Hemorrhoids and What To Do About Them

Hemorrhoids are sometimes described as varicose veins in the lower rectum or anus. They’re very common, and almost three out of four adults will have them at some point during their lives. Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. Internal hemorrhoids are swollen veins that develop inside the rectum. External hemorrhoids are swollen veins under the skin around the anus.

You can experience differing symptoms depending on the location of your hemorrhoids. Signs and symptoms of external hemorrhoids can include:

• Irritation and itching in and around your anus

• Pain and discomfort

• Swelling around your anus

• Bleeding

• Sensitive lumps in your anal area

Unlike external hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids usually can’t be seen, and often don’t cause obvious symptoms until or unless you’re having a bowel movement.

Why do I have blood on the toilet paper after wiping?

If you’ve noticed bright red blood in the toilet or on toilet paper after a bowel movement, it may be from an internal hemorrhoid. Hemorrhoids can cause bright red blood during bowel movements. Blood on toilet paper may also result from an anal fissure, a small tear in the lining of your anus.

Why am I experiencing rectal bleeding without pain?

Bleeding in your lower gastrointestinal tract, including the lower colon and rectum, can occur without pain. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of painless rectal bleeding, but don’t presume this to be THE diagnosis. You should speak with your doctor if you have painful, itching hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding without pain. Rectal bleeding can have other causes, including anal cancer and colorectal cancer.

Can a colonoscopy distinguish hemorrhoids from colon cancer?

A colonoscopy uses an endoscope, a flexible tube that guides a fiber optic camera through your colon. A colonoscopy can quickly discover any internal hemorrhoids and other problems including colon cancer. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins, and doctors can immediately distinguish between them, anal fissures, colon polyps, or colon cancer.

Colon polyps are growths in the lining of your colon that can be an indication you could be at risk from colon cancer. They can be quickly and easily removed during a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is one of several tests that can uncover the reason you’ve experienced rectal bleeding. The first, simplest test is a rectal examination. You can’t see the inside of your rectum easily, but a clinician can.

Other tests include an anoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy. These are minimally invasive tests that don’t require you to be sedated. A colonoscopy is a more extensive procedure and requires sedation.

If you do need a colonoscopy, your Digestive Health Associates of Texas can perform one. It’s a simple procedure which lasts about two hours. The test can remove polyps and other potentially abnormal tissue that the colonoscopy scope sees during the procedure.

What should I do if I have hemorrhoids?

If you experience any rectal bleeding, you should contact your doctor. If you know you’ve had hemorrhoids before and experience itching and swelling in your anal area, your hemorrhoids may be acting up. There are health risks associated with hemorrhoids, as common as they are. Internal hemorrhoids can prolapse or protrude from your anus. Blood can also pool in a hemorrhoid and thrombose — the medical term for a blood clot.

Are there things I can do to help my hemorrhoids?

One of the best things you can do if you have hemorrhoids is improve your bowel habits. Don’t avoid going to the bathroom: use it when you need it. Hemorrhoids can result from sitting on the toilet for long periods, so it’s wise to avoid reading while in the bathroom. Sit only as long as you need to, and wipe gently with unscented toilet paper or cleansing wipes. While scent in toilet paper and wipes can cover unpleasant bathroom odors, fragrance can irritate your skin: the last thing you need if you have hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation, which is the reason why clinicians tell people to get more fiber in their diet. High-fiber foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, and wheat bran. Drinking enough water is also important to help prevent constipation.

Getting enough exercise is also important to improve or prevent constipation. Getting at least half an hour a day of moderate exercise could help you to improve or prevent hemorrhoids.

For a hemorrhoid flare-up, you can also take a sitz bath, which means sitting in a few inches of warm, not hot, bath water. Soaking for ten minutes can relieve itching and burning that accompanies hemorrhoids. A well-insulated ice pack can also reduce swelling and pain. Always make sure you have a cloth barrier between the ice pack and your skin to prevent skin damage.

You can locate over-the-counter topical treatment creams that can reduce itching and swelling. Other treatments are also available, including hydrocortisone suppositories. Mild astringents like witch hazel can also relieve hemorrhoid burning and itching. You can reduce short-term pain with oral pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Hemorrhoids can be treated, and DHAT can help

A colonoscopy may not be essential to diagnose hemorrhoids, but it can determine if you have hemorrhoids, colon polyps, colon cancer, or other problems in your lower digestive tract. Colonoscopies are simple procedures. According to iData Research, approximately 19 million colonoscopies are performed in the U.S. every year.

Colonoscopies are non-invasive, safe medical procedures. They can help to determine the health of your lower digestive tract. DHAT is experienced in performing colonoscopies. They can schedule a colonoscopy for you and are glad to explain how you can prepare for the procedure, how it will be conducted, and the results you can expect to obtain.

