What are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are blood vessels and normal tissue that only become a problem when they swell, bleed or become inflamed. Under normal circumstances, Hemorrhoids (Piles) are a normal part of human anatomy, located in the smooth muscles of the walls of the rectum and anus. Normal hemorrhoids are not visible until they are inflamed or develop a clot.
Hemorrhoids are of two kinds:
- Internal hemorrhoids that are covered with the same cells as those that line the rest of the intestines, and are located above the pectinate line (the dividing point between the upper 2/3 and lower 1/3 of the anus).
- External hemorrhoids that are covered with cells that resemble skin, and arise below the line.
Difference between a thrombosed vs non-thrombosed hemorrhoid. A thrombosed (clotted) hemorrhoid is dark bluish in color because of the blood clot contained inside the swollen blood vessel, and will appear as a lump at the anal verge, protruding from the anus. Whereas, non-thrombosed (non-clotted) hemorrhoids will appear as a rubbery lump.
How long do hemorrhoids last if untreated?
Hemorrhoids only raise concern when they swell, become inflamed, or bleed, and so the goal is to control hemorrhoid inflammation by hydration and diet to avoid surgery. Hemorrhoids will recur about 50% of the time after nonsurgical treatment and only 5% of the time after surgery. Hemorrhoid swelling happens when there is an increased pressure in the small vessels that constitute hemorrhoids, making them swell and engorge with blood. Increased pressure on blood vessels may be caused by a variety of factors:
- A low-fiber diet as well as smaller caliber stool cause an individual to strain when having a bowel movement causing increased pressure in hemorrhoids.
- Pregnancy and hormonal changes may weaken the muscles that support the rectum and anus and cause hemorrhoid swelling.
- Prolonged sitting on the toilet can increase pressure in the hemorrhoids.
- Obesity.
- Colon cancer.
- Spinal cord injury and lack of erect body posture.
- Diarrhea, both acute and chronic.
Inflamed hemorrhoids can leak some mucus that can cause inflammation of the skin surrounding the anus causing burning and itching, known as pruritus ani. Similarly, blood in the stool or anal itching shouldn’t automatically be presumed due to hemorrhoids as it can indicate anal cancer tumor or colon cancer. Other common symptoms of hemorrhoid inflammation include:
- Anal itching.
- Constipation.
- Pain in anal area.
- Swelling and a feeling of a lump at the anus.
- Painless bleeding from the anal area.
Treatment for Piles
Piles treatment in kannada are graded into four categories by the degree of prolapse below the pectinate line into the anal canal.
- Grade 4 hemorrhoids are diagnosed in patients who have failed conservative therapy, and require surgery such as laser surgery or hemorrhoidectomy (ectomy=removal) using a scalpel, and stapled hemorrhoidectomy, where a special staple gun is used to remove hemorrhoids and surround the tissue using a ring of staples in order to close the area as well as control the bleeding
- Grade 2 and 3 hemorrhoids are initially given the same treatment using the following techniques to make hemorrhoids disappear. These include:
- injecting the hemorrhoidal vein to make it sclerose or harden,
- using rubber bands to cut off the blood supply and thus cause the hemorrhoidal tissue shrivel, or
- other procedures that make the mucosa shrivel and die
- Grade 1 hemorrhoids that can be some spasm of the anal muscles, are treated symptomatically. Treatment methods include:
- Warm sitz baths and soaking in a warm tub for about 20 minutes, two or three times a day.
- Avoiding spicy food.
- Medications such as stool softeners, and anesthetics to help treat inflammation of the blood vessels.
Bottom Line Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels around your anus or lower rectum, mostly common in people whose age range is 45 to 65 years. Infact, nearly 75% of people will have hemorrhoids at some point in their life and can be treated with dietary changes. But, if these are prolapse hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids become so enlarged that they stick out of the anus), then they may require treatment from a doctor or else consult online doctor consultation from bajaj finserv health.
The treatment, depending on the severity of the inflammation, may range from simple medication to surgical intervention. Pregnancy and hormonal changes may also cause hemorrhoids swelling due an increased pressure on veins in your rectum and anus. In this case, the symptoms may last until you give birth. In the case of symptoms like bleeding, prolapse, aching or pain around your anus, particularly in the duration of 24-48 hours of onset and when you’re sitting down, seek immediate medical attention as it may also be a case a colon cancer or anal cancer tumor.
