HEMMEROID|HEMMEROIDS: treatment|relief|symptoms|bleeding hemmeroids|internal|surgery|cure|

External hemmeroids are as the word implies its hemmeroids that have developed externally. These are easy to detect. You will have a sensation that there is something just outside your anus and when you touch the area, you will actually feel them.

Hemmeroids bring in any form of pain and discomfort, and external hemmeroids make no exception. Hemmeroids can be either external or internal depending on where hemeriods appear. These external hemmeroids protrude near the anus and are covered by a layer of very tender skin. Painful swelling is a result of a blood clot developing in the hemmeroids. These feel like a hard, sensitive lump and will bleed if ruptured. External hemmeroids are the more prevalent of the two types and are associated with the hemmeroids symptoms we most experience. External hemmeroids are usually visible as fleshy lumps around the anus. Seldom they can be mistaken with prolapsed hemmeroids (internal hemmeroids that protrude out the anus). Otherwise, any swelling or a protruding mass at or near the anus are considered to be external hemmeroids.

It is estimated that 85% of the world's population will be affected by hemeoriods at some time in their life but only a tiny percentage of sufferers actually seek medical treatment and those tend to be at the extreme end of sufferers.

External hemmeroids occur outside the rectum, around the anus. Basically, all swellings or protruding masses at or near the anal opening are considered to be external hemmeroids (except in the case of prolapsed internal hemmeroids, which originate internally but can protrude externally as they worsen).

Thrombosed external hemmeroids however, are caused by blood pooling in a distended vein and forming a clot, or thrombus, in the outer region of the anus. These particular hemmeroids usually cause a great deal of pain, as well as some swelling and itching, but they don’t bleed.

After visual examination of the anus and surrounding area for external or prolapsed hemmeroids, a doctor would conduct a digital examination. In addition to probing for hemmeroidal bulges, a doctor would also look for indications of rectal tumor or polyp, enlarged prostate and abscesses. If warranted, more detailed examinations, such as sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy can be performed. In sigmoidoscopy, the last 60cm of the colon and rectum are examined whereas in colonoscopy the entire bowel is examined.

External hemmeroid symptoms may include severe painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms The lump may have a blue or purple tint. Other symptoms for external hemmeroids are the burning feeling, irritation and anal itching. External hemmeroids elicit symptoms are caused by acute thrombosis, recurring thromboses, or personal hygiene problems. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemmeroid.

In addition, excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. Pain results when the clot and surrounding edema cause rapid swelling of skin containing a high concentration of nerve endings. This pain can last for one to two weeks, depending on the length of time it takes for the resolution of the thrombosis. At that time, the stretched anoderm remains as excess skin often referred to as "skin tags". External thromboses can sometimes erode the outer layer of skin, which can cause bleeding. Draining mucus may also cause itching. You can easily notice external hemmeroids by inspecting the outer opening of anus. Acute and recurrent thromboses are managed by identifying the offending vascular cluster with the use of local anesthetic in the doctor's office or other clinical setting. Local anesthetic is injected, then the outer skin and subcutaneous veins are excised. Whenever you notice any symptom of external hemmeroids, consult your physician immediately and start treatment. Early hemmeroid treatment will give you early relief from pains and discomforts of external hemmeroids.

Sometimes external hemmeroid ruptures and slight bleeding occur. You might notice bright red blood on the toilet paper after straining to pass a stool. In rare cases, a vein inside an external hemmeroid breaks. Blood may pool under the skin, forming a hard, painful lump. This is called a thrombosed, or clotted hemmeroid. However, a sudden sharp or burning pain during a bowel movement, along with a small spot of blood on toilet tissue, is more likely to be an anal fissure than a hemmeroid.

External hemmeroids can also create problems with personal hygiene. The excess skin that remains after an acute thrombosis is usually the cause of these problems. This excess perianal skin from external hemmeroids requires more attention to be paid when cleansing the area to make sure that all of the skin folds have been tended to.

