Nobody wants to talk about hemorrhoids but it is a very common problem. It has been estimated that over 40% of adults suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. A lot of people don’t even want to talk about hemorrhoids with their doctors. Part of the reason might be because they are embarrassed. They also may not want to talk to their doctor about hemorrhoids because they are scared. Some people notice blood on the tissue paper and assume they are a few months away from buying the farm. They are afraid to go to the doctor because they don’t want to find out they have something “bad”. A small amount of bright red blood from the rectum is usually not a serious condition. However if you notice blood you should definitely get checked out. Even if it is a pre-cancerous polyp it can often be taken care of relatively easily and the sooner the better. If taken care of early the polyps can be removed and never cause a problem. If, on the other hand, you just choose to forget about it, a simple polyp could be come a serious condition. The bottom line (so to speak) is if you notice blood get it checked out.
Very often if you have a small amount of blood or pain in the rectum the cause is due to hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are simply swollen veins in the anal canal. Hemorrhoids can be either internal or external hemorrhoids depending on where they occur in the anal canal. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless. If you have pain and/or itching you probably have external hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are caused by swelling in the veins, similar to the swelling of varicose veins in the leg. Veins have built-in one-way values that allow the blood to flow forward but not backward. If the veins are put under too much pressure the valves loss their effectiveness. Lack of exercise, constipation and straining when going to the bathroom can cause excessive pressure in the veins of the anal canal. The blood in the hemorrhoids does not flow freely. If the blood isn’t flowing there is the risk that it will clot. If the blood clots this is called a thrombosed vein. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can become extremely painful and if severe the thrombosed hemorrhoid has to be surgically removed. The goal is to prevent the hemorrhoids from getting to the point where the blood in the vein clots.
Once the hemorrhoids are present the goal is to shrink the veins, reduce the inflammation and prevent clotting. Avoiding constipation and excessive straining with defecation is the key in preventing hemorrhoids from getting worse. A proper diet high in fiber, plenty of water, fruits and vegetables are helpful for preventing constipation. If you do become constipated there are some natural stool softeners and laxatives that are preferable to some of the synthetic medications.
For more information on the causes of hemorrhoids and for a free report on an effective natural treatment for hemorrhoids click here.
