Hemorrhoids
Dr. Mahesh Krishna specializes in advanced treatments for hemorrhoids, providing effective relief from pain, itching, and discomfort. With expertise in minimally invasive procedures, including sclerotherapy and laser treatment, he ensures safe and precise care tailored to each patient’s needs. Say goodbye to hemorrhoid discomfort and regain your quality of life with expert treatment from Dr. Mahesh Krishna.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen, enlarged veins that form inside and outside of your anus and rectum. They can be painful and uncomfortable and cause rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids are also called piles. We are all born with hemorrhoids, but at baseline, they do not bother us. Only when they become swollen and enlarged do they produce irritating symptoms.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get symptomatic hemorrhoids, even teenagers. (But because hemorrhoids take a while to develop, they are uncommon in children.) You may be more at risk if you:
Have overweight/obesity.
Are pregnant.
Eat a low-fiber diet.
Have chronic constipation or diarrhea.
Regularly lift heavy objects.
Spend much time sitting on the toilet.
Strain while having bowel movements.
Hemorrhoids can happen inside or outside of your rectum. The type depends on where the swollen vein develops. Types include:
Types Of Hemorrhoids
External: Swollen veins form underneath the skin around your anus. Your anus is the canal where your poop comes out. External hemorrhoids can be itchy and painful. Occasionally, they bleed. Sometimes, they fill with blood that can clot. This is not dangerous but can result in pain and swelling.
Internal: Swollen veins form inside your rectum. Your rectum is the part of your digestive system that connects your colon (large intestine) to your anus. Internal hemorrhoids may bleed, but they usually are not painful.
Prolapsed: Both internal and external hemorrhoids can prolapse, meaning they stretch and bulge outside of your anus. These hemorrhoids may bleed or cause pain.
Cause Of Hemorrhoids
Straining puts pressure on veins in your anus or rectum, causing hemorrhoids. You might think of them as varicose veins that affect your bottom.
Any straining that increases pressure on your belly or lower extremities can cause anal and rectal veins to become swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids may develop due to:
Pelvic pressure from weight gain, especially during pregnancy.
Pushing hard to have a bowel movement (poop) because of constipation.
Straining to lift heavy objects or weightlifting.
Internal hemorrhoids rarely cause pain (and typically cannot be felt) unless they prolapse. Many people with internal hemorrhoids do not know they have them because they do not have symptoms.
Symptoms
If you have symptoms of internal hemorrhoids, you might see blood on toilet paper, in your stool, or the toilet bowl. These are signs of rectal bleeding.
Signs of external hemorrhoids include:
Itchy anus.
Hard lumps near your anus that feel sore or tender.
Pain or ache in your anus, especially when you sit.
Rectal bleeding.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be painful and uncomfortable. You may be able to feel them bulging outside of your anus, and gently push them back inside.
Hemorrhoid-Like Symptoms
Different gastrointestinal disorders can cause rectal bleeding and other symptoms similar to hemorrhoids. Some of these disorders are life-threatening. For this reason, it’s important to let a healthcare provider know when you’re having symptoms.
Gastrointestinal disorders that lead to bleeding include:
• Colon cancer.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Ulcerative colitis.
Hemorrhoids Diagnosis
Digital rectal exam: Your provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for swollen veins.
Anoscopy: Your provider uses an anoscope (lighted tube) to view the lining of your anus and rectum.
Sigmoidoscopy: Your provider uses a sigmoidoscope (lighted tube with a camera) to view the lower (sigmoid) part of your colon and rectum. Procedure types include flexible sigmoidoscopy and rigid sigmoidoscopy (proctoscopy).
These tests may be uncomfortable but are not painful. They typically take place in a doctor’s office or outpatient center without anesthesia
Complications Of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable and painful, but they do not tend to cause serious problems. Rarely, people with hemorrhoids develop:
Anemia.
Blood clots in external hemorrhoids.
Infection.
Skin tags (flap of tissue that hangs off skin).
Strangulated hemorrhoids (muscles in the anus cut off blood flow to a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid).
Treatment For Hemorrhoids
You should see your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or interfere with your daily life or sleep. Also, seek help if signs do not improve after a week of at-home treatments. Your provider may treat hemorrhoids with:
Rubber band ligation: A small rubber band placed around the base of a hemorrhoid cuts off blood supply to the vein.
Electrocoagulation: An electric current stops blood flow to a hemorrhoid.
Infrared coagulation: A small probe inserted into the rectum transmits heat to eliminate the hemorrhoid.
Sclerotherapy: A chemical injected into the swollen vein destroys hemorrhoid tissue.
Surgical treatments include:
Hemorrhoidectomy: Surgery removes large external hemorrhoids or prolapsed internal ones.
Hemorrhoid stapling: A stapling instrument removes an internal hemorrhoid. Or it pulls a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid back inside of your anus and holds it there.
Prevention of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are common as you get older. These steps can help prevent hard stools and constipation that can lead to hemorrhoids:
Do not sit too long or push too hard on the toilet.
Go to the toilet when the urge hits — do not delay bowel movements.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat more high-fiber foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) or take supplements. Generally, women should aim for 25 grams of fiber per day, while men should get 35 grams.
Stay physically active. Being on the move keeps the bowels moving.
