What are Hemroids?

You may have heard the term hemroids or you have been diagnosed with hemroids and so you are wondering - what are hemorrhoids? Hemroids is the name given to a condition in which the veins around the anus or lower rectum become swollen and inflamed causing discomfort. These hemroids become lumps or masses of tissue and they may be inside the anal canal (internal hemroids) or they may lie just outside the anal canal (external hemroids). If you have hemroids they will only affect your rectum and anus areas and no where else. The good news about hemroids is that they are not usually dangerous or life threatening. In fact, most hemroid symptoms will go away within a few days and even though many people have hemroids, not all of them experience symptoms.

Unless there is rectal bleeding, most people with hemroids can diagnose and treat the problem themselves with the help of some home care treatment plus over the counter remedies such as a hemorrhoidal cream or suppository applied to the affected area or if you prefer, a natural treatment to avoid any side effects such as a natural healing product made from pure essential oils. You can help to heal your hemroids by sitting in a Sitz bath or bowl of warm water several times per day, applying ice packs and keeping the area clean by using gentle baby wipes.

If you find you have rectal bleeding, this may be due to bleeding hemroids or to a completely different cause. This is why it is wise to see a doctor for diagnosis and further treatment.

When you treat your hemroids successfully, you also need to change your diet to a high bulk diet with more fiber. A daily goal of 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily where you include such high fiber foods as beans, broccoli, carrots, bran, whole grains and fresh fruits, will make all the difference. A word of caution though – if you are not used to these foods, add them gradually over a period of a few days to avoid bloating and gas. If you neglect to change your diet and you suffer from repeated constipation, then you can expect painful hemroid flare ups to be an ongoing problem.

What causes hemroids?

Now that you know the answer to your question “what are hemroids?” you may be asking “what causes hemroids?”

The main cause of hemroids is definitely constipation and we have already told you how this can be rectified with a change of diet. Drinking adequate amounts of water every day is also important – this should be 6 to 8 glasses. A program of regular exercise will also help to avoid constipation with a daily walk of say 20 minutes to stimulate your bowel to work properly and regularly. It is a good idea to train yourself to have regular bowel movements. Sit on the toilet at around about the same time each day, preferably soon after a meal, but do not sit there for too long. At other times if you need to have a bowel movement, respond to the urge straight away and never put off going to the toilet.

Other causes of hemroids are pregnancy, repeated episodes of diarrhea especially in older adults, obesity and in very rare cases cirrhosis of the liver.

What causes hemroids in pregnant women?

In pregnant women, hemroids are often a temporary problem that either improves dramatically or disappears after childbirth. During pregnancy, the growing uterus exerts pressure directly on the veins that carry blood form the lower limbs resulting in a decrease in blood flow and an increase in pressure on the rectal area. In addition, constipation can be a problem in pregnancy. Even the pregnancy hormone called progesterone can cause hemroids as it allows the walls of the blood vessels or veins to relax and swell and this hormone can also cause constipation.

Pregnant women can also get hemroids during the second stage of labor when they are pushing and straining to give birth.

So now that you know what are hemroids and what causes hemroids, you are better equipped to treat those hemroids quickly and effectively so as to avoid any future problems. If you are suffering from hemroids, take immediate action to avoid pain, embarrassment and more serious medical issues in the future.