Hemorrhoids: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Hemorrhoids are a figurative and literal pain in the butt. October 19th is National Hemorrhoid Awareness Day. So we wanted to share some information about hemorrhoids to help anyone who suffers from them. Here we will talk about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of hemorrhoids.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are similar to varicose veins but instead of being on your legs, they are swollen veins in your rectum or anus. They can be either internal or external.
Nearly half of adults older than 50 years old have hemorrhoids.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids
Symptoms of hemorrhoids differ depending on the type of hemorrhoid.
Internal hemorrhoids are inside the rectum. They can’t be seen or felt. Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:
- Blood on the toilet tissue when you wipe after a bowel movement
- Skin that sticks out of the anus during a bowel movement or a prolapsed hemorrhoid that can become painful
External hemorrhoids are the most common type of hemorrhoid. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
- Itchiness
- Uncomfortable lumps or swelling
- Aches and pain around the anus especially when sitting down
- Bleeding
While these are the two main categories of hemorrhoids a third category does exist — thrombosed hemorrhoids. Thrombosed hemorrhoids happen when the blood from a hemorrhoid pools and forms a blood clot. Symptoms of thrombosed hemorrhoids are more severe:
- Severe pain
- Swelling and inflammation of the anus
- A hard, discolored lump near the anus
Blood during bowel movements can mean hemorrhoids. However, if you have extremely bloody or nearly black stools, you should see your doctor immediately. Hemorrhoids aren’t the only condition that causes blood during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids are the least concerning condition and others can mean serious GI conditions like IBD or cancer.
What causes hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids can be caused by multiple things. Some groups of people are more likely to experience hemorrhoids like:
- Pregnant women
- Adults 50 years or older
- People eating diets that are low in fiber
- People who have trouble passing stool (i.e. conditions with chronic constipation and/or diarrhea)
- People who are often lifting heavy objects
- Obesity
- Sitting for long periods (especially on the toilet)
- Straining during bowel movements
- Having anal intercourse
If you go to the doctor with any of the above symptoms, they can offer multiple tests to check for hemorrhoids. While it’s often an uncomfortable thing, it is important to get the right diagnosis. Your doctor will visually check for a hemorrhoid and will palpate to see if they feel one. They can also order tests to check for hemorrhoids or other potential issues that may be causing your symptoms.
If hemorrhoids are not taken care of they can become more problematic. Some of the problems related to chronic hemorrhoids include:
- Anemia — this is a cyclical relationship because anemia can also cause hemorrhoids.
- Blood clots
- Skin tags
- Infection
- Strangulated hemorrhoid
So what treatment options do you have if you do have a hemorrhoid?
What treatment options are there for hemorrhoids?
Oftentimes, hemorrhoids can be treated with at-home treatments. There are a lot of options out there and depending on the type of hemorrhoid and symptoms you have, you can choose from there.
- Eat a high-fiber diet
- Drink extra water
- Don’t strain while going to the bathroom
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Don’t sit on the toilet for extended periods of time — if it helps, don’t take your phone in the bathroom with you
- Medications like stool softeners and anti-inflammatories can help as well
- Sitz baths
- Hemorrhoid cream for external hemorrhoids
If these treatments don’t work after a week of trying them, you should see your doctor. They can offer different in-office or outpatient center treatments to help relieve your pain.
- Rubber band ligation
- Sclerotherapy
- Infrared photocoagulation
- Electrocoagulation
- Hemorrhoidectomy
- Hemorrhoid stapling
Treatment will be based on your symptoms, medical history, and severity of the hemorrhoid.
Can Atrantil help with hemorrhoids?
Atrantil is a natural supplement that was created to help patients with small intestine bacterial overgrowth. The three main ingredients contain beneficial prebiotics and polyphenols. They help to calm inflammation and bring balance back to the gut microbiome.
One of the main ingredients — horse chestnut — is found in many hemorrhoid remedies.
Horse chestnut comes from the conker tree which was originally found in the Balkan peninsula. Over the years it’s been found in more locations around the globe.
Horse chestnut extract is most often used in medications, supplements, or topical treatments. It can be extracted from the bark and leaves but is most commonly used from the seeds.
Horse chestnut has been used for centuries as a healing remedy for multiple health problems. Modern treatments also harness the healing powers of the seed. Some of the different uses of horse chestnut include:
- Eczema
- Fever
- Menstrual cramps
- Swelling
- Joint pain
- Chronic venous insufficiency — some studies have said that horse chestnut has the potential to be as effective as wearing compression stockings for CVI
- Gastrointestinal issues — especially with conditions that deal with methane production or an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestines
- Male infertility
Hemorrhoids are also treated by horse chestnut.
Horse chestnut offers all of these benefits because of the polyphenolic compounds it possesses — flavonoids and saponins. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of these compounds help the body to heal quickly.
Horse chestnut helps hemorrhoids by:
- Strengthening the venous walls
- Reducing inflammation and swelling in the vessels and surrounding structures
- Maintaining capillary health
- Preventing the release of enzymes that break down collagen
- Improving vessel elasticity
- Help the tissues heal faster by manipulating the fibroblasts
So to answer the above question, “does Atrantil help with hemorrhoids?” It absolutely can. Atrantil, though created for other gastrointestinal symptoms, can help with hemorrhoids as well.
As always, ask your doctor before adding any new supplements to your routine to ensure it doesn’t interact negatively with other conditions or medications you may have.
If you’re struggling with hemorrhoids, check with your doctor. They will be able to help you figure out the best course of action for your individual needs.
As a side note: people who have liver problems, definitely check with your doctor before using anything with horse chestnut in it. There have been cases where horse chestnut may have exacerbated liver issues.
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Read some of our other articles about horse chestnuts and hemorrhoids here!
Horse Chestnut Benefits & Side Effects of Seed Extract Use
Horse Chestnut: Helping Hemorrhoids for Centuries