External hemmeroid treatment includes the following:

• Warm baths (you have to sit in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes twice or thrice a day)
• Ice packs (a temporary relief - the ice packs have be wrapped in a towel to prevent direct contact with the skin)
• Suppositories, seat cushions (if your job requires continuous long sitting) and loose underwear (for your comfort).
• Also, a fibrous diet (blackberries, blueberries, cherries, vitamin C) will help you to get relief up-to certain extent, as this strengthens the veins and ensure smooth bowel.
• You should also try butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), and flavonoids (plant pigments found in fruit and fruit products, tea, and soy).
• After each bowel movement, wiping with a moistened tissue or pad sold for that purpose helps lessen irritation.
• Herbal teas and other kinds of herbal preparations are also suggested for reducing discomfort and eliminating hemmeroids.
• Other recommendations might be to drink six to eight glasses of water a day to increase fecal bulk and prevent straining and to choose a time when you are not rushed.
• Do not ignore the urge to defecate and do not hold your breath while you are on the toilet seat.
• Many people find that over-the-counter hemmeroid creams and foams bring relief, but these medications do not make hameriods disappear.
• Acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, and homeopathy are also used to treat hemmeroids.

In order to avoid your external hemmeroid from coming back, you can try this measures below:

• Avoid prolonged straining at stool. Straining for more than five minutes is harmful to colorectal muscles and nerves. It can also increase stress on the veins of the rectum and worsens hemmeroids. Straining can lead to divertulosis - the formation of small blister-like pockets in the colon walls that can become infected.

• To treat external hemmeroids: Grate one medium potato; mix well with 2-3 teaspoons slippery elm powder. Form into small patty and place on disturbed area for 10-15 minutes, 1-3 times a day. This remedy may be used on sore or cracked nipples as well.

• Use a peeled clove of garlic as a suppository three times a week. You can also use raw potato suppositories to help heal external hemmeroids and relieve pain. Peel a potato and cut it into small cone-shaped pieces.

• Learn not to strain when moving the bowels. Keep the bowels clean and avoid constipation. Do not sit on the commode longer than 10 minutes at a time, as this causes the blood to pool in the hemmeroidal veins.

• Sit on a soft cushion, not on hard surfaces. Use an ordinary cushion, not a doughnut-shaped one. The old-fashioned inflated doughnut cushion actually increases pressure on the hemmeroidal blood vessels, aggravating the swelling and bleeding.

• Cleanse your external hemmeroid with warm water. A hot bath for 15 minutes a day is quite helpful. Do not add bath beads, oils, or bubbles to the water, as this can irritate sensitive tissues. Many people add Epsom salts, but this has no proven clinical value. It is the warm water that reduces swelling and eases pain brought by hemmeroids. A warm water sitz bath to which you can add some white oak may be beneficial. Do not use white oak or other sitz bath products if you have either weeping eczema or congestive heart failure.

• Warm sitz baths are especially beneficial. Take a mineral sitz bath daily.

• Avoid use of strong or harsh laxatives. Most of these products induce unnecessary straining at bowel movements and often "overdo" their jobs by creating a condition similar to diarrhea. Also, using chemical laxatives does not provide the healthful benefits that natural substances provide. Laxatives products can also cause the bowels to become dependent upon them for normal functioning, much like an addiction. Instead of chemical preparations, use a stool softener or glycerine suppository if constipation or straining at defecation are a problem.

• Kombucha tea, which has antibacterial and immune-boosting properties, has been reported to be helpful.

• Wear cotton underwear. Cotton has more fresher than other fabrics and is less likely to restrict circulation and it good especially for external hemmeroid.

• In rare instances, zinc oxide from creams applied to hemmeroids can cause a metallic taste in the mouth. If this happens, change hemmeroid creams. In very rare cases, overuse of zinc oxide creams can cause yellow eyes, yellow skin, and abdominal pain. In these cases, discontinue the cream and see a health care provider promptly.

• Treatments for hemmeroids can reduce the risk of permanent fecal incontinence after the damage that can occur during childbirth.

• The most common cause of anal itching is tissue trauma resulting from the use of harsh toilet paper so therefore refrain from using toilet paper, you can try moist pads instead to avoid external hemmeroid irritation.

