What Are Hemorrhoids?

If you ask the question “what are hemorrhoids?” you could well be confused with the reply because there are different types of hemorrhoids and different levels of severity.

Hemorrhoids are one of those conditions that most of us have heard of, but also one that we would rather not have to endure. They are extremely common with at least 50% of the population in the US likely to suffer from them in their lifetime.

So what are hemorrhoids? Basically, hemorrhoids are swellings that develop from the cushions of tissue that form part of the anal canal. These cushions have an important role as they act as a lining when the anus opens and closes and they prevent any leakage. But the same cushions are rich in blood vessels and if anything increases the pressure on them, then the blood vessels can swell and we get hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids come under the following headings:

• Internal hemorroids – these are often not noticeable because they occur deep inside the rectum. They are not usually painful but they may bleed.

• External hemorroids – these involve the veins around the anus and are the hemorrhoids that occur outside of the anal verge and are often very painful. It is the external hemorrhoids which can cause most of the pain, the burning and the itching. These hemorrhoids are often called “piles” and can look like soft lumps in bunches. There is also a mucus covering to these bunches and this can be come damaged quite easily from bowel movement so that the hemorrhoids can even start to bleed. We call these bleeding hemorrhoids.

• Bleeding hemorrhoids - If internal or external hemorrhoids become ruptured during a bowel movement, bleeding can occur. Whenever hemorrhoids start to bleed, this is a secondary condition caused by the rupturing and needs to be treated successfully before the hemorrhoid treatment itself can commence. Fortunately there are natural formulas available to treat first the bleeding hemorrhoids and then the hemorrhoids.

• Prolapsed hemorrhoids - sometimes an internal hemorrhoid may stretch until it bulges outside the anus. This is what we call a prolapsed hemorrhoid. A prolapsed hemorrhoid may shrink back inside the rectum on its own over time or it may be gently pushed back inside. Medical practitioners use the grading system to classify these prolapsed hemorrhoids:
1. Grade 1 hemorrhoids project into the anal canal and while they often bleed, they do not prolapse.
2. Grade 2 hemorrhoids may protrude beyond the anal verge due to straining when passing a bowel movement but then reduce again when straining ceases.
3. Grade 3 hemorrhoids protrude spontaneously or without straining and they need to be gently pushed back into the anal canal.
4. Grade 4 hemorrhoids are chronically prolapsed and cannot be reduced so that by this stage they contain both internal and external hemorrhoids some of which may be thrombosed.
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• Thrombosed hemorrhoids – sometimes a hemorrhoid becomes cut off from its blood supply. A clot can then form in the hemorrhoid and the person suffers from very severe pain. When such a blood clot forms, one can usually feel a tender lump on the edge of the anus and see bright red blood on the toilet paper or even in the toilet after a bowel movement. But a severe thrombosed hemorrhoid still needs to be treated a quickly as possible. The often extreme pain can be instantly relieved by your doctor making a small incision in the clot. This will drain the clot, alleviate the pain plus the bulging without delay. These thrombosed hemorrhoids are very hard, with a smooth black or purple surface and they feel like a growth coming from the anus itself. Thrombosed hemorrhoids can vary in size from as small as a pea to as large as a golf ball.

Whatever type of hemorrhoid is causing you pain and discomfort, it is best to get it diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.