Hemorrhoids Causes, Prevention, Treatments

What are Hemorrhoids?

This disease is related to anus or lower rectum. The term hemorrhoids (also called piles) refers to a condition in which the veins around the anus are abnormally swollen and inflamed. This disease can occur in both men and women but is more common in women during pregnancy, people with sedentary habits and those who have a chair-bound job. Hemorrhoids are usually very painful and troublesome but are not life-threatening. The condition usually worsens with passage of time. Hemorrhoids are not contagious. Hemorrhoids can be:

• Internal (inside the anus). This type is not visible outside the rectum. In most cases, internal hemorrhoids cause bleeding. Anal fissure, which is like a crack in the anal tissues may also cause bleeding but this is different to hemorrhoids. In worse cases, internal hemorrhoids may protrude out side the body while straining at stool.
• External (outside and around the anus). This type occurs outside the anus like swollen veins. The size of external hemorrhoids can be from the size of a small grape to a bunch of grapes.
• Combination of both internal and external hemorrhoids.
• Hemorrhoids may also be categorized as bleeding hemorrhoids and blind (non-bleeding) hemorrhoids.

Signs and Symptoms

There are other anal troubles like  fissures, fistulae, abscesses and itching (pruritus) that have nearly similar symptoms and may be mistaken for hemorrhoids. Therefore, physical  examination is necessary for proper diagnosis. Usual symptoms of hemorrhoids are:

• Swelling and feeling of extra mass around the anus.
• Itching, burning and pain in and around the anus. However, this symptom does not necessarily indicate the presence of hemorrhoids because it may happen in other rectal troubles like fissures, fistulae, abscesses and proctitis etc.
• Bleeding from anus during defecation but this symptom may not necessarily indicate presence of piles because the blood may be coming from intestines etc.
• In some cases, chronic blind piles may become painless over a period of time but do give a feeling of uneasiness.

Causes

There are several factors that can cause hemorrhoids. Common causes include persistent constipation, straining at stool even though the stool may be soft, chronic diarrhea, acidity due to excessive use of acidic food items and sedentary habits.

Prevention

The most important is to make sure that your stomach works fine. Measures to prevent hemorrhoids are nearly the same as for constipation.

Treatment of Hemorrhoids

• Modern medical system mostly offers external treatment like surgery, hemorrhoidolysis, bipolar coagulation, photocoagulation etcetera. One can quickly get rid of hemorrhoids and return home happily after spending a few days in the hospital but this kind of treatment does not remove the cause of hemorrhoids and does not therefore provide permanent cure. Hemorrhoids may recur after some time.
• Hemorrhoids can also be treated through herbal and natural remedies.
• Homeopathy offers wonderful treatment for all types of hemorrhoids.
  All types are removed painlessly along with cure of the cause. No surgery is required. Fresh hemorrhoids can be cured in short time ranging from few days to few weeks whereas chronic cases may take longer time for complete and permanent cure depending upon the condition.

Homeopathic Consultation for treatment of hemorrhoids