Hemorrhoids Treatment
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus or in the lower rectum. About 50% of adults experience hemorrhoid symptoms by the age of 50.
Hemorrhoids can be either internal or external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids occur in the anus or rectum. External hemorrhoids occur outside the anus. Hemorrhoids are also called hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids are the most common and annoying. Hemorrhoids can cause pain, intense itching, and discomfort when sitting. Fortunately, they are treatable.
Symptoms depend on the type of hemorrhoid.
Internal hemorrhoids can cause:
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Blood on tissue after defecation
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Skin protruding from the anus during defecation
Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
- Extreme itching around the anus
- An uncomfortable lump or swelling near the anus
- Aches and pains around the anus, especially when sitting.
- Hemorrhoids often do not cause pain.
- However, external hemorrhoids can form blood clots in the skin. This is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid. Internal hemorrhoids may also protrude. This means that it cannot be retracted into the anus. Both prolapsed and clotted hemorrhoids can cause significant pain.
Hemorrhoids can be very uncomfortable, but they are not life-threatening and often go away on their own without treatment.
Hemorrhoids occur when there’s too much pressure on the veins around your anus.
Possible causes and risk factors include:
- straining during a bowel movement
- sitting for a long period of time, especially on the toilet
- having chronic constipation or diarrhea
- having a family history of hemorrhoids
- engaging in consistent heavy lifting or other activities that strain your body
- having obesity
- having anal sexual intercourse, which can irritate hemorrhoids
- being pregnant (an enlarged uterus presses on the vein in the colon, causing it to bulge)
- being over the age of 50
Removal of hemorrhoids (hemorrhoidectomy);
The surgeon will choose one of several techniques to remove excess tissue that is causing the bleeding. Surgery can be performed under local anesthesia combined with sedation, spinal or general anesthesia.
Hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective and complete method of treating severe or recurrent hemorrhoids. Complications include temporary difficulty emptying the bladder, which can lead to urinary tract infections. This complication occurs mainly after spinal anesthesia.
Most people will feel some pain after the procedure, but it can be relieved with medication. A warm bath can also help.
Hemorrhoid stapling;
This procedure, called hemorrhoidal stapling, blocks blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissue. Usually used only for internal hemorrhoids.
Stapling is generally less painful than hemorrhoidectomy and allows a quicker return to normal activities. However, compared with hemorrhoidectomy, stapling carries a higher risk of recurrence and a higher risk of rectal prolapse, in which part of the rectum protrudes from the anus. Complications also include bleeding, urinary retention and pain, and, rarely, life-threatening blood infections (sepsis).
