Hemorrhoids, hemroids or piles as they are more commonly known to the layperson affect at least 50% of people at some point in their lives. Considering the world has 6 billion people, that is an astounding percentage that warrants our attention!

So, what exactly are piles, why do we get them, and what are the symptoms of hemroids?

Hemroids are engorged blood vessels that manifest as painful inflammation of the rectal area. What gives rise to them?

Several factors increase the risks of piles developing. Just everyday activities can have rather exacerbating consequences. These include:

• standing without a break for long periods of time
• sitting still for prolonged periods
• extreme straining due to constipation and interestingly, its diametrical opposite; diarrhea
• extreme obesity
• pregnancy; especially during the difficult final trimester
• anal sex
• poor diet that is deficient of high fibers
• a sedentary lifestyle that is devoid in exercise
• genetics; a cause that may be purely conjecture.

So, how can we tell that we are suffering from piles; or in other words, what are the symptoms of hemroids?

As with all medical conditions, proper diagnosis is very important for correct treatment. Piles have often been erroneously blamed for other conditions such as skin fissures, fistulae, abscesses and itches.

There are two classifications of hemroids; internal and external.

Bleeding is the most commonly experienced symptom of internal hemroids. Bright red blood can be seen coating expelled stools, coloring the toilet bowl or staining used toilet tissue. Whilst it may appear alarming, hemorrhoidal bleeding does not normally lead to life-threatening major blood loss.

Another symptom of internal hemroids is when they are described as prolapsed. This is when they protrude from the anal opening. It is quite alright to push such prolapsed piles back into the anus with a firm but gentle tuck.

As for external hemorrhoids or piles, the most common symptom is the clotting of blood that results in swollen lumps. In this state, they are classified as thrombosed. This condition calls for more attention as excessive attempts to relieve the intense pain, via physical cleaning, can result in an aggravated state.

Recognising the symptoms of hemroids is the first step to recovery. Normally, piles are very easily treated. They do away without the help of any medication or treatment by a doctor. For the more persistent variety, there are plenty of over the counter remedies at the local drugstore or even on the internet. The key thing to watch out for is when they are thrombosed, whereupon it is imperative that you seek medical attention even if the embarrassment kills you. A doctor can ascertain that you are in fact suffering from piles and not any other medical condition requiring a different form of treatment.

Blood in the Stool

Any process within the intestinal tract that causes bleeding can result in blood in the toilet or on your undergarments. Hemorrhoidal bleeding is usually scant, a few drops or sometimes as much as a couple of teaspoons. If you feel weak, light-headed, or dizzy combined with more significant blood loss, seek medical attention immediately. There are a number of potential causes of intestinal bleeding, some of which can be serious. Small bleeds may be a warning of a larger bleed to come.

Never assume that bleeding is from hemorrhoids, especially if you are over age 40 or have no history of previous hemorrhoid problems. If you have black and/or tar-like stools, see a doctor immediately. Gastrointestinal specialists use upper and/or lower endoscopy (long telescopic probes with a leading video camera inserted via the mouth or anus) to diagnose gastrointestinal bleeding. If they cannot determine the source of bleeding with endoscopy, they might use a nuclear scan or even angiography (a dye study of the arteries) in the investigation.

Hemorrhoids

Most often, bright red blood with a bowel movement is due to bleeding from hemorrhoid veins. Hemorrhoid bleeding may occur when enlarged and inflamed blood vessels that line the anal canal rupture. You may also experience pain with defecation or anal itching. Enlarged hemorrhoids are caused by excessive and repeated pressure on the rectum caused by constipation, straining, or prolonged sitting. Often a bout of diarrhea precedes the symptoms of inflamed hemorrhoids.

Treat hemorrhoids with topical steroid preparations, in cream or suppository form, and stool softeners. Frequent warm soaks in the tub keep the area clean and provide additional relief. Chronic sufferers should avoid prolonged straining and sitting, and choose a diet high in fiber to avoid constipation. Bulking agents such as Metamucil or Citrucel may help you stay regular.

At first glance it may appear surprising how problems like constipation, hard stools, strained bowel movements and sedentary lifestyles can lead to the initially innocuous seeming Thrombosed hemorrhoids which later can turn chronic and severe.  These types of hemorrhoids can result in heavy bleeding and tremendous pain.

What are Thrombosed Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are also referred to as piles and they may be internal or external. In Layman’s terms, thrombosed hemorrhoids are simply external hemorrhoids which lie outside the anal opening. Hemorrhoids which develop inside the anal canal are called internal hemorrhoids. They lie beneath the lining of the anus or the rectum inside the anal canal, or the lower rectum.

External or thrombosed hemorrhoids are multitudes of veins which lie underneath the skin at the opening of the anus and thus are outside the anus canal. When the external hemorrhoid develops a blood clot, the area around the opening of the anus canal gets inflamed and a painful lump can form.

The majority of the symptoms associated with hemorrhoids are caused by these external piles. There may be burning, itching or bleeding symptoms and quite often they are very painful. Blood on your toilet tissues or in your stools may be indicative of hemorrhoids. These types of symptoms should immediately be addressed as they show that the hemorrhoids have really become engorged with blood.

Sometimes, piles can cause heavy bleeding leading to severe blood loss. So, hemorrhoids should be treated at the first sign and not left to chance. Pain in your bowel movements is also a symptom of thrombosed hemorrhoids. If you can feel tender lumps near the anus or have problems in sitting down, chances then there is a chance that you have developed hemorrhoids.

How do You Know if Hemorrhoids are Thrombosed

External hemorrhoids develop slowly and gradually and the elderly most often get afflicted with this ailment.  However, by no means is it restricted to the elderly.  Amongst the elderly, this complaint is often related to complications of the colon and the GI tract. However, factors like continuous sitting without getting up, previous complications during childbirth in the past, and changes in the bowel movements are not to be ruled out in the development of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can greatly diminish your quality of life due to the discomfort and pain caused by it and if left untreated for too long, it can turn debilitating for the sufferer.

Many a time, external hemorrhoids take care of themselves with the body reabsorbing and shrinking the tissue. But, if external means are to be sought, then taking care of hemorrhoids in the holistic way by means of proper diet and exercise and natural remedies is are options that should be closely considered.

In cases, where even this fails, surgery known as hemorrhoidectomy might be the only choice left and this involves the removal of the clot and the thrombosed tissue. This is usually a fairly simple procedure and you should be able to return to his your normal activities within a few days.

Thrombosed hemorrhoids are common occurrences especially among more senior members of society, but by meeting it head on you can diminish its impact on your life greatly.