| A hemorrhoid is an enlarged or twisted vein in the | | | | protruding internal hemorrhoids quickly become |
| wall of the lower rectum and/or the anus. | | | | irritated and painful if they are allowed to remain |
| Hemorrhoids may occur for many reasons, the | | | | outside. If it cannot be pushed back inside, a visit |
| most common of these are the extra pressure | | | | to the doctor quickly becomes a priority.External |
| placed on the anorectal area by frequent | | | | hemorrhoids, if they are large, however, can be |
| constipation or by pregnancy; aging, obesity and | | | | painful when attempting to clean the anal area |
| the frequent use of enemas or suppositories can | | | | after a bowel movement, they are also subject |
| also be significant factors. Hemorrhoids (or 'piles' | | | | to blood clots. If a blood clot forms a painful lump |
| as they are sometimes called) may be so | | | | may develop and the skin around the anal area |
| insignificant that you will hardly notice that there is | | | | will become red. This is not a life threatening |
| a problem or they may be so severe that the | | | | situation but it does call for medical intervention.To |
| pain is excruciating and, in the more extreme | | | | Reduce the Frequency and Pain of |
| cases, you may experience bleeding.Hemorrhoids | | | | HemorrhoidsSometimes changing your lifestyle or, |
| may be classified as internal or external but it is | | | | more importantly, your dietary habits will allow |
| possible to have both at the same time; these | | | | you to avoid a reoccurrence of hemorrhoids. |
| categories are simply referring to the hemorrhoids | | | | Adding items with a high fiber content to your |
| you can see outside the anal opening and those | | | | diet may be enough to avoid constipation, other |
| that are not apparent outside of your | | | | tactics may involve drinking six to eight |
| body.Hemorrhoids that are severe enough to | | | | eight-ounce glasses of water per day, losing |
| require medical treatment are least common in | | | | excess weight and drinking a fiber supplement. |
| men and women in their 20s or younger. It is | | | | Sitting on a toilet seat while reading a book is bad |
| estimated that after age 30, however, | | | | idea because it increases the pressure on the |
| three-quarters of all Americans will have | | | | veins that are likely to become irritated and |
| hemorrhoids that require medical treatment; most | | | | swell.If you have an external hemorrhoid, |
| of those cases will involve men and pregnant | | | | perfumed soap or toilet paper may irritate it. Use |
| women.SymptomsMinor hemorrhoids (internal or | | | | a pre-moistened towelette or one of the |
| external) will not be painful and may go away | | | | hemorrhoid products on the market to reduce |
| without treatment of any kind.A more serious | | | | the pain and discomfort. Try sitting in a tub of |
| hemorrhoid may bleed and you may notice blood | | | | warm water to reduce pain or using an ice pack |
| in the toilet bowl, on the feces, on the toilet paper | | | | to reduce swelling.If these 'home remedies' do |
| or on your undergarment.If an internal hemorrhoid | | | | you no good, see your doctor. There is no need |
| becomes large enough it will protrude through the | | | | to live with the pain of hemorrhoids.Cindi Gass also |
| anal opening. Often it can be pushed back inside if | | | | writes on Hemorrhoid Treatments. More |
| it does not go back inside by itself. These | | | | information: internal-external-hemorrhoids-pictures. |