What is it?
Haemorrhoids are swollen and enlarged blood vessels inside and around the anus. They may present as lumps around the anus.
What are the symptoms?
Haemorrhoids (also spelt hemorrhoids), or ‘piles’, vary in their severity from person to person. Many people experience no symptoms or very mild symptoms that disappear after a couple of days. Other haemorrhoids are more painful. When symptoms do occur, they may include bleeding, itchiness, discomfort and pain. In some cases, haemorrhoids can enlarge so much that they stick out of the anus. This is known as a ‘prolapse’. The most common sign of hemorrhoids is bleeding during or after passing a bowel motion. The blood is bright red and may be seen on the toilet paper or in the toilet bowl. If you have any bleeding with a bowel motion, you should see your doctor. Haemorrhoids are classified into four different types based on their size and severity:
First degree haemorrhoids often bleed a little bit when you pass a bowel motion, but stay inside the anus and are not usually very painful.
Second degree haemorrhoids bleed and stick out of the anus when you pass a bowel motion. Once the bowel motion is over, they disappear back inside the anus by themselves.
Third degree haemorrhoids have to be physically pushed back inside the anus after passing a bowel motion. They may be painful if they are large.
Fourth degree haemorrhoids are larger lumps that stick out of the anus permanently, and cannot be placed back inside. The blood inside these haemorrhoids may clot and the lumps can become very painful.
What to expect?
Thing you can try at home that may relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids:
- Eat a diet high in fibers and drink lots of fluids to avoid constipation.
- Exercise regularly.
- Itchiness and pain may be relieved by taking hot baths.
- Try not to strain during bowel movements.
- Use moist wipes, instead of rough toilet paper.