Hemorrhoids Information

Hemorrhoids are a painful aggravation that sometimes require surgery if symptoms do not improve within a few days of using at-home treatments. They are swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus. All hemorrhoids are not created equal. It is important to be familiar with the various information about hemorrhoids, so you can better treat your hemorrhoids at home.

There are two main types of hemorrhoids – internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids do not often bother the sufferer. The only times they cause quite a bit of discomfort is if they swell so large from strain that they protrude from the anus. The hemorrhoids is then considered prolapsed or protruding. Normally, internal hemorrhoids are located inside the lower rectum, and their presence is often only known by small amounts bright red blood you may see on the toilet tissue or stool or a feeling of fullness after a bowel movement. If protrusion occurs and remains, pain, itching, and bleeding will be evident.

The other type of hemorrhoids are external hemorrhoids. These are much more noticeable, producing a lump or bulge around the anus. The nerve endings are very sensitive in this area, so external hemorrhoids are often very painful. If you have external hemorrhoids, it is a wise suggestion to invest in a donut pillow. These can really save you discomfort when sitting. Besides being quite painful, external hemorrhoids can bleed, itch, and burn. If blood begins to collect inside an external hemorrhoid, a blood clot (known as a thrombosed hemorrhoid) can form and cause extreme pain.

Thrombosed hemorrhoids often require surgery to improve symptoms. External hemorrhoids are the less common of the types of hemorrhoids, but are often incorrectly self-diagnosed. It is important to talk to your physician about which type of hemorrhoids you suffer from. Your physician will have answers and information available for you.

Over-the-counter treatments and at-home remedies for hemorrhoids only alleviate symptoms associated with hemorrhoids. These include creams, suppositories, and warm baths. If your diet, water intake, and exercise do not change permanently, then you will most likely suffer from hemorrhoidal flare-ups or recurrences anytime there is a strain put on your anal/rectal area. Unfortunately for many people, hemorrhoids will not go away completely and can even worsen over time – growing in both quantity and size. The good news is that there are ways to end your discomfort for good.

There are many surgical procedures available that have short recovery times and very little pain involved during the actual procedure. Not all hemorrhoids require surgery. It is usually only recommended for those with thrombosed hemorrhoids or protruding internal hemorrhoids that do not go away on their own or improve somewhat with at-home treatment. As stated before, your doctor can provide you with all the information about hemorrhoids and information about what type of hemorrhoids treatment will be best for you.