Although most people are not comfortable discussing the topic, hemorrhoids occur in fifty to seventy-five percent of the American population.  As people age, they are more prone to getting hemorrhoids, although young people can get them too.  Pregnant women or women who have just given birth are very likely to get them.  Hemorrhoids also seem to be an inherited condition in some families.  You may be asking yourself what hemorrhoids symptoms are.

Physiology of Hemorrhoids

First, let’s touch on the definition of a hemorrhoid.  Hemorrhoids are caused when veins in that area bulge or dilate.  This is caused by increased pressure on these veins.  This pressure weakens the mechanism of the rectum.  The veins become swollen and then protrude either internally or externally.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Here are some of the symptoms that may occur if you are dealing with hemorrhoids:

• Pain in and around that region
• Pressure in the same area 
• A lump that feels like it throbs 
• Itching in and around that area 
• Soreness in that area
• Blood in the stool or toilet bowl (any bleeding should be reported to your doctor) 
• Blood on the toilet tissue or in your underwear 
• All of these symptoms can be aggravated by straining when having a bowel movement, constipation and not being gentle when using toilet tissue afterwards.   

Causes of Hemorrhoids

Children can be prone to hemorrhoids because of poor bowel habits.  They are too interested in what they are doing or too busy and put off going to the bathroom.  This can cause constipation or impacted stool which in turn can cause hemorrhoids when they finally use the bathroom.

The elderly, who are less mobile than they once were and perhaps not eating as well as they should, i.e., fiber and water, can suffer from constipation and/or diarrhea, both of which can cause hemorrhoids.

A pregnant woman’s body goes through many changes and increased pressure on both the bladder and intestines from the growth of the baby coupled with taking a vitamin supplement with iron (causing constipation), can experience hemorrhoids.  A new mother, because of the pressure of pushing and delivering a baby, is also very prone to hemorrhoids.

Other general causes of hemorrhoids include:

• Habitual straining due to constipation 
• Violent diarrhea 
• Sudden, excessive & forceful coughing, sneezing or vomiting 
• Sitting for prolonged periods (desk job) 
• Leading a sedentary life with no exercise or physical activity 
• Lack of fiber in the diet 
• Being overweight or obese 
• Standing for prolonged periods 
• Lifting heavy objects 
• Infections 
• Cirrhosis of the liver   

Hemorrhoids Diagnosis

In order to properly diagnose hemorrhoids, visit your doctor’s office.  For external hemorrhoids, your physician can do a visual examination.  If there is no outer evidence of hemorrhoids, your physician will do an internal exam with a gloved, lubricated finger or with the use of a scope.  The scope will simply be inserted a few inches and has a light and an eyepiece that the doctor can use to see the inside.

Keeping an eye on your body, eating enough fiber, drinking lots of water and exercising regularly should keep hemorrhoids symptoms at bay.