Causes of Hemorrhoids

Also more commonly known as piles, hemorrhoids are painful swelling at or inside the anal sphincter. In medical terminology, hemorrhoids are described as “masses or cushions of tissue within the anal canal that contain blood vessels and their surrounding, supporting tissues, made up of muscle and elastic fibers.”

In other words, hemorrhoids are veins in rectum and anus that are abnormally swollen. When these swollen hemorrhoidal veins are disturbed they also cause surrounding membranes to swell thus causing pain and discomfort.

Though harmless, hemorrhoids are present in everyone. However, when the hemorrhoidal cushions enlarge then they become extremely painful and dangerous if not treated properly. This condition afflicts about four percent of population that includes both men and women and they usually occur between 45 and 65 years of age.

The arteries in rectum supply blood to a network of arteries in anal canal. Too much pressure in rectum causes swelling. This pressure forces blood to stretch and swell the walls of the veins. Hemorrhoidal blood vessels thus have significant amount of blood. That is why there is profuse bleeding in cases of piles. Thus, too much swelling can lead to rupture of the hemorrhoids and bleeding in some cases.

Two Types of Hemorrhoids

Internal Hemorrhoids

These are deep inside the rectum and quite harmless. Since bleeding from internet hemorrhoids could be from a source like colorectal cancer, they should be treated on time.

Internal hemorrhoids are usually not painful. They can result in bleeding, anal itchiness, prolapse, incarceration, and gangrene. However, a prolapsing internal hemorrhoid can become gangrenous.

External Hemorrhoids

These are common type of hemorrhoids that cause excruciating pain, burning and itching sensation. If an external hemorrhoid is severed from the blood supply, a clot can form and lead to painful thrombosed hemorrhoid. This is a severe condition that requires treatment. The pain is caused due to blood clotting in the hemorrhoidal blood vessels.

After initial occurrence and treatment the chances of recurrence remain. Complete removal is difficult. Good habits and timely treatment can avoid surgery.

Causes of Hemorrhoids

The anal veins drain blood away from anal canal and the hemorrhoids to upwards into the rectum, and downwards beneath the skin surrounding the anus. Thus, the hemorrhoidal cushions are pushed or dragged downwards by the force of the stool when stool is pushed downwards. This is particularly so if the stool is hard. In such cases bowel movements would require enhanced force for stool to pass through the tighter sphincter, the muscle that allows us to control our bowel movements.

The enhanced force applied to hemorrhoids by passing stool, drag hemorrhoids downwards and enlarge them. Another reason is softening of the supporting tissue with age. These tissues are not able to support the hemorrhoids and their mooring loosens and slide down the anal canal.

A person with hemorrhoids can feel it when the person wipes after a bowel movement or sees blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl.

Some Other Causes of Hemorrhoids

• Constant sitting
• Inadequate intake of fibrous food
• Chronic straining to have a bowel movements (from constipation or hard stools)
• Diarrhea
• Prolonged sitting on the toilet
• Severe coughing
• Childbirth (Pregnancy)
• Heavy Lifting
• Tumors in the pelvis

Hemorrhoids Treatment

Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms such as burning, pain and itching patient suffers from as well as to shrink the hemorrhoids to their previous size.

• If your job requires sitting for long hours, doctors advise that you get up for five minutes after every hour or so and have a walk to relax your muscles.
• It is also recommended to change your sitting position as frequently as possible.
• Timely treatment of cough, diarrhea and constipation is also advised.
• Lots of fibrous diet to have softer stools is highly recommended.
• Soaking the rectal area ¾ times daily in hot water, in a shallow bath for 15-20 minutes.
• Pain relieving drugs.
• Surface-acting creams and suppositories.
• Topical medications are useful to shrink your hemorrhoids back down to normal size.
• Cleansing the entire rectal area with warm water after each bowel movement.
• Use of fiber laxative in bulk to soften stools.