You may not need any surgery for hemorrhoids, but it you do, DHAT can also perform procedures that can reduce the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids and help you return to a pain and itch-free life. Bowel movements aren’t the most pleasant topic, but they’re a part of life for everyone. Don’t let hemorrhoids interfere with your comfort, your career, or an active, healthy lifestyle.

About half of people over age 50 experience problems with hemorrhoids. You may not have known, but everyone has hemorrhoids; which are technically areas of blood vessels which form a cushion in our anal canals. However, we only become aware of these blood vessels if they cause problems by becoming swollen, irritated, or bleeding. If you see blood in your bowel movement or on toilet tissue, contact your doctor. Hemorrhoids are easily treated, and a colonoscopy can also help to protect you from other conditions in addition to hemorrhoids.

If you do need a colonoscopy, your DHAT doctor can schedule and perform one for you. It’s a relatively simple, out-patient procedure that in most cases will take only a couple hours of your day. And during the procedure, your doctor can remove any polyps or other potentially abnormal tissue for further testing. To meet with a DHAT physician near you, make an appointment online, or call 1. 800.818.8541.

Sources

https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/hemorrhoids

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hemorrhoids/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360280

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/digestive-health/when-to-see-a-doctor-for-blood-in-stool

An Astounding 16.6 Million Colonoscopies are Performed Annually in The United States

https://www.livescience.com/40316-americans-interest-hemorrhoids.html

Hemorrhoids and colorectal polyps. Early detection increases chances of being successfully cured.

Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of rectal bleeding, but colorectal cancer can also cause rectal bleeding. Due to the similarity of manifestations, patients are often confused, leading to delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatments. Therefore being aware of the specific warning signs and symptoms results in early detection and appropriate treatments.

Get to know “hemorrhoids”

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum. The veins around the anus tend to stretch under pressure, causing bulge or swelling. This condition can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum. Hemorrhoids might develop in different locations at the same time. Classified by locations, there are 2 types of hemorrhoids:

1.) Internal hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the rectum which located above the pectinate line and are covered with cells that are the same as those that line the rest of the intestines. Internal hemorrhoids cannot be typically seen or felt. Only using anoscopy, proctoscopy and sigmoidoscopy allows gastroenterologists to examine the inner lining of the rectum. Internal hemorrhoids can be stratified into 4 grades:

• Grade I: The internal hemorrhoid bulges into the canal but does not prolapse. These may cause rectal bleeding.
• Grade II: The hemorrhoid protrudes through the rectum with straining during a bowel movement. But it spontaneously returns to their original position once the straining has subsided after bowel movements.  
• Grade III: The hemorrhoid protrudes without any straining and requires the patient to push it inside manually.
• Grade IV: The hemorrhoid protrudes and cannot be pushed back, causing discomfort and rectal pain. 

2.) External hemorrhoids 

External hemorrhoids are hemorrhoids that affect veins outside the anus. External hemorrhoids arise below the pectinate line and are covered with cells that resemble skin which are typically slightly less pink than the surrounding skin. External bulges can be seen and touched around the anal area. Symptoms might include itching or irritation in the anal region, pain or discomfort, swelling around the anus and rectal bleeding.

Risk factors of hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to:

• Straining during bowel movements
• Frequent bowel movements
• Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
• Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Using laxative or rectal enema unnecessarily
• Advanced age that makes tissues supporting the veins in rectum and anus become weak and stretch
• Chronic cough 
• Being obese
• Regular heavy lifting
• Cirrhosis that results in bulging veins in the anus area
• Genetics with family history of hemorrhoids 
• Being pregnant when baby puts pressure on the anal region

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Signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids VS. colorectal cancer

Hemorrhoids have certainly shared similar manifestations with colorectal cancer. If these warning signs and symptoms are exhibited, immediate medication attention must be sought in order to receive appropriate and timely treatments. These symptoms include:

Diagnosis of hemorrhoids.

For external hemorrhoid, it is usually seen by the specialists. Diagnosing internal hemorrhoids might include examination of the anal canal and rectum. Tests and procedures are digital examination by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum and identifying abnormal signs, visual inspection to examine the lower portion of the colon and rectum with an anoscope, proctoscope or sigmoidoscope and other tests such as computerized tomography scan (CT) and endoanal – endorectal ultrasonography. If colorectal cancer is potentially suspected, colonoscopy, the endoscopic examination of the large bowel and rectum might be considered to verify a confirmatory diagnosis, leading to appropriate treatment plans.

​

Treatment of hemorrhoids

Selected treatment options entirely depend on presenting symptoms and disease severity as well as individual conditions of the patients. Treatment options include:

1) Non-surgical approach consists of 

• Rectal suppositories or ointments
• Injection (sclerotherapy). A chemical solution is injected into the hemorrhoid tissue in order to shrink it by damaging blood vessels and reducing the blood supply to the hemorrhoids. The interval for injection is very 2-4 weeks. 
• Rubber band ligation. During procedure, one or two tiny rubber bands are placed around the base of an internal hemorrhoid to cut off its circulation. The hemorrhoid withers and falls off within a week.
  
