Hemorrhoids: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
About seven out of every 10 people will experience hemorrhoids at some point in their lifetime, although they are most common among middle-aged and older adults from 45 to 65 years of age. Pregnant women also often experience their share of hemorrhoids. Symptoms of an internal hemorrhoid include bright red blood on your toilet paper, in the toilet bowl after bowel movements or in the stool. A prolapsed hemorrhoid is an internal hemorrhoid that has essentially become external, pushing out of the anal opening. A prolapsed hemorrhoid can cause discomfort, itching and even pain.
Hemorrhoids are caused by straining during bowel movements, chronic constipation, recurring diarrhea, spending long periods of time on the toilet, and inadequate fiber intake in your diet. Hemorrhoids are also more common as you age due to the weaker connective tissue in the anus and rectum. Pregnant women are more susceptible to hemorrhoids due to increased abdominal pressure enlarging veins in the anus and lower rectum.
Your Hollywood, Florida physician can diagnose hemorrhoids by conducting a physical visual examination of your anus and rectum. An anoscope, which is a lighted, hollow tube, may be used to view your rectum. Your doctor may decide to perform additional tests, such as a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or barium enema x-ray.
Some hemorrhoids may be treated with simple at-home remedies, while others require medical treatment. Adding more fiber to your diet can soften your stools, making them easier to pass. A high-fiber diet may lead to less straining and reduced pressure on hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoid symptoms may also be relieved by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day and by taking a warm 10 minute tub bath several times a day. Over-the-counter suppositories and creams may provide temporary relief. Medical treatments in Hollywood, Florida for internal hemorrhoids include rubber band ligation, infrared coagulation and sclerotherapy, while larger external hemorrhoids may be removed surgically.