What are the factors that cause hemorrhoids?
- Chronic constipation
- Frequent diarrhea
- Habit of straining excessively to try to pass the last stool
- Habit of spending a long time sitting on the toilet, such as reading while defecating
- Frequent use of enemas or laxatives
- Pregnancy causing difficulty in defecation
- Cirrhosis causing blood flow blockage to the liver, leading to swollen veins around the anus
- Aging causing muscle relaxation, resulting in the cushion sliding down and protruding from the anus
- Unknown cause, but individuals with a family history of hemorrhoids have a higher risk of developing the condition
If you have the following symptoms… you should see a doctor for an anal examination immediately
- Bleeding after defecation
- A lump protrudes during defecation
- Wet and itchy around the anus
- Inflammation of hemorrhoids and pain around the anus
- A lump can be felt around the anus
The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids can be divided into 4 stages
Stage 1: Bleeding after defecation, but the hemorrhoid head remains inside the anus… not protruding yet
Stage 2: The hemorrhoid head protrudes during defecation and retracts on its own
Stage 3: The hemorrhoid head protrudes during defecation… and must be pushed back manually
Stage 4: The hemorrhoid head protrudes… and is too large to be pushed back in
If signs of hemorrhoids are found, we may not know the severity of the disease or whether the bleeding is a symptom of a more serious condition, such as colon cancer! Until an assessment is done using a Proctoscope inserted through the anus, it will help determine the severity of the disease and plan appropriate treatment.
