A hemorrhoid can be uncomfortable but treatable at Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida. Describing your discomfort and getting examined is the first step. This blog will inform you of ways gastroenterologists spot, diagnose, and treat hemorrhoids for desired relief.
Introduction to hemorrhoids:
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus or lower rectum area. They are similar to varicose veins.
They come about by a number of causes, but the cause is often unknown when diagnosing patients.
They can be caused by straining too much while trying to pass a bowel movement. Pregnancy can also cause increased pressure on the veins. There are locations we will discuss.
Internal hemorrhoids are inside the rectum. External hemorrhoids are found under the skin around the anus. Both types of hemorrhoids can be treated at your gastroenterologists in Orlando.
You’re not alone:
About three out of four adults get hemorrhoids in their lifetime. They are extremely common, and not every treatment involves procedures or medication. However, clots can form from hemorrhoids and require draining which can be utterly painful.
Signs and symptoms for much need medical attention:
The symptoms for hemorrhoids can be as subtle as light red bleeding on your toilet tissue or in the toilet. Other symptoms such as itching or irritation can be more blatant. Most people experience pain or discomfort in addition to swelling around the anus.
The location of the hemorrhoid will cause symptoms to vary. Read carefully to inform yourself on multiple symptoms. Follow up with a doctor if any catch your eye.
Internal hemorrhoids:
The hemorrhoids that lie inside the rectum are referred to as internal hemorrhoids. Patients often explain that they felt pain and discomfort when passing stool. If they have seen blood, they get alarmed, but this is a sign of an internal hemorrhoid.
If patients do not address their experience and discomfort, hemorrhoids can become a bigger nuisance. Straining when passing stool can occasionally push the hemorrhoid though the anus. This is called a protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoid.
External hemorrhoids:
As previously stated, hemorrhoids under the skin round the anus are referred to as external hemorrhoids. An external hemorrhoid can bleed or itch and become irritated. Sometimes external hemorrhoids can clot.
Once blood pools in an external hemorrhoid and forms a clot, it is referred to as a thrombosed hemorrhoid. According to Mayo Clinic, these result in swelling, severe pain, inflammation, and a hard lump near the anus.
When to consult a gastroenterologist:
The most common sign of hemorrhoids is bleeding during bowel movements. Doctors will perform tests and do a physical examination to rule out other serious conditions or diseases. Once diagnosed with hemorrhoids, your doctor may begin with home remedies.
Doctors warn patients to never assume rectal bleeding is a hemorrhoid. It may be more serious, especially if you are over 40 years of age. Seek emergency medical care if you experience large amounts of rectal bleeding.
What causes a hemorrhoid:
The veins around the anus stretch when under pressure, swell, or bulge. The swollen veins, hemorrhoids, develop from a multitude of reason. Avoid sitting for long periods of time on the toilet because the position will cause swollen veins.
Women may experience a hemorrhoid during pregnancy because of the weight gain and weight of the baby. Either pregnant or not, constipation will cause a hemorrhoid. Similarly, the irritation and overstimulation from diarrhea will cause a hemorrhoid.
A low-fiber diet, anal intercourse, obesity, and straining during bowel movements are all causes of hemorrhoids. They are more common with aging because muscles weaken and stretch.
Treatment your gastro doctor may offer:
Fortunately, gastroenterologists have a treatment to relieve patients from pain of hemorrhoids. Treatment will depend on location of the affected area. If pain continues after home remedies, visit your doctor for further treatment.
An external hemorrhoid can take up to six weeks for the lump to subside. If the pain remains sever, your doctor may opt to make a small incision under anesthesia to remove the clot. This will give immediate relief.
Internal hemorrhoids can be treated immediately with diet change by adding more fiber and fluid to your diet. Your doctor may recommend warm baths or a more hands on treatment called infrared coagulation.
To perform infrared coagulation, a doctor inserts a probe to the area above the hemorrhoid. The probe exposes the tissue to infrared light for about one second. The light causes the blood to coagulate, or change to a solid, which will make the hemorrhoid shrink and recede.
Schedule an appointment today with Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida if you have experienced any symptoms mentioned in today’s blog. Check in next week for more gastroenterology information. Thank you for stopping by and enjoy your sunny, summer weekend!
Staff Writer