Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins around your anus or in your lower rectum.
The two types of hemorrhoids are
You are more likely to get hemorrhoids if you
Complications of hemorrhoids can include the following:
The symptoms of hemorrhoids depend on the type you have.
If you have external hemorrhoids, you may have
Too much straining, rubbing, or cleaning around your anus may make your symptoms worse. For many people, the symptoms of external hemorrhoids go away within a few days.
If you have internal hemorrhoids, you may have
Internal hemorrhoids that are not prolapsed most often are not painful. Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids may cause pain and discomfort.
Although hemorrhoids are the most common cause of anal symptoms, not every anal symptom is caused by hemorrhoid. Some hemorrhoid symptoms are similar to those of other digestive tract problems. For example, bleeding from your rectum may be a sign of bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or cancer of the colon or rectum.
You should seek a doctor's help if you
The causes of hemorrhoids include
Your doctor can often diagnose hemorrhoids based on your medical history and a physical exam. He or she can diagnose external hemorrhoids by checking the area around your anus. To diagnose internal hemorrhoids, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam and may perform procedures to look inside your anus and rectum.
Your doctor will ask you to provide your medical history and describe your symptoms. He or she will ask you about your eating habits, toilet habits, enema and laxative use, and current medical conditions.
Your doctor will check the area around your anus for
Your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam to
Your doctor may use the following procedures to diagnose internal hemorrhoids:
For an anoscopy, your doctor uses an anoscope to view the lining of your anus and lower rectum. Your doctor will carefully examine the tissues lining your anus and lower rectum to look for signs of lower digestive tract problems and bowel disease. Your doctor performs an anoscopy during an office visit or at an outpatient center. Most patients do not need anesthesia.
Rigid proctosigmoidoscopy is similar to anoscopy, except that your doctor uses an instrument called a proctoscope to view the lining of your rectum and lower colon. Your doctor will carefully examine the tissues lining your rectum and lower colon to look for signs of lower digestive tract problems and bowel disease. Your doctor performs this procedure during an office visit or at an outpatient center or a hospital. Most patients don’t need anesthesia.
Your doctor may diagnose internal hemorrhoids while performing procedures for other digestive tract problems or during routine examination of your rectum and colon. These procedures include colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
You can most often treat your hemorrhoids at home by
Applying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or ointments or using suppositories - a medicine you insert into your rectum - may relieve mild pain, swelling, and itching of external hemorrhoids. Most often, doctors recommend using over-the-counter products for 1 week. You should follow up with your doctor if the products
Most prolapsed internal hemorrhoids go away without at-home treatment. However, severely prolapsed or bleeding internal hemorrhoids may need medical treatment.
Doctors treat hemorrhoids with procedures during an office visit or in an outpatient center or a hospital.
Office treatments include the following:
Rubber band ligation is a procedure that doctors use to treat bleeding or prolapsing internal hemorrhoids. A doctor places a special rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. The band cuts off the blood supply. The banded part of the hemorrhoid shrivels and falls off, most often within a week. Scar tissue forms in the remaining part of the hemorrhoid, often shrinking the hemorrhoid. Only a doctor should perform this procedure—you should never try this treatment yourself.
A doctor injects a solution into an internal hemorrhoid, which causes scar tissue to form. The scar tissue cuts off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
A doctor uses a tool that directs infrared light at an internal hemorrhoid. Heat created by the infrared light causes scar tissue to form, which cuts off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
A doctor uses a tool that sends an electric current into an internal hemorrhoid. The electric current causes scar tissue to form, which cuts off the blood supply, often shrinking the hemorrhoid.
Outpatient center or hospital treatments include the following:
A doctor, most often a surgeon, may perform a hemorrhoidectomy to remove large external hemorrhoids and prolapsing internal hemorrhoids that do not respond to other treatments. Your doctor will give you anesthesia for this treatment.
A doctor, most often a surgeon, may use a special stapling tool to remove internal hemorrhoid tissue and pull a prolapsing internal hemorrhoid back into the anus. Your doctor will give you anesthesia for this treatment.
Sometimes complications of hemorrhoids also require treatment.
You should seek medical care right away if you have severe anal pain and bleeding from your rectum, particularly with discomfort or pain in your abdomen, diarrhea, or fever.
You can help prevent hemorrhoids by
Your doctor may recommend that you eat more foods that are high in fiber. Eating foods that are high in fiber can make stools softer and easier to pass and can help treat and prevent hemorrhoids.
Drinking water and other liquids, such as fruit juices and clear soups, can help the fiber in your diet work better. Ask your doctor about how much you should drink each day based on your health and activity level and where you live.
The amount of fiber in a food is listed on the food's nutrition facts label. Some fiber-rich foods are listed in the tables below.
Grains
Food and Portion Size | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|
⅓‒¾ cup high-fiber bran, ready-to-eat cereal | 9.1–14.3 grams |
1‒1¼ cups of shredded wheat, ready-to-eat cereal | 5.0–9.0 grams |
1½ cups whole-wheat spaghetti, cooked | 3.2 grams |
1 small oat bran muffin | 3.0 grams |
Fruits
Food and Portion Size | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|
1 medium pear, with skin | 5.5 grams |
1 medium apple, with skin | 4.4 grams |
½ cup of raspberries | 4.0 grams |
½ cup of stewed prunes | 3.8 grams |
Vegetables
Food and Portion Size | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|
½ cup of green peas, cooked | 3.5–4.4 grams |
½ cup of mixed vegetables, cooked from frozen | 4.0 grams |
½ cup of collards, cooked | 3.8 grams |
1 medium sweet potato, baked in skin | 3.8 grams |
1 medium potato, baked, with skin | 3.6 grams |
½ cup of winter squash, cooked | 2.9 grams |
Beans
Food and Portion Size | Amount of Fiber |
---|---|
½ cup navy beans, cooked | 9.6 grams |
½ cup pinto beans, cooked | 7.7 grams |
½ cup kidney beans, cooked | 5.7 grams |
A doctor or dietitian can help you learn how to add more high-fiber foods to your diet.
If your hemorrhoids are caused by chronic constipation, try not to eat too many foods with little or no fiber, such as