Spot the Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus that become itchy and painful. While anyone can get hemorrhoids, they're especially common among women before and after childbirth. If you know the symptoms and causes of hemorrhoids you'll likely be able to catch them early and treat them at home, but in some severe cases hemorrhoids need professional medical attention. See Step 1 and beyond to learn more about hemorrhoids.

Steps

Identifying Common Symptoms

  1. Determine if you have anal itching or pain. This is the most common - and irritating - symptom people experience with hemorrhoids. The swollen veins often seep mucous, which irritates the skin around the anus and causes severe itching.[1] In addition, you might feel pain in the area while walking or sitting.
    • Hemorrhoids can be internal or external, and it's actually the internal hemorrhoids that cause itching.
    • Both types of hemorrhoids can cause pain, but in some cases internal hemorrhoids don't cause pain at all.[1]
  2. Notice whether it hurts to have a bowel movement. Hemorrhoids are often particularly painful during a bowel movement, when stress is placed upon the anal and rectal area. In addition to feeling pain, many report feeling the uncomfortable sensation of needing to have another bowel movement right away, even though the bowels have been vacated.[2]
  3. Look for blood. Bright red blood in the toilet or on toilet tissue can be an indication that you have internal or external hemorrhoids. Bleeding can happen even when pain and itching is not present. Since rectal bleeding is a symptom of many serious illnesses, like colon cancer and anal cancer, it's important to see a doctor if you have ongoing rectal bleeding, rather than just attributing it to hemorrhoids.[1]
  4. Notice lumps. Blood pooling under the skin results in thrombosed hemorrhoids, which are clotted hemorrhoids. These lumps are often hard and quite painful. They can occur either inside or outside the rectum.
  5. Check for swelling. External hemorrhoids cause the anal area to swell and become tender. This may happen in addition to the formation of thromboses. If your anal area feels puffy or swollen, this is a good indication that hemorrhoids are at fault. Check the risk factors below for further aid in determining whether the affliction is hemorrhoids or something else.

Knowing if You're at Risk

  1. Assess your bathroom habits. The biggest cause of hemorrhoids is straining during a bowel movement. It puts pressure on the veins in the rectum and anus, causing them to swell and become painful and irritated. If you have infrequent bowel movements or have difficult during bowel movements, you may be more likely to strain. Think about your bathroom habits and determine whether they put you at risk for getting hemorrhoids.
    • Straining can cause an internal hemorrhoid to pass through the anus, a condition known as a protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoid.[2]
  2. Determine if you have constipation. Constipation leads to the feeling of being "backed up," which causes people to strain during bowel movements. If you have trouble staying regular, you may be straining during bowel movements in an effort to move things through your system faster.
  3. See if you sit for long periods of time. Sitting all day long puts pressure on the anal area, which can eventually lead to hemorrhoids. People who drive for many hours, work at desks in offices or who are unable to move around for other reasons are particularly at risk. Assess your daily habits to determine if sitting too much may be the problem.
  4. Be aware of other conditions that can cause hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can be a result of other conditions that stress or irritate the anal and rectal area. An anal infection, for example, can affect the surrounding tissue such that hemorrhoids are formed.
  5. See if pregnancy may be related to your symptoms. Excessive straining means that pregnant women will find they are more likely to get them, especially with the impact that a baby will have on that sector of the body. This is known as a temporary problem and usually doesn’t cause other problems or continual hemorrhoids after the baby is born.

Treating Hemorrhoids

  1. Try witch hazel. It has astringent properties that can help to ease the swelling and irritation. Dab a cotton ball in witch hazel and rub it over the affected area. Let it dry for a few moments.[3] If you don't want to use pure witch hazel, you can instead buy a cream containing witch hazel.
  2. Try an over-the-counter pain cream. There are a few over-the-counter creams that are quite effective in treating hemorrhoids - so much so that in many cases, people who use them don't end up needing to see a doctor. Look for the following types of creams in the drugstore:
    • Corticosteroid creams, which can reduce the itching and swelling.
    • Creams containing lidocaine can also help reduce the pain.
  3. Use a stool softener. Since having bowel movements can be very painful when hemorrhoids are present, many find that using a stool softener is helpful. It allows you to have a bowel movement without putting extra pressure on the anal and rectal area. Using a stool softener may also help counteract a tendency to strain too much while on the toilet.
  4. Avoid perfumed toilet tissue and other irritants. Perfumes, dyes, rough toilet paper, and other irritants can make hemorrhoids feel a lot worse. Use soft, white toilet paper - or even cotton balls, if you're especially sensitive. You might also find it irritating to wear tight pants or stockings.
  5. Wear loose cotton underwear. Soft cotton underwear allows air to flow in and out of the area, which can keep the hemorrhoids from getting more irritated and painful. Wearing underwear made of a synthetic fabric can keep moisture trapped against the body. It should go without saying that wearing tight underwear and thongs will be uncomfortable and irritating when you have hemorrhoids.
  6. Try a sitz bath. This bathing method can ease pain and discomfort while you have hemorrhoids. Fill the tub with warm water (not hot) and sit in it for about 15 minutes. Don't add soap or bubble bath, as they might further irritate the hemorrhoids. You can add witch hazel to make the bath even more restorative.
  7. Seek medical attention if necessary. If your hemorrhoid symptoms don't seem to be affected by your home treatments, and if they don't go away after a week or so, you should see a doctor to determine whether you need medical treatment to take care of the problem. In most cases hemorrhoids are curable at home, but if yours are persistent, there's no need to keep yourself uncomfortable for too long.
    • As well, the fact that the hemorrhoids aren't going away may be an indication of a deeper problem, such as bleeding coming from someplace other than the tip of the rectum or anus.
    • Heat treatments and surgery are commonly used to treat severe hemorrhoids.

Tips

  • There are a number of home remedies that you can use such as peppermint oil in the bath or tea tree oil mixed with olive oil applied to the area as short term relief.
  • Is it strongly advised that you should seek a professional opinion from a doctor or nurse if you believe you have hemorrhoids and they will be able to provide you with medication either prescription or over the counter that can soothe the irritation caused by the condition.

Warnings

  • Hemorrhoids, despite common misconceptions, do not have to be external and can hide inside the anus before protruding, if they protrude at all, outside the body so if you experience any pain or discomfort during bowel movements – it is time to take a look either yourself or from a medical professional.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hemorrhoids-symptoms
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/basics/symptoms/con-20029852
  3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hemorrhoids/overview.html

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