Hemorrhoids Effect A Great Deal Of People
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Hemorrhoids Effect A Great Deal Of People
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Hemorrhoids are anal tissues that are comprised of blood vessels, as well as the fibers and muscles that surround them. For the most part, people believe that having hemorrhoids is abnormal, but it truth everyone has them. The problems begin when the hemorrhoidal tissue gets too large, and starts to cause problems for the body.
How Common are Hemorrhoids?
Everyone has hemorrhoids, but they only grow large and bother about 4% of the general population. Women and men are at risk equally, and most hemorrhoid cases are seen in people that are between the ages of 45 and 65.
A Look Inside Hemorrhoids
There exists a huge network of arteries that give blood to the anal canal, meaning that the blood vessels in hemorrhoids have an abundance of arterial blood. This is the reason that when bleeding occurs due to hemorrhoids, it is very bright red. It the blood were coming from veins, it would be a darker red. This is also the reason that when one bleeds as a result of hemorrhoids, the bleeding can be severe.
Anal veins are responsible for taking blood away from hemorrhoids, and they have two drainage directions. One direction is up into the rectum, and the other is down, below the skin that surrounds the anus. There is a dentate line inside the anal canal that is used to tell where anal skin ends, and the rectum lining begins.
Hemorrhoid Formation
Internal hemorrhoids form at the top of the anal canal, and external hemorrhoids form close to the anus. There are three main hemorrhoid cushions known as the right posterior, right anterior, and left lateral. When internal hemorrhoids become enlarged, the anal cushion vessels grow larger, and the tissues that support it do as well. This is when the tissue mass starts to protrude into than anall canal, resulting in problems. No one is exactly sure how external hemorrhoids come to be.
Hemorrhoid Causes
The reason for the enlargement of hemorrhoids isn’t known for sure. It is believed that not getting the right amount of fiber, sitting for too long on the toilet, or always having to strain to have a bowel movement are some of the chief reasons. Although we known that many pregnant women suffer from hemorrhoids, the cause is not known. Hemorrhoids can also be enlarged through tumors present in the pelvis, since they clamp the veins that drain up from the anal canal.
Some believe that the force of hard bowel movements is enough to pull the hemorrhoidal tissue cushions down. Others think that age is the greatest cause, since the tissue that holds the hemorrhoids to the anal canal muscles start to break down. Over time, the hemorrhoidal tissue begins to drop down into the anal canal.
Physiological reasons for hemorrhoids
Since we know for sure that when hemorrhoids form, the pressure located within the anal sphincter is elevated, this could happen because of the hemorrhoids, or the actual cause of the hemorrhoid formation in the first place. Some think that during bowel movements, excessive force is needed to get the stool to move through the anal sphincter. This extra force might be responsible for pulling the hemorrhoids out of the anal canal and swelling them.
Hemorrhoid Symptoms
There are two nerve types in the anal canal. Nerves above the denate line known as visceral nerves, and nerves below the line are called somatic nerves. Somatic nerves are skin nerves, and can sense pain, but visceral nerves can only sense pressure, and no pain. Because of this, internal hemorrhoids are usually painless.
When the internal hemorrhoid keeps growing, it starts to push into the anal canal. It might even take a part of the rectum lining with it. This is known as a prolapsing internal hemorrhoid. Since the hemorrhoid is exposed to the stool as it passes by, and is often hard, bleeding can happen, and pain when having a bowel movement. When the lining of the rectum is pulled down, the rectum is moistened by mucus, which often leaks into the anal skin. This can cause the anus to itch, but this isn’t a common symptom of hemorrhoids. The prolapsed hemorrhoid can be pushed back into the anal canal, but will protrude once again with the following bowel movement.
Rarely, if the hemorrhoid is pushed out of the anus and will not go back in, it is called an incarceration of the hemorrhoid. This can cause gangrene, and must receive medical treatment.
Treatment For Hemorrhoids
Several things can be tried to cure hemorrhoids. Since hard stool is often thought to be a contributing factor to the formation of hemorrhoids, doctors often recommend an increase in the intake of fiber. Fiber is found in many foods like vegetables, grain, fruit, and cereal. People should have about 20-30 grams of fiber each day, and fiber supplements can also be taken. Stool softeners can bring liquid into the stool, making bowel movements easier, and drinking adequate amounts of water helps as well.
Since diarrhea can make hemorrhoids worse, fiber and other anti-motility drugs are often used to stop this from occurring.
OTC Medications
It is believed that most drugs sold OTC are more for treating the symptoms of hemorrhoids instead of the cause. Usually, these drugs treat itching and discomfort. They come in the form of gels, creams, ointments, foams, pads, and suppositories. They are applied with a thin covering, and when placed into the anal canal, they are inserted with a pile pipe. This device that is found on hemorrhoidal ointments usually has holes on both the end and sides to allow the medication to get where it is most needed.
Local anesthetics are also used to decrease the burning and itching or hemorrhoids, and these are medications like Lidocaine, Dibucaine, and Benzocaine. Protectants are also often used, and these are things like lanolin, Cocoa butter, Kaolin, and Mineral oil. They are used to reduce the amount of irritation from passing stool, resulting in less itching, burning, and pain.
Knowing as much as possible about ways to lessen the discomfort of hemorrhoids can make this condition less painful and aggravating.
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