action. These can include colon cancer, polyps, rectal cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which are inflammatory bowel diseases. Other medical problems with the anal region are tears and anal abscesses or infections. These diseases can mirror hemorrhoid problems so further examination is required.