Let’s Talk About Something Nobody Wants To Discuss: Hemorrhoids
Toilet paper with nails in it. Isolated abstraction of problems with stomach
Most people who get hemorrhoids are shocked to have them. Since they’re a rather sensitive subject, people don’t usually share with their friends and family when they have them, so you typically only hear about them in medical articles or from your doctor, making them almost feel like myths. But hemorrhoids are, indeed, quite common, and can occur at any age. They can be quite painful, tedious to treat, and downright embarrassing. Because of the nature of hemorrhoids, they can make daily activities like sitting or going to the bathroom uncomfortable. If we’re being completely open and honest, depending on what you and your partner like to do in the bedroom, they can make that quite unpleasant, too. So let’s talk about what nobody wants to discuss: here are facts about hemorrhoids you should know, no matter your age, gender or lifestyle.
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There are three kinds, let’s start with external
There are internal, external and thrombosed hemorrhoids. External ones exist beneath the skin, around the anus (this is where the digestive tract empties your bowels out of your body). Depending on how closely you look, these can be visible, so some people elect to have them removed.
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Internal ones
Internal hemorrhoids exist in the lower rectum (what connects the large intestine to the anus). These mostly go away on their own, but if an internal one prolapses, it can be quite painful and must be treated.
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Thrombosed ones
Thrombosed hemorrhoids will feel like a hard lump around your anus. These occur when blood clots in an external hemorrhoid, causing it to swell up.
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How do you know if you have them?
If you see blood in the toilet, or on your toilet paper, after having a bowel movement, there is a chance you have hemorrhoids. If this only happens once or twice then you may have just passed hard stool, but if it’s consistent, and there is a lot of blood, you should check with your doctor to see if you have hemorrhoids.
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Who gets them
Seventy-five percent of individuals over the age of 45 get hemorrhoids. Pregnant women, however, are quite susceptible to them because the pressure of the expanding uterus can cause veins around the rectum to swell.
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What causes them
Constipation is a common cause of hemorrhoids. When people are constipated, they tend to sit on the toilet for longer periods of time, as well as push harder to have a bowel movement, both of which can lead to hemorrhoids.
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But they also come with age
As you get older, the connective tissues in your rectum and anus are not as strong as they once were, which can interfere with your motility (your bowels’ ability to move properly).
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When should you see a doctor
While hemorrhoids are not life-threatening, any time you see excessive blood in your stool you should see a doctor, as this could be a symptom of more serious conditions like colorectal cancer.
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How your doctor will diagnose you
Your doctor will use gloves, lubricant, and a light to manually examine your rectum. Doctors can typically identify hemorrhoids quickly so the exam shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
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How to treat them
If your hemorrhoids are due to constipation, then your doctor will likely suggest a high-fiber diet, more water, and in some cases (like when there has been severe constipation for over a week) a stool softener, at least until your stools become easier to pass on their own.
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Other treatment techniques
Exercising regularly and taking hot baths can also keep you regular. How you go is just as important as how often you go, too. Consider getting a squatty potty to make relieving yourself easier, and reducing your urge to strain during a bowel movement.
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Splurge for soft toilet paper
If you have hemorrhoids, rubbing anything rough or itchy across them can irritate them further. Consider splurging for ultra-soft toilet paper, or even damp wipes to relieve discomfort.
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Advanced treatment: rubber band ligation
If at-home treatment does not get rid of your hemorrhoids, then your doctor can use several methods to try to shrink them. One method is called rubber band ligation, during which your doctor puts a rubber band around the hemorrhoid to cut off its circulation, causing it to shrink. While this may sound like something you can do yourself, it is critical that only a doctor perform this procedure.
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Advanced treatment: Infrared coagulation
Infrared coagulation only applies to internal hemorrhoids. During this procedure, a doctor uses the heat of infrared light to shrink your hemorrhoid.
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Advanced treatment: Sclerotherapy
In Sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a solution into your hemorrhoid. The solution agitates the lining of the blood vessels around the hemorrhoids, forcing them to collapse.
