HAEMORRHOIDS
What is it?
· Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus.
· They are caused by increased pressure in the veins of the anus causing them to swell.
· Internal haemorrhoids occur just inside the anus.
· External haemorrhoids occur at the anal opening and are covered in very sensitive skin.
· They are very common.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of haemorrhoids can include;
What caused it?
Haemorrhoids may be cause by:
• Straining during bowel movements or with heavy lifting.
• Chronic constipation or diarrhoea
• Pregnancy.
• Sitting for long periods
• Certain diseases like liver cirrhosis.
• They can be hereditary (run in families)
• Increased pressure in the abdomen. ie. Obesity or chronic coughing.
How is it treated?
Treatment includes;
• Dietary – high fiber diet and fiber supplements.
• Creams. Occasionally a short course of corticosteroid creams or suppositories can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Injection to shrink the haemorrhoids
Banding
This treatment is for small to medium sized internal haemorrhoids. A rubber band is placed over the haemorrhoid, cutting off its blood supply. The hemorrhoid and the band fall off in a few days and the wound usually heals in a week or two. This procedure may need to be repeated. Generally there is very little pain with this procedure. Most people can return to work the next day.
Haemorrhoidectomy.
A haemorrhoidectomy is for lager haemorrhoids or those associated with skin tags.
This operation removes excessive tissue that causes the bleeding and protrusion. It is done under anesthesia and may, depending upon circumstances, require hospitalization and a period of inactivity.
What is the outcome?
Haemorrhoids and bowel cancer are not related but they can cause similar symptoms and bowel cancer needs to be ruled out before your haemorrhoids are treated.
After any haemorrhoid treatment it is important to treat the cause of the haemorrhoids appearing in the first case. Looking after bowel health and avoiding constipation and straining are very important otherwise haemorrhoids can re-occur.
What is it?
· Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus.
· They are caused by increased pressure in the veins of the anus causing them to swell.
· Internal haemorrhoids occur just inside the anus.
· External haemorrhoids occur at the anal opening and are covered in very sensitive skin.
· They are very common.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of haemorrhoids can include;
- Bleeding with bowel motions, on the toilet paper, on the stool or in the bowel.
- All bleeding from the bowels needs to be appropriately investigated to rule out bowel cancer.
- Anal itching.
- Anal ache or pain, especially when sitting.
- Tender lumps near the anus.
What caused it?
Haemorrhoids may be cause by:
• Straining during bowel movements or with heavy lifting.
• Chronic constipation or diarrhoea
• Pregnancy.
• Sitting for long periods
• Certain diseases like liver cirrhosis.
• They can be hereditary (run in families)
• Increased pressure in the abdomen. ie. Obesity or chronic coughing.
How is it treated?
Treatment includes;
• Dietary – high fiber diet and fiber supplements.
• Creams. Occasionally a short course of corticosteroid creams or suppositories can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Injection to shrink the haemorrhoids
Banding
This treatment is for small to medium sized internal haemorrhoids. A rubber band is placed over the haemorrhoid, cutting off its blood supply. The hemorrhoid and the band fall off in a few days and the wound usually heals in a week or two. This procedure may need to be repeated. Generally there is very little pain with this procedure. Most people can return to work the next day.
Haemorrhoidectomy.
A haemorrhoidectomy is for lager haemorrhoids or those associated with skin tags.
This operation removes excessive tissue that causes the bleeding and protrusion. It is done under anesthesia and may, depending upon circumstances, require hospitalization and a period of inactivity.
What is the outcome?
Haemorrhoids and bowel cancer are not related but they can cause similar symptoms and bowel cancer needs to be ruled out before your haemorrhoids are treated.
After any haemorrhoid treatment it is important to treat the cause of the haemorrhoids appearing in the first case. Looking after bowel health and avoiding constipation and straining are very important otherwise haemorrhoids can re-occur.