Archive for September, 2009

Internally

A lot of people have experienced hemorrhoids or hemorrhoid like symptoms. Most of these people are too embarrassed to say anything to anyone or go to their doctor for treatment and just wait for it to go away. Some symptoms that you may things are hemorrhoid related can actually be much more serious.

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are when the veins around the anus are inflamed or swollen. They are either inside the anus or around the skin of the anus. Pregnancy, constipation,diarrhea, and anal sexual intercourse can all cause hemorrhoids. Bleeding,itching, and irritation are all symptoms of hemorrhoids, which are usually not a big deal and go away in a few days. However, these symptoms could mean something going on internally and may not be hemorrhoids at all.

More Serious Conditions

Any kind of severe bleeding, change in bowel habits, blood clots mixed in with stools, blood mixed in with stools, or black tarry stools should all be signs to go to your doctor as soon as you can. Even with just regular hemorrhoid symptoms, you really should go to your doctor just to be sure it is not something else. Do not be embarrassed, your doctor keeps your health issues private and you are probably not the first one they have seen with this problem. It is better to have it checked and it be nothing than ignore it and find out it is worse than you thought.

Resources:

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1915890

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemorrhoids/