Hemorrhoids
Source American Academy of Family Physicians
March 02, 2005
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum or anus. The type of hemorrhoid you have depends on where it occurs. Internal hemorrhoids involve the veins inside your rectum. You can’t feel pain on the inside of you rectum, so you probably won’t feel pain from an internal hemorrhoid. You may feel fullness in the rectum, like you need to have a bowel movement. Hemorrhoids that involve veins outside your anus, in your skin, are called external hemorrhoids. They may crack and bleed from straining or rubbing. External hemorrhoids can be itchy and painful especially if a blood clot forms.
One of the main things that can lead to hemorrhoids is straining when you are trying to have a bowel movement. This may happen if you are constipated or if you have diarrhea. It may also happen if you sit on the toilet too long. When you sit on the toilet, your anus relaxes. The veins in your anus then fill with blood, which puts pressure on those veins. Just about everyone has hemorrhoids at some time. But some things may make you more likely to get them. People whose parents had hemorrhoids may be more likely to get them. Pregnant women often get hemorrhoids because of the strain from carrying the baby and also from giving birth. Being very overweight, or standing or lifting too much can make hemorrhoids worse.
Hemorrhoids are most often a short-term problem. Constipation is one of the main things that can lead to hemorrhoids.
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Preventing Constipation
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Although you will find many hemorrhoid medicines in the stores, some haven’t been proved to work. And some may even be harmful if you use them too much. Talk to your family doctor about which products may be helpful for you.
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Relieving the pain
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