What factors cause hemorrhoids and what should you look out for as symptoms?
Hemorrhoids are defined as swollen blood vessels that occur in or around the anal and rectum area. The veins that are prone to hemorrhoids are in the bottom part of the rectum and anal area. These often swell thus making the vein walls thin, aggravated when bowel movements occur. Generally, there are two types of Hemorrhoids internal and external.
Are you at risk?
There is no specific age group that is more prone to developing the problem of Piles. However, it is important to know that it is very common. Surveys reveal that more than 50% of people experience this once during their lifetime. Pregnant women and elderly people often complain about the issue frequently.
What causes it?
The exact cause hasn’t been identified yet but often researchers state that weak veins result in hemorrhoids.
Often intense abdominal pressure triggers swelling within the veins and they then turn inclined to irritation. This abdominal pressure may be caused by a variety of factors such as obesity, vomiting, pregnancy, straining on the toilet, the physical position of standing or sitting practice for the longer duration, coughing, and holding breath during hard physical labor, etc.
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Does your food affect Piles?
Diet is pivotal to Piles and comprises of causing as well as preventing based on how you choose to practice your dietary habits.
People with a consistent intake routine of high- fiber diet can expect healthy prevention from the problem while those taking too many processed foods may anticipate a higher risk of piles. Often low-fiber diet or scarce fluid supply to the body results in constipation that can often be a contributory factor to hemorrhoids as it would lead to straining on a toilet and will further aggravate the irritation within swollen veins by causing harder stool.
How do you know you have it?
When checking for hemorrhoids, look for these symptoms:
- Is there any bleeding from the anal area or some blood streaking through your bowel movement?
- Unnatural pain experienced during bowel movements
- Feel for lumps or swelling or itching around your anal area
- The anus may also result in a mucous discharge
Get to your doctor immediately if you are facing rectal bleeding and if this has happened for the first time. Rectal bleeding is a sign of many diseases so while you may think it is Piles, only a professional can rule out the possibility of Colon polyps, cancer, colitis, etc. The physician will examine the anal area manually or through an anoscope or proctoscope. It is professionally used for a rectal examination. Certain more procedures may be needed to identify internal hemorrhoids or disqualify other ailments that frequently cause anal bleeding, such as anal fissure, colitis, Crohn’s disease, and colorectal cancer.
Some physicians may also make use of sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy for the entire colon.
It is always recommended that you maintain a healthy diet and foods to counter the loss of blood since rectal bleeding may result in anemia.
