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.

The formation of hemorrhoids can be traced back to causes such as constipation, pregnancy, obesity, anal intercourse, diarrhea, and aging.You should only opt for surgery if you experience severe bleeding, itching, or pain.

Hemorrhoids tend to appear just outside the rectal area or inside of it.External hemorrhoids form just outside the anal opening and can be seen or felt.Swelling and pain in the anus as well as a lump in that same area are two symptoms of external hemorrhoids.  Hemorrhoid surgery is one of the ways to treat external hemorrhoids including other non-complicated treatments.

The task of treating internal hemorrhoids is much more difficult.  These occur inside the rectum.Bleeding is the single most common symptom for the internal hemorrhoids condition.Usually pain is not predominant unless the condition is not treated properly.Under this circumstance, the pain would greatly increase and the condition would generally get worse. 

Medical surgery for hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid surgery is a medical treatment for getting rid of hemorrhoids.Any tissue laying close to the hemorrhoid will be removed as well.  Hemorrhoid surgery is used for treating severe cases of hemorrhoids that can well be external or internal.

The blood supply to the hemorrhoids will be shut off using stitches.Any tissue laying close to the hemorrhoid will be removed without causing any sort of damage to the anal sphincter.Some tools like scissors and scalpels are used to remove these tissues.

When you have tried all the natural cures for hemorrhoids out there and none seem to work for you, then hemorrhoid surgery might just be the answer.But this also has its own drawbacks.The surgery can be quite painful.Fortunately, there has been a new method developed called the stapled hemorrhoidopexy that is easier and causes less pain than other surgical treatments.

Read more on what are the hemorrhoid surgery options.

What are hemorrhoids? Well, for many people they are a real pain in the backside, that’s for sure.  But to be more precise, Hemorrhoids refer to swellings and inflammation of veins that are located in the rectum and anus.

They are actually mass of tissues infused with blood vessels which if not attended to on time will cause itching, bleeding and in extreme cases severe pain. The bowel movements are hampered and the patient goes through a lot of discomfort.

What Causes Hemorrhoids

Besides knowing what hemorrhoids are, if you want to get rid of them, it is essential to know what causes them. The primary cause is constipation. This anomaly is particularly evident in women, as a fall out of water retention during menstruation. Excessive exertion from bowel movement is therefore a primary cause.

Hypertension is another major reason, which strains the link between the vena cava and the portal vein in the rectal wall. Obesity, prolonged sitting, poor posture and muscle tone that create undue pressure in the rectal area will lead to hemorrhoids. Pregnant women with hypertension are prone to it. Consumption of caffeine and even alcohol can help cause it.

Hemorrhoids Misdiagnoses

Hemorrhoids must not be confused with fistulae or fissures though they exhibit similar symptoms. Hemorrhoids are normally temporary and not fatal. They disappear through proper treatment. The symptoms too are not always apparent. You may notice blood in your stools and sense itching and pain. In such a case of ‘thrombosed hemorrhoids’, the patient will find a stiff lump in the anus.

The Importance of Healthy Diet and Exercise

Vitamin E deficiency and lack of fluid along with excess intake of dairy products are responsible for hemorrhoids. However ‘probiotic’ food like yogurt may prevent inflammation. Since internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum and are not painful, the patient may not even be aware of it. However irritation may cause it to bleed.

By exercising, increasing fluid and fiber intake, and correcting posture one can prevent hemorrhoids. Use of laxatives and wearing of tight underwear will aggravate the condition. Women should increase their intake of fluids and dietary fiber just before menstruation. The use of squat toilets also brings relief.

Approach to hemorrhoids varies from person-to-person and even culture-to-culture. To many, hemorrhoids are temporary. Mild and homely treatments are enough. Bidet, warm bath, analgesic are used for relief.
In the case of external hemorrhoids a warm compress can be applied which causes the rectal area to relax. Treating Hemorrhoids, in the early stages, with medicated cream proves beneficial. You might want to avoid steroid preparations, as they may aggravate the condition. The affected area should be kept dry and clean with adequate lubrication. Suppositories will also help.

Natural or herbal remedies should be tried under proper guidance to avoid drug interaction. Use of horse chestnut, witch hazel, aloe vera, Japanese pagoda plant extracts, and honey has proved to be effective. Consumption of plantain, seed husks, chamomile tea is encouraged for soft stool. Surgical treatments for Hemorrhoids include ‘Galvanic electrotherapy, rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, cryosurgery etc.

Just knowing the answer to the question, what are hemorrhoids is not enough. A thorough knowledge of its causes is essential if one intends to avoid it.

If you are suffering from Hemorrhoids, the first question that comes to your mind when you experience the pain is “How long do hemorrhoids last?”

Apart from the pain, there might be other infuriating symptoms like itching, burning and even bleeding. Don’t worry! This article gives all your answers concerning how long do hemorrhoids last. However, in order to answer this question effectively, there is first a need to comprehend what hemorrhoids actually are, what are their causes and symptoms and finally, how are they treated.

