Hemorrhoids Symptoms
Anorectal disorders like hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulae and abscesses have a couple of similar symptoms. So, it is easy for patients to mistake one condition for the other. Also, an ‘embarrassing’ condition like hemorrhoids is taken to the doctor only when it begins to interfere with normal life. But, effective treatment of hemorrhoids is possible if they are dealt with at the very beginning, when symptoms just begin to appear. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the symptoms of hemorrhoids help patients identify their problems correctly and start appropriate treatment methods.
Common symptoms of hemorrhoids
There are two types of hemorrhoids: internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids.
The most common symptom of external hemorrhoids is the presence of a soft or semi-hard lump around the anal opening. This happens when an enlarged portion of the vein slips out through the anus (prolapsed hemorrhoids). If the stool is hard, it might rub against this lump. Since the lump is essentially a vein, any cut easily leads to copious bleeding. So, excessive bleeding is another common symptom of hemorrhoids. When these veins become thrombosed (blood supply to that area is cut off), they may swell even more and become particularly painful.
In addition to this, people who have external hemorrhoids may experience itching, pain or irritation when they strain at the toilet. Using a tissue to rub or clean the area may cause a burning sensation or irritation and lead to bleeding. Sometimes, mucus may appear along with blood on the tissue paper while cleaning up. Draining mucus can lead to further itching and irritation.
In chronic cases, external hemorrhoids can lead to bleeding even when patients sit for a long time, cough or carry weights. This could lead to staining of undergarments. In some rare cases, patients even lose so much blood that they experience dizziness.
Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum, so symptoms are rarely seen. The most common symptom of internal hemorrhoids is painless bleeding when passing motion. When large internal hemorrhoids discharge mucus, the mucus finds its way out, causing itching and irritation. Sometimes, patients feel the need to go to the bathroom even if they have just visited it.
In general, internal hemorrhoids are painless. But when they become very large, they may bulge out of the anus. When the muscles in the anus clamp down on these veins, there is a great deal of pain and discomfort.
Thus, hemorrhoids is an uncomfortable, painful and annoying condition. Sadly, even though a huge percentage of the adult population suffers from it, the condition is difficult to treat. In fact, conventional medicine does not have a known effective cure for hemorrhoids. This explains why people are turning more and more to traditional medicine for help.
As the old saying goes, ‘What goes in comes out’ – nowhere is this truer than in the case of hemorrhoids.
Many people have found that the use of certain powerful natural herbs and roots is effective in stopping hemorrhoids, eliminating bleeding and getting rid of the pain of hemorrhoids. These herbs minimize incidents of bleeding by aiding regular bowel movements and assisting the production of soft stools. Experience has shown that combined with healthy food and lots of fluid intake, such an approach is by far the easiest way to get rid of hemorrhoids.
