What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins. They develop in your lower rectum or anus and are a normal occurrence. But they can cause problems when they become enlarged or inflamed.

While many people have hemorrhoids at some point in life, your risk of them increases because of:

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Low-fiber diet
• Chronic diarrhea
• Chronic constipation
• Sitting for long periods

You’re more likely to develop recurrent hemorrhoids if you often strain during bowel movements or if you have a job that requires frequent heavy lifting.

What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?

Symptoms of hemorrhoids depend on where they are. If you have an external hemorrhoid, the swollen veins appear under the skin around your anus. You can experience itching or pain in the anus. It’s also likely you’ll feel a lump near your anal opening.

When you have symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, the swollen veins lie inside your rectum. Internal hemorrhoids are actually a normal part of your anatomy and generally don’t cause symptoms or discomfort. You might have light bleeding during bowel movements.

Rectal bleeding can be a symptom of hemorrhoids as well as other more serious conditions, so you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at San Diego Colon and Rectal Surgeons. You should also request a consultation if you suffer from hemorrhoid pain that interferes with your daily activities and quality of life.

How are hemorrhoids treated?

Treating hemorrhoids often starts with including more fiber in your daily diet and eating more fruits and vegetables. You might need to use a stool softener to prevent straining during bowel movements. It’s also important to stay hydrated to reduce your risk of developing constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids.

If you have mild discomfort from hemorrhoids, you could benefit from medicated creams or suppositories that reduce pain, itching, and bleeding.

Treatment otherwise depends on location. Isolated painful external hemorrhoids can be treated in the office with numbing of the area and excision. Internal hemorrhoids, which generally cause painless, bright red blood per rectum, can often be treated with a procedure known as a rubber band ligation. It involves placing a band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off blood flow. External hemorrhoids can not be treated with banding.

When conservative office-based efforts aren’t enough to treat hemorrhoids, Dr. Beiermeister and Dr. Worsey recommend a hemorrhoidectomy, a surgery to remove the enlarged vein.

When you can’t treat painful or symptomatic hemorrhoids on your own, rely on the expertise of Dr. Worsey and Dr. Beiermeister for help. You can request a diagnostic evaluation online or by calling San Diego Colon and Rectal Surgeons today.