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, popularly known as piles, refer to a common medical problem that is caused by the swelling and inflammation of veins in the rectal area. The inflamed and swollen veins cause pain and itching and even bleeding in many cases. Hemorrhoids can occur in any area of the rectum, and depending on where and how they occur, might dictate how to treat them. Furthermore, hemorrhoids vary in size and so does the intensity of pain that they cause.

External Hemorrhoids

In addition to that, there are different types of hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids occur outside the anal area. They are not that complicated, as they can be seen or felt externally and can be treated with topical medication. They become painful, if the blood clots and make them large. In spite of this, such hemorrhoids can be cured with the use of medicated pads, consuming fiber rich diets and taking warm baths.

Internal Hemorrhoids

On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids are of major concern. They occur inside the rectal area. Initially they can be painless, but if they bleed and the situation worsens, they can become quite painful. They may hurt you more and more as they evolve. If this happens, there is a need to consult a physician. This is especially important because hemorrhoids can display similar symptoms to other types of problems.

If you are diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids, then you should start taking precautions and treatment immediately.  If you fail to deal with them, there is a chance they might become prolapsed hemorrhoids where they bulge outside the anus.

The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids get worse with time. How long hemorrhoids last depends on a number of factors. The first and the most important factor is the diet. If you like lot of spicy and oily food, then the situation is probably not going to improve in any case. Hence, there is a need to have a fiber rich diet and intake a lot of water or fluids.

Having a sitz bath can be very effective. The use of cold packs is something else that is also often recommended. There are some topical hemorrhoid medications available these days that give you relief from the itching, burning and swelling of the anus. If your hemorrhoids are quite large in size and causing lot of blood shed, then hemorrhoid surgery might be the advised course of action.

Therefore, the answer to the initial question of, “how long do hemorrhoids last?” is that it depends on how you treat and deal with them.

You need to look at your diet and exercise regimen. The earlier you start with treatment and necessary precautions the better it is. In most people hemorrhoids don’t last long and in many they never return. However, if you suffer with hemorrhoids continually then you should not ignore them, hoping that they will go away all by themselves.

Have a healthy and fiber rich diet. Drink plenty of water. Follow a regular exercise regimen. Do these things and your hemorrhoids could very well become a thing of the past.

Hemorrhoids can occur due to a variety of different factors, such as: obesity, aging, pregnancy, continual constipation or diarrhea and anal intercourse. Hemorrhoids surgery only usually becomes necessary in cases when hemorrhoid starts giving intolerable pain, itching and bleeding.

Hemorrhoids can occur in any area of the rectum i.e. inside or outside the anal canal. External hemorrhoids occur outside the anal canal and they can be seen or felt near the anus. The symptoms of external hemorrhoids include swelling and pain in the anus or a lump is formed outside the anus. The treatment for such hemorrhoids is not complicated and can be cured with hemorrhoid surgery.

On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids are of major concern. Internal hemorrhoid occurs inside the rectal area. The most common symptom of such hemorrhoid is bleeding. Initially it doesn’t pain, but with the passage of time the situation gets worse and you may experience pain and come across many sleepless nights, as the symptoms become worse in the evenings.

Medical treatment for hemorrhoids

Medical treatment for hemorrhoids begins with relieving the symptoms. Warm tub baths, fiber rich diets, intake of plenty of water or fluids and application of hemorrhoid ointments to the affected area are helpful. Following a regular diet and exercise regimen can help get rid of hemorrhoids and also prevent the recurrence of it. however in cases where the symptoms still persist then hemorrhoid surgery is sometimes recommended.

Hemorrhoids surgery is a surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids. If there are any excess tissues around the hemorrhoid, they are also removed during the surgery. The surgery is performed to treat extensive and severe hemorrhoids that can be external as well as internal.

For this type of surgery, the patient would normally need to stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery is performed by a surgeon who has specialized in rectum and colon surgeries. The patient is placed on a special diet to prepare the bowels and given some laxatives and enema to clear the gastrointestinal tract before the surgery. Then he is given anesthesia and the hemorrhoid is viewed with the help of an anoscope, a short tube that is inserted into the anus.

The surgeon then examines the condition of the hemorrhoid and ties off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid with a few stitches. Then these hemorrhoids tissues, as well as few other bits of tissues, are removed without causing damage to the anal sphincter. Scalpel, scissors, cautery and sometimes laser are used to remove the tissue.

After hemorrhoid surgery, some pain and discomfort may persist as is the case with other surgeries. Medication is prescribed to overcome the post surgery effects. The patient remains under observation after the surgery.

Any bleeding from the anus is diagnosed and excessive bleeding is treated by inserting a balloon tipped catheter into the rectum to stop the bleeding. Prescribed ointments are applied to relieve the pain. Laxatives and stool softeners are administered to ease defecation. The patient is kept mainly on liquid diets for a day or two and then asked to follow a prescribed diet strictly. He is asked not to strain himself during bowel movement.

When all other avenues of natural cures for hemorrhoids and you have exhausted your options, then hemorrhoid surgery can be the most effective way of treating hemorrhoids, but it has its potential risks to go along with the benefits. It is painful too. To overcome the risks and pain associated with traditional hemorrhoid surgery, a new technique is evolved called Stapled Hemorrhoidopexy or PPH procedure. This has made the surgical procedure easier and nearly painless!