You can consult your doctor if above treatment for external hemmeroid does not give you relief or external hemmeroid symptoms still persist. Your doctor can give you proper advice for your hemmeroid condition.

What causes hemmeroids is most common question ask by many because they don’t want to suffer the effect brought by hemmeroid. So for pre cautions, they are eager to know what causes hemmeroid. But before we discuss of what causes hemmeroid, lets take a tour on what is hemmeroid is all about.

Hemmeroids are swollen blood vessels of the rectum. The hemmeroidal veins are located in the lowest area of the rectum and the anus. Sometimes they swell because the vein walls become stretched, thin, and irritated by passing bowel movements. Hemmeroids are classified into two general categories: internal and external.

• Internal hemmeroids lie far enough inside the rectum that you can't see or feel them. They don't usually hurt because there are few pain-sensing nerves in the rectum. Bleeding may be the only sign that they are there. Sometimes internal hemmeroids prolapse, or enlarge and protrude outside the anal sphincter. If so, you may be able to see or feel them as moist, pink pads of skin that are pinker than the surrounding area. Prolapsed hemmeroids may hurt because the anus is dense with pain-sensing nerves. They usually recede into the rectum on their own; if they don't, they can be gently pushed back into place.
  

• External hemmeroids lie within the anus and are usually painful. If an external hemmeroid prolapses to the outside (usually in the course of passing a stool), you can see and feel it. Blood clots sometimes form within prolapsed external hemmeroids, causing an extremely painful condition called a thrombosis. If an external hemmeroid becomes thrombosed, it can look rather frightening, turning purple or blue, and could possibly bleed. Despite their appearance, thrombosed hemmeroids are usually not serious and will resolve themselves in about a week. If the pain is unbearable, your doctor can perform hemmeroid removal to the thrombosed hemmeroid, to stops the pain

Anal bleeding and pain of any sort is alarming and should be evaluated; it can indicate a life-threatening condition, such as colorectal cancer. Although hemmeroids are the No. 1 cause of anal bleeding and are rarely dangerous, but a definite diagnosis from your physician is a must.

So what causes hemmeroids then? The main cause of hemmeroids is the pressure applied on veins of pelvic and rectal system. This pressure comes from different habits that the patient has in his bathroom, constipation, diarrhea, sitting or standing for a long time, obesity, pregnancy or genetic factors. In the next lines, we will detail a little each hemmeroid cause and bring some solutions to it.

1. Adopting a wrong position on the toilet seat is one of the main causes of hemmeroids. Here is correct way to sit; a person should follow when sitting on the toilet: sit on the toilet normally, then raise your feet up on tiptoes and balls of feet (front part of foot) and bend forward with your elbows to your knees. This position allows the bowel to come out with little effort, thus lessening the chance of hemmeroids coming through the hole and reducing the chance of developing new hemmeroids.

2. Constipation is another cause of hemmeroids. Straining to pass hard stools puts too much pressure on the rectum and makes the veins swell (like varicose veins behind the knees). To avoid the internal problems caused by constipation, when you go to the toilet, take your time; let nature do its thing. Try gentle deep breathing and avoid holding your breath, to put a little pressure on the bowel to come out.

3. Diarrhea is another factor of what causes hemmeroids that damages the veins. In this case, there are frequent passing of stool, and even though the fecal matter is soft, it dampens the intestine at the same time and causes the hemmeroid disease. Take a good care of your health, always wash your hands before eating and always wash the fruits and vegetables before consuming them.

4. Wiping too hard or too long may also cause or aggravate hemmeroids. The bowel should evacuate the contents well, reducing the need for excess wiping, if you followed the suggestions of extra fiber and water. Also, use a soft damp cloth that absorbs a lot.

5. Other important causes of hemmeroids is pregnancy. Maximum pressure is exerted during delivery time and this increases the anal pressure while the baby is pushed out. To prevent hemmeroids from showing, you must do a lot of exercise during the pregnancy, especially in the beginning.

6. Heavy lifting straining can cause hemmeroids and can possibly cause hemmeroids to develop. If your job requires heavy lifting, discuss this issue with someone specially trained in your work area.

