Hemorrhoids can be painful and embarrassing. Most often they resolve themselves on their own; if not, self-help and over-the-counter remedies can provide fast relief.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that form inside or outside the anal canal (internal hemorrhoids). When sitting or wiping your butt they often hurt and bleed when touched or compressed.
What to Know about Hemorrhoids
Symptoms
Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids) are enlarged veins found in the anal canal and lower rectum that become inflamed over time, usually painlessly and without treatment, they usually resolve within several days without needing medical intervention.
Hemorrhoids are more likely to appear during pregnancy when the uterus exerts pressure on veins in the anal canal and pushes against them, exerting further strain. Common symptoms are blood in stool, itching or burning sensations in the rectal region or pressure on it from pregnancy-induced hemorrhoids.
Small hemorrhoids often resolve on their own or through at-home treatments such as taking a warm water bath (sitz bath), sitting squatting position and topical hemorrhoid creams or ointments from over-the-counter sources.
If your symptoms persist, speaking to a gastroenterologist might help as they may suggest rubber band ligation which involves placing a small rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid to stop blood flow or chemical injection into it to shrink it – both options can be done either from their office or an ambulatory surgery center and do not require anesthesia or long recovery periods after.
Causes
Hemorrhoids often heal themselves on their own if the symptoms are mild; however, some individuals require both at-home remedies and medical options to relieve symptoms and stop new hemorrhoids from forming.
Hemorrhoids are swollen clusters of veins in the anus and lower rectum that cause itching, burning, heaviness in rectal area; gastroenterologists offer relief through diet modifications, OTC treatments and procedures.
Hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, but you should consult a doctor if your symptoms don’t improve after one week of at-home treatments or you experience rectal bleeding during bowel movements.
Rectal bleeding could be a telltale sign of more serious health conditions like anal cancer or colorectal cancer – your physician can inspect both you and your stool in a physical exam and stool analysis; additionally they may recommend blood tests to monitor iron levels in your system.
Treatment
Hemorrhoids that don’t produce symptoms should resolve themselves within two weeks without needing treatment, though home treatments can ease pain, itching, and burning and help reduce swelling.
Some over-the-counter options available to alleviate your symptoms are creams with witch hazel or other numbing agents while adding fiber rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains into your diet will soften stool further while drinking plenty of water will soften stools further still.
Soak in warm moistened cloth or sitz bath for 20 minutes several times each day until symptoms subsides on its own. If home remedies do not work, consult with your physician for advice. A physician can prescribe medicated creams or suppositories.
He or she can also perform a colonoscopy examination using a long, flexible lighted tube to look inside your large intestine for abnormalities, inflammation or bleeding areas; or use rubber band ligation techniques that cut off blood supply to a hemorrhoid which in turn causes it to shrink away.
Prevention
Hemorrhoids, commonly referred to as piles, are swollen veins in the rectal area that can cause discomfort, itching and bleeding. Hemorrhoids may develop either internally (inside the rectum) or externally (around anus).
While this condition is relatively common and many people develop hemorrhoids at some point during their lives, hemorrhoids shouldn’t pose any threat, they do often make bowel movements more challenging and are generally uncomfortable.
At the core of any successful hemorrhoid prevention plan is regularity in your bowel movements. To accomplish this goal, consider eating fiber-rich foods like fresh fruit, cooked vegetables and whole wheat bread along with taking laxatives such as psyllium.
Limit how long you spend on the toilet. Prolonged sitting increases pressure on anal blood vessels and can lead to hemorrhoids; they’re more likely to occur among overweight or pregnant people and in those who linger too long in between toilet visits.
If home treatment doesn’t seem effective, your doctor may suggest in-office procedures like rubber band ligation or surgical removal for larger hemorrhoids.
Do Hemorrhoids Go Away on Their Own?
Understanding Hemorrhoid Grades
Hemorrhoids, characterized by swollen veins around the anal canal, vary in severity and duration. Let’s explore the different grades and their potential outcomes.
- Grade 1 hemorrhoids, typically small in size, usually resolve on their own within a week or two. While some may disappear within a few days, others might require medication or even surgical intervention to subside completely.
- Grade 2 hemorrhoids have the tendency to protrude from the anal canal but can retract on their own. While these hemorrhoids can also resolve within a week or two, complications may prolong their duration.
- Hemorrhoids of grade 3 necessitate manual pushing back inside the anus. Although these hemorrhoids can last for a few weeks, their persistence is more likely due to complications that may arise.
- Grade 4 hemorrhoids cannot be pushed back inside and may suffer compromised blood supply, resulting in intense pain. Due to the elevated risk of complications, these hemorrhoids may not resolve independently and can persist for weeks.
Duration of Hemorrhoids
Mild internal hemorrhoids typically resolve within a few days, but in some cases, it may take up to two to three weeks for them to go away. If your hemorrhoids are small, they may clear up without treatment within a few days, especially if you make simple adjustments to your diet and lifestyle.
However, larger hemorrhoids that do not disappear on their own or if you have multiple hemorrhoids, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Seeking Medical Care
If your symptoms persist for more than a week or if you experience severe anal pain, rectal bleeding, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or fever, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms could indicate complications or underlying conditions that require professional evaluation and care.
By understanding the different grades and potential outcomes of hemorrhoids, individuals can gauge the severity of their condition and make informed decisions about seeking appropriate medical care or adopting self-care measures for symptom relief.
