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Hemorrhoids Symtoms
Hemorrhoids are enlarged, swollen veins in the anus. Hemorrhoids can
occur inside the anus (internal hemorrhoids) or outside of the anus
(external hemorrhoids).
External hemorrhoids are often
painful. Internal hemorrhoids are not as painful as external
hemorrhoids and can range in size from a slight swelling under the
wall of the anus to large, sagging veins that stick out of the anus.
Internal hemorrhoids may cause painless bleeding during a bowel
movement. A person may have both internal and external hemorrhoids.
Common causes of hemorrhoids are
straining during bowel movements and pregnancy. Symptoms of
hemorrhoids include bright red blood on toilet paper or stool, a
painful or painless lump of soft tissue outside of the anus, and pain
during bowel movements.
Rectal bleeding needs to be evaluated
by a health professional. Home treatment may be all that is needed to
relieve the discomfort of minor hemorrhoids. In some cases, surgery
may be needed.
Symptoms
Bleeding during bowel movements,
itching, and rectal pain are the most common hemorrhoid symptoms.
External hemorrhoids
Rectal pain occurs mainly with
external hemorrhoids. You might also notice streaks of bright red
blood on the toilet paper after straining to pass a stool.
In rare cases, a vein inside an
external hemorrhoid breaks. Blood may pool under the skin, forming a
hard, painful lump. This is called a thrombosed, or clotted,
hemorrhoid.
A sudden sharp or burning pain
during a bowel movement, along with a small spot of blood on toilet
tissue, is more likely to be an anal fissure than a hemorrhoid.
Internal hemorrhoids
The most common symptom of internal
hemorrhoids is rectal bleeding. You may find bright red streaks of
blood on the toilet paper or bright red blood in the toilet bowl
after having a normal bowel movement. Blood also may be visible on
the surface of the stool.
Other symptoms of internal
hemorrhoids may include:
- Itching. This is a frequent
complaint, because internal hemorrhoids often seep mucus, which
can cause itching.
- Skin irritation. Large
hemorrhoids that bulge from the anus may secrete mucus, causing
mild irritation.
- Discomfort. You may still feel
the urge to pass stool right after having a bowel movement. This
uncomfortable feeling is caused by the bulging of the hemorrhoid
in the end portion of the large intestine (anal canal). In
general, the larger the hemorrhoid, the greater the discomfort.
- Pain. Most internal hemorrhoids
are not painful. However, large hemorrhoids that bulge from the
anus may become painful if they swell and are squeezed by the
muscles that control the anus. Severe pain may be a sign that the
blood supply to the hemorrhoid is being cut off (strangulated
hemorrhoid). Emergency treatment is needed.
Rectal bleeding and pain and recent
changes in bowel habits are also symptoms of colon, rectal, or anal
cancer. People who have these symptoms, especially those age 50 or
older or those with a family history of colon cancer, should talk to
their health professional.
Hemorrhoids Treatment
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