  Hemorrhoid banding can be uncomfortable and cause bleeding, therefore it should be performed by highly experienced specialists in order to reduce risks of serious complications. 

2) Surgical approach

If other procedures have not been successful or patients have large hemorrhoids that cannot be pushed in place, surgery is highly recommended. Types of surgery is determined by sizes and types of hemorrhoids as well as locations. Surgical options are:

• Open hemorrhoidectomy: An open hemorrhoidectomy is surgery to remove internal or external hemorrhoids that are extensive, large or severe.
• Stapled hemorrhoidectomy: Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is mostly used in patients with extensive hemorrhoids. During stapled hemorrhoidectomy, a circular stapling device is used to excise a circumferential ring of excess hemorrhoid tissue, thereby lifting hemorrhoids back to their normal position within the anal canal. Stapling also disrupts hemorrhoid blood supply. Studies have suggested that stapled hemorrhoidectomy results in less post-operative pain and shorter recovery compared with conventional surgery.
• Laser hemorrhoidectomy: Hemorrhoid laser procedure is a new laser procedure for treatment of hemorrhoids in which hemorrhoidal blood flow feeding the hemorrhoidal plexus is stopped by laser coagulation. It is recommended in hemorrhoids with mild stage while the size is still small. This procedure causes less pain, faster recovery time and fewer post-operative complications or side effects.

In case that colorectal cancer has been diagnosed instead of hemorrhoids, it can be treated by “minimally invasive colorectal surgery with sphincter saving technique”. It substantially helps to preserve sphincter muscles functions and regulate bowel movements as well as reduce chances of having permanent colostomy. If there is the presence of warning signs and symptoms, immediate medical care must be provided in order to get it accurately diagnosed, resulting in timely and effective treatments that eventually enhance quality of life.  

Polyps in hemorrhoids – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Causes of polyposis
3. Symptoms and diagnosis
4. Treatment of polyps

A polyp is a benign neoplasm that occurs on the mucous membrane in the rectum. Such tumors are characteristic of various organs and are a fairly common problem. Patients of both sexes are susceptible to them, but in men, polyps are diagnosed more often. If you look at the statistics by age, there is a noticeable increase in the number of cases in the age group after 45 years. Almost every 10th person of this age finds polyps during diagnosis. Quite often, this is not one neoplasm, but multiple at once. The key problem in diagnosing polyposis is that up to a certain point, the presence of a tumor does not manifest itself in any way. A large number of patients may notice characteristic symptoms, such as anal itching or discomfort during defecation. Polyposis pain usually occurs when damage to the polyp occurs. This entails dangerous consequences: the penetration of infection, the formation of anal fissures. In about 1% of cases, neoplasms become malignant and turn into cancer. That is why the condition of the rectum requires attention and careful diagnosis, especially in the adult population. In this case, doctors recommend removing the detected polyps.

Causes of polyposis

Today, there is no consensus among the scientific community as to why polyps appear in the rectum. It is generally accepted that one of the causes is chronic inflammation. More often than others, those people who suffer from other diseases of the rectum, such as hemorrhoids, are faced with this diagnosis. If stagnation occurs in the pelvic organs, blood circulation is disturbed, then this can become a provoking factor. There is a correlation between lifestyle and polyposis. In the risk group, those people who lead an inactive lifestyle, are predominantly engaged in sedentary work, abuse alcohol and tobacco. Affects the condition of the rectum and the preferred diet. The lack of dietary fiber in the daily diet, the passion for unhealthy food negatively affects – all this disrupts normal digestion and leads to constipation.

Symptoms and diagnosis

There are no typical symptoms that are unique to polyposis. In many ways, the symptomatic picture depends on how many polyps a person has, and what size they are. It also affects whether the process has turned into a malignant one. Most often, the presence of polyps is confirmed during the examination of the patient by a proctologist, which he initiates due to other proctological problems, such as hemorrhoids. The appearance of pain during defecation, problems with bowel movements, rectal bleeding makes people turn to a specialist. When the tumor grows in size, it can block the lumen of the rectum, which will interfere with the process of bowel cleansing. To establish a diagnosis, the doctor needs to collect an anamnesis, as well as conduct an examination. Diagnostic measures are reduced to assessing the condition of the patient’s anorectal zone, digital examination, anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. Also, for the diagnosis of polyposis, a colonoscopy procedure is prescribed. This is an endoscopic intervention that allows not only to detect neoplasms, but also to remove them. Removed tumors are subjected to histology, which allows you to accurately determine whether they are malignant.

