Internal Hemorrhoid & External Hemorrhoids

When you suffer from hemorrhoids there are basically two types of hemorrhoids: internal or external. Both can be uncomfortable but there are ways that you can fix the problem. There are also several degrees of hemorrhoids that will be explained in this article.

Internal hemorrhoids usually are not noticeable when they are small and when there is no pain. They may bleed and you will see this blood in several different ways. You will see it when you wipe yourself, there may be a little blood on the toilet seat or you might see some on the surface of your feces when you look into the toilet or in your underwear.

Because most people are told that if they find bleeding it is a reason to panic, most people will panic when they see this blood. However it often looks worse than it is. Sometimes they will also be prolapsed which means they might protrude out of the anus. This will usually mean that you will need someone to help you push them back in.

Types of Internal Hemorrhoids

Usually there are four ways that an internal hemorrhoid will present itself. Here are the most common ways:

• First degree — This type of hemorrhoid will bulge into the anal canal when a person has a bowel movement. This often happens when they are straining to go.

• Second degree — this one bulges out of the anus during a bowel movement then retract when it is finished.

• Third degree — this type of internal hemorrhoid doesn’t retract on its own and will need a finger to push it back in.

• Fourth degree — this is a protruding hemorrhoid that does not retract on its own and that you cannot replace into the anus.  Sometimes these are very painful and a physician will have to perform surgery for relief.

External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids come because of the veins that are centered around the anus. This is the type that is very itchy and can sometimes have a burning sensation. Some people also experience a cracking in them and bleeding. Again, you will see the bleeding on the toilet paper after your bowel movement, in your underwear or in the toilet.

How You Know if You have a Hemorrhoid

Although you probably won’t know whether you have a hemorrhoid in most cases there are a few symptoms. You will experience a burning or itchy feeling after a bowel movement even after you have wiped. You may also feel an aching in the anus after a particularly painful release of feces. You might feel a lump outside or inside the anus that is hard and fleshy or you may see the bright red blood that we have mentioned.

The best way to prevent types of hemorrhoids is to make sure that you drink plenty of water or other liquid to keep your body well hydrated and exercise. Add a healthy diet of vegetables and fruits to this and you will make sure you have softer bowel movements.

Many people experience hemorrhoids over their life time especially if they are straining to go to the toilet. You may have them but you may not know how to spot hemorrhoids symptoms.

Most symptoms are easy to recognize but they can be unnerving when you first see them because in today’s society there are so many things we have been told to watch out for, especially where bleeding is concerned. This can be one symptom of hemorrhoids.

The most common symptoms that people experience are an itching or burning sensation in the anus after bowel movements, pain in the rectum or bleeding during bowel movements.

Usually the bleeding can be present when you wipe, in your underwear or in your stool or urine. Remember that from a hemorrhoid this normally happens after a bowel movement.

There are two ways that you can experience a hemorrhoid — internally and externally. When it is external it is easier to treat than when it is internal, depending on the type that presents itself.

An individual may experience more symptoms when the hemorrhoids are internal. Internal symptoms may include:

Itching – This can be most annoying because it is not an itch that can immediately be taken care of because it is internal. Most people will experience this a few minutes after a bowel movement and may need to apply a special cream to get relief. The reason it itches is because the hemorrhoids will seep mucus which irritates the skin around the hemorrhoid.

skin irritation – When the skin around the hemorrhoid becomes inflamed it will cause an irritation to the skin around it. If the hemorrhoids are large ones and protrude from the anus they can also cause irritation.

Discomfort – After a bowel movement you may feel like you are going to have another one right away. This can be caused by the protruding of the hemorrhoid at the end of the large intestine. Usually the larger the hemorrhoid the more discomfort you may feel.

Pain – The internal hemorrhoids will cause the most painful hemorrhoids symptoms because they swell and can be squeezed by the muscles that control the anus. This can be mild to extreme pain depending on the situation. If the pain is extreme it may mean that the blood supply to the anus is cut off and therefore in need of an emergency procedure.

Situations That Increase The Risk Of Having Hemorrhoids Symptoms

There are several situations that may increase your risk of experiencing hemorrhoids. These can include persistent constipation or diarrhea, being Overweight, being over 50 or having a history of hemorrhoids in the family.

For some women, pregnancy can also cause problems with hemorrhoids because the blood volume or pressure in the pelvic blood vessels can increase in the last six months as the women moves towards delivery. If she strains during delivery this can also make them happen.

Also standing or sitting a long time can make hemorrhoids worse or lifting heavy objects while holding your breath. This can create pressure in the anus and can be a major cause of hemorrhoids.