Hemorrhoids: Definition, Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention. All You Need To Know

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are prominent, swollen veins in the anus and in the lower part of the rectum.

It is formed as a result of your efforts during the work of the intestine or as a result of intense pressure on these veins, as happens during pregnancy, for example.

Hemorrhoids is a very common disease. Until the age of 50, nearly half of adults collide with itching problems, feeling uncomfortable and bleeding that can be signs of illness.

In people's laws, he gets an improvement in hemorrhoid symptoms after using home remedies to treat hemorrhoids and change the established lifestyle.

 

 

Types of haemorrhoids

 

There are four types of hemorrhoids:

1. External hemorrhoids: located on the anus, directly on the surface from which the bowel movements come out. It's always invisible, but it's sometimes seen as lumps on the anus surface.

External hemorrhoids are not usually a serious medical problem.

2. Internal hemorrhoids: usually found in the rectum. It cannot always be seen because it is so deep that it is not visible from the anus.

Internal hemorrhoids are not usually dangerous and tend to disappear on their own.

3. Falling hemorrhoids: Falling hemorrhoids appear when internal hemorrhoids swell and stick to the anus.

Hanging hemorrhoids look like swollen red lumps or bumps outside the anus.

4. Coagulated hemorrhoids: that is, affected by thrombosis. It contains a thrombus hemorrhagic (blood clot) inside the hemorrhoid tissue. They may appear as lumps or swelling around the anus.

Blood clots can occur in both internal and external hemorrhoids

 

 

Symptoms of hemorrhoids

In the case of hemorrhoids, the following symptoms may appear:

• Bleeding, painless, during the work of the intestine. Sometimes, a little shiny red blood can be seen on toilet paper or on the toilet.

• Itching or irritation in the anus.

• Pain or discomfort.

• Hemorrhoids, visible and prominent outside the anus.

• Swelling around the anus.

• Painful or hypersensitive bump next to the anus.

• Fecal leakage.

 

The symptoms of hemorrhoids due to the different location of the hemorrhoids are different:

 

1.    Symptoms of internal haemorrhoids: Symptoms of hemorrhoids located inside the rectum. Cannot be seen or felt, usually not causing discomfort.

But effort or burning, when crossing stool, may injure the delicate external surface of hemorrhoids, causing bleeding.

Sometimes, especially when exerting effort, internal hemorrhoids may rush outward, that is, outside the anus.

These are called "protruding hemorrhoids" or "descending hemorrhoids", and they can cause pain and itching (irritation).

 

2. Symptoms of external haemorrhoids: External hemorrhoids are located under the skin, around the anus.

Among the most important symptoms of hemorrhoids, their excitement and irritation can cause itching or bleeding.

Sometimes, the blood may tighten and pull the external hemorrhoids inward, forming a clot (a coagulated blood mass) that causes severe pain, swelling and inflammation.

 

Causes and risk factors for hemorrhoids

The veins around the anus usually tend to contract due to pressure and may swell. Bulging veins may swell due to intense pressure in the lower area of the rectum.

 

This severe pressure can be caused by one of the following factors:

§        Effort during the work of the intestine

§  Prolonged and continuous sitting on the toilet bowl

§  Chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation

§  Overweight

§  Pregnancy

§  Anal sex

§  Likewise, as mentioned, one of the causes of hemorrhoids may be the result of a genetic factor. The risk of developing hemorrhoids increases with age, as the tissues supporting the rectal and anal veins weaken and contract with age.

 

 

Complications of hemorrhoids

Complications are rare. However, if any, they may include:

• Anemia (anemia): chronic blood loss as a result of the disease can cause anemia.

• Stifled hemorrhoids: This occurs as a result of interruption in the supply of blood and suffocation. This can lead to severe pain, and eventually tissue death (necrosis).

 

 

Diagnosis of hemorrhoids

The rectal and anal doctor (proctologist) can diagnose external hemorrhoids by only looking.

In order to diagnose internal hemorrhoids, the doctor needs to insert his finger, covered with a rubber glove, into the rectum.

This is because internal hemorrhoids are often very soft and the doctor cannot feel its presence by examining the anus only. It is possible that the lower part of the intestine and rectum can be lost by an analoscope, rectoscope or sigmoidoscope.

These endoscopes are soft and luminous tubes, which allow the doctor to look into the anus and rectum.

Sometimes, for diagnosis, more extensive, comprehensive examinations of all parts of the intestine may be required by colonoscopy (colonoscopy).

This requires the need for a colonoscopy (colonoscopy) examination in the following cases:

• Symptoms and signs indicate another disease in the digestive system (digestive system).

• High risk of developing a person undergoing screening for colon cancer (colon cancer).

• The person under examination over the age of fifty and not undergoing colonoscopy in the last ten years.

