Hemorrhoids: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins, similar to varicose veins, in the lowest part of your rectum and anus. Sometimes, the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins bulge and get irritated, especially when you poop. You might also hear them called piles.

Hemorrhoids aren’t serious, but they can cause unpleasant symptoms. They’re one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding. They often go away on their own. Treatments can also help.

Hemorrhoids are very common, especially in older people. About 1 in every 20 people in the U.S. has them. They affect over half of people over 50.

You might hear about several types of hemorrhoids:

These are so far inside your rectum that you can’t usually see or feel them. They don’t generally hurt because you have few pain-sensing nerves there.

You get these under the skin around your anus, where there are many more pain-sensing nerves.

These happen when an internal hemorrhoid stretches down so far that it bulges outside your anal opening. They usually go back inside your body on their own. Even if they don’t, they can often be gently pushed back into place.

A blood clot can turn an external hemorrhoid purple or blue. This is called a thrombosis or a thrombosed hemorrhoid.

Internal hemorrhoids may have no symptoms at all. You might notice blood on your poop, on toilet paper after you wipe, or in the toilet bowl.

Prolapsed hemorrhoid symptoms might include:

External hemorrhoid symptoms may include:

Thrombosed hemorrhoid symptoms may include:

What’s the difference between hemorrhoids and anal fissures?

Both conditions can cause pain, bleeding, and itching in the anal area. But while a hemorrhoid results from swollen blood vessels, an anal fissure is a tear or cut in the lining of your anus. Constipation and straining to poop can cause either problem.

Pressure building up in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen because of:

You may get hemorrhoids when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.

A few things can raise your risk of this condition:

You may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, like your parents, had them.

Older people may be more likely to get them because tissues in the anal area tend to grow weaker as you age.

Pregnancy raises your risk in a couple of ways. The weight of the fetus puts extra pressure on your rectum. You’re more prone to constipation, too.

A mostly sedentary lifestyle, or a job in which you have to sit for long stretches, also raises your risk. When you don’t move around a lot, blood can pool in your anal area and put pressure on the blood vessels there.

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. They’ll probably need to do one or both of these exams:

To diagnose internal hemorrhoids or rule out other conditions, you might need a more thorough test, including:

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