HOW LONG DO HEMORRHOIDS LAST

Hemorrhoids are the swollen and inflamed veins that appear in the rectum and anus. The most common causes of hemorrhoids are represented by: straining during bowel movements (which is in turn caused by chronic constipation or diarrhea), obesity associated with poor muscle tone (too much pressure is put on the rectal veins) and pregnancy. In pregnant women, hemorrhoids result from increased straining (just like in constipated patients) but also from the appearance of hypertension. Poor posture is also considered a risk factor for hemorrhoids, the rectal veins being subjected to an increased amount of pressure.

During menstruation, there are a lot of women who become constipated and retain a lot of water. This leads to the appearance of hemorrhoids, the condition being experienced when it comes to the premenstrual syndrome as well. Portal hypertension – a medical condition usually associated with liver disease – has been known to cause hemorrhoids as well. The vein that carries blood to the liver is connected to the vena cava, and thus the presence of portal hypertension has a direct effect on the vessels of the rectum and causes hemorrhoids to appear. Indirectly, hemorrhoids can be caused by smoking, alcohol (which leads to portal hypertension) and caffeine.

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The symptoms commonly associated with hemorrhoids differ from patient to patient. They may include red blood in the feces (as opposed to blackened blood, which results from an internal bleeding and which has already been digested). The patient will also complain of pain and irritation, particularly due to internal hemorrhoids that are bulging out of the anus. If blood clots appear, then the entire area will be swollen and extremely painful, requiring immediate medical attention. The symptoms are aggravated by straining and excessive cleaning, resulting in more bleeding, itching and irritation.

External hemorrhoids appear outside the anus, causing any of the following symptoms: pain, swelling and irritation. The itching sensation is actually caused by the irritation of the skin and not the hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are swollen veins that appear inside the rectum and which bleed when irritated. If left untreated, they are distended and are pushed outside the anus.

The symptoms caused by hemorrhoids can be relieved with any of the following methods: application of topical creams containing analgesics, cold compresses and ice packs and warm baths. Warm baths allow the rectal veins to relax and thus the increased pressure felt by the patient is relieved. As for creams, these prevent the area from becoming even more inflamed and irritated. Natural treatments are used by a lot of patients. These treatments range from herbal supplements that strengthen the walls of the veins to the application of natural astringents such as Aloe Vera.

Surgical treatments refer either to applying an elastic band to the hemorrhoid and cutting off its blood supply, using electrical current or injecting a hardening agent into the swollen veins, causing them to shrivel up. Laser therapy is also used for the treatment of hemorrhoids, the results being extremely effective. The patient recovers rapidly and there are no side-effects to suffer from.