Understanding Hemorrhoids

Enlarged and swollen veins around the rectum and anal canal create a condition called hemorrhoids. It is seen most often in people suffering from constipation which caused strained bowel movements that exert great pressure on the hemorrhoid veins, causing swelling which then causes the formation of a hemroid. Liver cirrhosis is also found to be a cause for hemorrhoids or piles, as it is otherwise known as.

The two types of hemorrhoid are the internal hemorrhoid and the external hemorrhoid. While the internal one occurs inside the rectum and may remain undetected unless it turns severe, external hemorrhoids can be felt around the outside of the anal opening and are usually detected quickly. Some of the typical symptoms of the disease are pain around the anus while sitting, pain during bowel movements, itching around the anal opening, presence of lumps, or even the existence of blood. Whenever symptoms have been detected, make a visit to your doctor. If undetected and untreated, external hemorrhoids can result in a painful condition called thrombosed hemorrhoids. If you are aged above forty and have a family history of colon cancer, make sure that you get an appointment with the doctor without delay.

The causes for hemorrhoid can be accounted to a number of reasons. Constipation is one major reason that results in the condition with the pressure possibly causing injury to the veins in the anal canal and rectum. A low-fiber diet and highly refined foods can result in constipation, thus causing hemorrhoids. Another cause that has been linked to the condition is the inappropriate use of laxatives. Prolonged sitting or standing all day long, without much exercise, exerts pressure on the veins, which also potentially may lead to hemorrhoids. Obesity and anal intercourse are the other factors that put pressure on the anal canal and cause strain. Unfortunately, pregnancy is found to put quite a strain on the body including the anal canal and hemorrhoids are quite common in pregnant women especially in the later months.