7. Liver disease can also cause increased pressure in the veins, as blood is pooled in and around the pelvic system. Don’t drink too much alcohol or coffee, don’t eat junk food, and try to keep your liver and your heart healthy.

8. If you are overweight, you are lifting your excess weight up every time you stand or walk or run. Especially when sitting, the pressure of your body is bearing on your anal region and may well be weakening it or aggravating existing hemmeroids. To help alleviate the suffering from hemmeroids and perhaps prevent new hemmeroids from developing, you should try to loose the excess weight you are carrying around on your body.

9. Another factor of what causes hemmeroids that counts is heredity. Some people are genetically predisposed to this type of illness and there aren’t too many things we can do about it. Do a lot of sport, especially to train and relax your anal sphincter muscles (the ring of muscles that surrounds the anal opening).

10. Anal sex is another cause of hemmeroids. No matter how much lubricant it’s used; keep in mind that the anus wasn’t designed for this function. If we remember that just wiping the area with toilet paper is considered a risk, you will get the picture yourself of how much problems can cause this type of sexual intercourse.

Diet has a pivotal role in causing -- and preventing -- hemmeroids. People who consistently eat a high-fiber diet are unlikely to get hemeriods, but those who prefer a diet high in processed foods can expect them. A low-fiber diet or inadequate fluid intake can cause constipation, which can contribute to hemmeroids in two ways: It promotes straining on the toilet and it also aggravates the hemmeroids by producing hard stools that further irritate the swollen veins. Hope the above mention satisfies your question on what causes hemmeroid.

Although hemmeroids are rarely dangerous, they can also be a painful recurrent bother, as you've found. Fortunately, most hemmeroid symptoms improve dramatically with simple measures. Here are some things to try:

• Add fiber. Boost the fiber in your diet with high-fiber foods, a fiber supplement or both. When taken with adequate fluid, fiber softens stools and makes them easier to pass, reducing pressure on hemorrhoids and lowering the risk of bleeding, inflammation and swelling.

• High-fiber foods include prunes, dates, apples, pears, strawberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, peas, spinach, legumes (for example, baked beans or kidney beans), bran cereals and oatmeal. Fiber supplements include psyllium (Metamucil, Konsyl, Perdiem), methylcellulose (Citrucel), calcium polycarbophil (FiberCon, Fiber-Lax, Mitrolan) and wheat dextrin (Benefiber). Fiber can cause bloating or gas, so start slowly, and gradually increase your intake to 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day. Increase your fluid intake at the same time.

• Exercise. You can stimulate bowel function with moderate aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking 20 to 30 minutes a day.

• Go when you have to go. When you feel the urge, go to the bathroom immediately; don't wait
for a more convenient time. Your stool can back up, leading to increased pressure and straining.

• Take sitz baths. You can often relieve itching, irritation and spasm of the sphincter muscle with a warm water bath for the buttocks (sitz bath). Sit in a few inches of warm water in your bathtub or in a small plastic tub that fits over a toilet seat. Try a 20-minute sitz bath after each bowel movement and at two or three other times during the day. Afterward, gently pat the anal area dry; don't rub or wipe hard because this can cause irritation to your hameriods.

• Try over-the-counter hemmeroid creams. These can temporarily soothe pain, irritation and itching. Hemmeroid cream and suppositories containing hydrocortisone are also effective, but don't use them for more than a week at a time, because they can cause the skin to get too thin. Witch hazel wipes (Tucks) are soothing and have no harmful effects. A small ice pack placed against the anal area for a few minutes may also help. Finally, sitting on cushions rather than hard surfaces can help reduce swelling.

Occasionally, hemeoriods can't be managed with conservative hemmeroid treatments alone, either because the symptoms persist or because an internal hemmeroid has slipped down into the anus. If symptoms continue for more than a few days despite your efforts to relieve them, call your doctor. He or she can confirm that you have hemmeroids, rule out other conditions and recommend an appropriate hemmeroid treatment, such as hemmeroid surgery, to remove or shrink hemmeroids. But the best thing to avoid or keep hemmeroids from coming back is to try your best to avoid what causes hemmeroids formation.