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Hemorrhoids can be one of the most irritating and sometimes painful problems people will face in their lifetime. They are also referred to as "disgusting". Yes, they can be disgusting to deal with, but if you have them then they are still a problem in need of being dealt with. Here is a basic overview of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are really just blood vessels. There is more to it than just that though. Hemorrhoids are blood vessels that usually become swollen. They become swollen because these blood vessels are around the anus region and your lower rectum and they will stretch because of pressure to the region. When this happens, you have produced a hemorrhoid. People increase this pressure and swelling usually from straining when they are trying to release a bowel movement. Some of the other biggest factors in getting hemorrhoids are pregnancy, inheritance through heredity, aging, and constipation. You can usually have hemorrhoids one of two ways-internal or external. Internal hemorrhoids are located within the anus whereas external hemorrhoids come from the skin around the anus.

If you ever think that you may have a hemorrhoid you will need to make sure. There are a variety of other things that can be mistaken for a hemorrhoid. Some of these are fissures, fistulae, and/or abscesses. These tend to cause a lot of itching and irritation and therefore can be mistaken for a hemorrhoid.

Although countless numbers of people may experience a hemorrhoid, not all will experience symptoms. Here are a few noticeable symptoms of a hemorrhoid:

1. Bright red blood covering the stool. You could also see this blood on toilet paper. This is mainly a symptom of an internal hemorrhoid. It is noted though that an internal hemorrhoid can begin to protrude through the anus region towards the outside of the body. It will then become very irritating and painful. You can also refer to this type as a protruding hemorrhoid.

2. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

Those are just a couple of symptoms associated with the different types of hemorrhoids. You can also produce symptoms by excessive straining, scratching or rubbing the anus or around it. This can cause irritation that could set of a chain of events that would bring symptoms of developing a hemorrhoid.

It is not uncommon for people to get hemorrhoids. It is said that around half of the population will get a hemorrhoid by age 50. Women becoming pregnant are a higher target for getting hemorrhoids. What happens here is the fetus is the abdomen causing pressure. This along with hormonal changes can cause the hemorrhoid vessels to get bigger. These vessels are exposed to extremely high pressure during the birth. Most of the hemorrhoids forming during a pregnancy are said to be very temporary problems.

Well, now that you know what hemorrhoids are and what the symptoms can be it is now time to cover how to treat them. If you ever do develop a hemorrhoid you probably should see a doctor. If not though here are some medical treatments aimed at relieving the symptoms:

Warm tub or sitz baths several times a day in plain, warm water for about 10 minutes. This will help soothe the irritated region. It can be a bit painful when first getting into the bath.

Ice packs to help reduce swelling. This is just a pretty common approach to any type of swelling.

Application of a hemorrhoid cream or suppository to the affected area for a limited time.

Prevention of the recurrence of hemorrhoids is aimed at changing conditions associated with the pressure and straining of constipation. A lot of doctors will recommend that you increase the amount of fiber that you intake. This will help you have softer stools. Proper fluids will also come highly recommended. When you have a softer stool, you are able to empty your bowels a lot easier and with less strain. Reducing the straining is your best chance of reducing the risk of getting a protruding hemorrhoid.

Now if the above does not work, then you should not waste any time to seeing if you will need surgical treatment. Surgical treatments are widely used to shrink and eliminate the hemorrhoidal tissue. But do not worry because the doctors normally give anesthesia. There are a number of treatments use including: rubber band litigation, Sclerotherapy, electric or laser heat, and hemorrhoidectomy. Knowing which treatment is for you will vary depending on what type of hemorrhoid you have and the symptoms showing for it.

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