 

 

Treatment of hemorrhoids

Effective methods for treating hemorrhoids

Fortunately, there are many effective ways to treat the disease . Hemorrhoids treatment is divided into several types as follows:

 

1- Medicines

If your hemorrhoids only causes discomfort, your doctor may prescribe some over-the-counter medications such as creams, ointments, or suppositories. These medications contain substances such as hydrocortisone and lidocaine that relieve pain and itching, even if only temporarily.

Warning: Do not use the cream that contains steroids and is sold without a prescription for more than a week, unless the doctor advises you to do so, as doing so will cause thinning of the skin in the area.

 

2- Eradication

If you have external hemorrhoids causing painful thrombosis, the doctor will most likely get rid of this thrombosis by creating an incision to drain the thrombus, known as excision thrombosis.

This process is highly effective if applied within the 72 hours following the formation of thrombus in the area.

 

3- Simple procedures

In the event that your hemorrhoids are associated with bleeding and pain, the doctor may advise you to use one of the minimal procedures, and it can be applied in the doctor's office without the need for anesthesia, and these options are:

• Hemorrhoids treatment with a rubber band: the doctor put a strip or two of rubber around the base of the internal hemorrhoid to prevent blood flow to it, to fall within one week only. This treatment may cause bleeding, which may begin 2-4 days after the operation, but is rarely severe.

• Sclerotherapy: During this treatment mechanism, the doctor injects a chemical solution into the hemorrhoidal tissue in order to reduce it. Although this injection does not cause any pain, it may be less effective than the rubber band.

• Coagulation: Coagulation techniques depend on the use of laser, heat, or infrared light, which leads to internal hemorrhoid stiffness and withering. This procedure is associated with some side effects and the chances of the hemorrhoid re-appearing are greater compared to the treatment with the rubber band.

 

4- Surgical operations

If the previous treatments did not work and the hemorrhoid size was large, the doctor may advise you to use the available surgeries, and these operations include:

• Hemorrhoidectomy: In this process, the surgeon removes excess tissue that causes bleeding, the surgeon may use local anesthesia associated with sedation. This is the most effective procedure that helps fully treat hemorrhoids. Side effects of this treatment include:

1. Difficulty completely empty the bladder

2. Urinary tract infections.

• Shortening of hemorrhoids: This process aims to prevent blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissues and is used only in the case of internal hemorrhoids. The pain associated with this process is less than the previous one and unfortunately the chances of developing hemorrhoids again are greater. The side effects associated with this process include:

1. Bleeding

2. Pain and urinary retention.

 

5- Treating hemorrhoids at home

You can treat hemorrhoids that are not associated with great pain in home ways. These procedures include the following:

• Focusing on eating foods rich in fiber: eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in order to soften stools.

• Warm baths: Make warm baths for 10-15 minutes three to four times daily.

• Keep the anal area clean: Always make sure to clean the anal area and its surroundings using warm water and do not forget to dry it well.

• Do not use dry toilet paper: Replace it with wet toilet paper that does not contain alcohol or perfume.

• Apply a cold source: It is intended for the area where the hemorrhoid appears to reduce swelling.

 

Treatment of external hemorrhoids

In general, there is no need or recommendations for treatment by invasive procedures or surgeries for patients suffering from external hemorrhoids except in the event of thrombosis. In general, patients who are examined within 72 hours since thrombosis occurs, blood is usually removed by a simple surgical procedure such as opening, to significantly reduce pain.

On the other hand, some doctors searching in this field believe that there is an advantage to have surgery to remove these hemorrhoids in order to prevent the occurrence of frequent thrombosis.

 

Internal hemorrhoid treatment

As mentioned earlier, hemorrhoids are treated separately, each according to their condition and degree of hemorrhoids.

Surgical treatment and hemorrhoid removal operations

If other procedures do not succeed in treating hemorrhoids and do not achieve the desired results, or if the hemorrhoids are large, the doctor will likely recommend surgery for treatment.

Some surgeries can be done in outpatient clinics, while others require hospitalization for one night:

• Closed hemorrhoidectomy.

• Open Hemorrhoidectomy.

• Hemorrhoidectomy with stapling.

• Operation to connect the hemorrhoidal artery guided by ultrasound (Doppler).

• lateral internal sphincterotomy.

 

 

Hemorrhoids prevention

The best way to prevent it is to make sure that the stools are loose, so that it can pass easily.

In order to prevent or reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids, the following measures are preferred:

• Eat foods rich in dietary fiber.

• Drink more fluids.

• Thinking about the possibility of eating dietary fiber as a food additives.

Refrain from making strenuous effort.

• Entering the toilet as soon as you feel the need (not curbing the need).

•    Playing sports.

• Refrain from standing and sitting for long periods of time.

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