The vascular structures in the anal canal are called hemorrhoids which maintain stool control. They consist of a cushion which is further composed of connective tissue and arterio-venous channels that aid during the process of defecation. When hemorrhoids become swollen they are considered to be pathological disturbing the passage of stool.
There are two types of hemorrhoids, internal and external, with regard to their position to the dentate line. The internal hemorrhoids are present inside the rectum, the area having no pain receptors. Thus the inflicted person does not have to bear pain and it often goes unnoticed. The external hemorrhoids, the second type of hemorrhoids take place outside the anal verge causing inflammation and pain.
The symptoms of each type differ from one another. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless but may become noticeable with blood covering the stool, toilet paper or bowl. On the other hand, the symptom of external hemorrhoids is inflammation that is accompanied by rectal pain, rectal bleeding or itching.
The formation of hemorrhoids is due to many factors. Of them, the most significant are genetics, aging, constipation, diarrhea, pregnancy, low-fiber diet, lack of exercise, increased intra-abdominal pressure due to prolonged sitting, and improper function of valves within the hemorrhoid veins.
The best preventive measure is to keep stools soft so they pass easily without putting pressure on hemorrhoids. It is possible through increased fibrous consumption, proper sitting postures, and regular exercise habit. Not only would this prevent from pathological hemorrhoids but also reduce occurrence of constipation and diarrhea. Besides, defecation of waste material as soon as the urge occurs, avoiding reading while on the toilet and adopting a ‘squatting’ posture during defecation are recommended to reduce the incidence of pathological hemorrhoid.
The non-surgical as well as surgical methods of treatment are sought after to treat the hemorrhoids. A number of topical agents like creams and natural oils are applied for the treatment. They are effective to the extent of reducing the swelling and relieving from pain but medical studies are yet to ensure that they also heal the underlying disorder.
The non-surgical hemorrhoids treatment methods are Rubber Band Ligation and Aclerotherapy, both have high success rates. In rubber band ligation, elastic bands are tied on the internal hemorrhoid to block its blood supply. In Sclerotherapy, sclerosing agents are injected into the hemorrhoid. Both of these methods aim at shrinking the hemorrhoids that eventually fall off on their own.
When the condition becomes severe and traditional methods prove ineffective, the surgical treatments that involve the excision of hemorrhoid are sought after. However, some complications may appear as a result of surgical operation; these include urinary retention, post operative pain, bleeding, and infection.