Treatment of polyps

The gold standard for treating polyps is to remove them. It is not possible to treat tumors conservatively. The doctor chooses the method of removal, focusing on the size of the polyps, localization and their number. For small items, endoscopy is ideal. If the unwanted element is close to the anus, then the procedure is carried out transanally.

It is important not only to remove polyps, but also to prevent the appearance of new tumors. Therefore, the patient after treatment is prescribed regular examinations and colonoscopy.

It is worth remembering that polyps, for all their seeming harmlessness, increase the risk of oncology. The more polyps and the larger their size, the more carefully you need to monitor your health. Rectal cancer in a large percentage of cases can be successfully stopped, but only when it is detected at an early stage.

In our multidisciplinary medical center, you can get advice from a qualified specialist on intestinal polyps and other proctological diseases.

FAQ

Having hemorrhoids is not normal at any age. Risk factors are the same for all people. These include: poor diet, constipation, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity.

With the advent of computers and mobile phones, the activity of young people has decreased, respectively, the likelihood of getting hemorrhoids has increased!

Enlarged hemorrhoids do not decrease over time, but, on the contrary, increase. Medicines can slow down the process or get rid of the symptoms. But sooner or later the patient will have to go to the doctor. Therefore, it is better not to delay.

The procedure is necessary for most patients when diagnosing pathologies of the rectum. Many diseases can proceed secretly, for a long time without manifesting themselves. Thanks to rectoscopy, it became possible to diagnose them at an early stage.

Rectoscopy is painless. Severe pain during the procedure speaks of inflammatory processes, which is the basis for transferring the procedure.

The most common complications are bleeding and thrombosis of the hemorrhoid. A strong pain syndrome indicates a possible pinching of the node.

In addition, patients often complain of itching, a feeling of pressure in the rectal area, an anal fissure and fistula may appear.

Unfortunately not. Visual examination and anoscopy do not always provide enough data to make a diagnosis or detect pathology at an early stage. Outwardly, the problem may not manifest itself in any way, developing inside.

Some diseases occur without symptoms, and only with the help of a comprehensive examination, you can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct therapy!

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Polyps in the rectum, symptoms, removal in ON CLINIC Ryazan

One of the most common diseases with which patients turn to a coloproctologist is rectal polyps, which can be single or multiple. Often they appear in those patients whose family members also experienced the occurrence of such neoplasms. Despite the fact that polyps are one of the types of benign tumors, over time they can turn into a malignant course and pose a direct threat to the patient’s life. That is why you should not treat this diagnosis as something harmless.

Timely identified polyps in the rectum, colon and sigmoid colon are quickly and painlessly removed by endoscopic method, after which they are sent for histological examination.

Types of polyps in the rectum

Depending on the tissue forming these growths on the inner surface of the intestine, the following types of polyps are distinguished:

• glandular;
• hairy;
• mixed;
• hyperplastic.

When different types of polyps are present in the same patient – it looks like multiple neoplasms on the rectal mucosa – then the patient is diagnosed with “polyposis”. It is dangerous because neoplasms can also spread to the mucous membranes of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and under adverse conditions, they can degenerate into a cancerous tumor.

The best way to protect yourself from the development of possible complications of the disease is a periodic examination by a coloproctologist (this is especially important for patients at risk), and the timely disposal of polyps.

Factors provoking the development of polyps

Experts identify several reasons that can act as a mechanism that triggers a chain reaction, which ultimately leads to the formation of polyps – including colon polyps:

• the presence of chronic inflammatory processes in the large intestine;
• systematic injury lining the intestine from the inside of the mucosa, for example, hard feces for constipation;
• intoxication of the body, accompanied by stool disorders;
• malnutrition and excessive consumption of strong drinks;
• genetic predisposition to the appearance of various varieties of polyps, etc.

Innocent at first glance, intestinal polyps can be dangerous primarily because they have a high risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor, which increases in proportion to the growth of the neoplasm itself. They can develop without any specific symptoms and be detected only when they have already reached an impressive size.

Diagnostics of the disease in ON CLINIC in Ryazan

Polyps located not far from the anus are most often detected already during the digital examination, which the coloproctologist performs during the initial examination of the patient. In addition, sigmoidoscopy can also be very informative. The specialist can also refer the patient to other instrumental examinations, namely:

• FGS;
• colonoscopy;
• x-ray examination, etc.

In addition, it is necessary to objectively assess the risk of a possible degeneration of a neoplasm into a cancerous tumor – its malignancy. To do this, a tissue biopsy is performed, which is subsequently sent for histological examination.

Removal of polyps in the rectum

It is important to understand that conservative treatment of polyps is not advisable due to its low efficiency. These neoplasms in ON CLINIC Ryazan are surgically removed using modern minimally invasive technologies.