WHAT ARE HEMORRHOIDS?

Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins in the rectum. Everybody has these veins. It’s only when they become swollen, distended and cause symptoms that we call them hemorrhoids. There are 2 main types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids reside up inside the rectum where there are minimal pain fibers, therefore they rarely hurt. They tend to cause symptoms of rectal bleeding, itching and occasionally leakage of stool. External hemorrhoids reside under the skin around your anus and they can be extremely painful at times.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF HEMORRHOIDS?

Hemorrhoids develop when the veins in and around her rectum stretch and swell under pressure.  Things that make this condition worse are:

  • constipation
  • straining with bowel movements
  • pregnancy
  • sitting for long periods on the toilet
  • sitting for a long time (bus drivers, people with desk jobs)
  • obesity
  • low fiber, low fluid diet

WHAT ARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HEMORRHOIDS?

There are many treatment options for hemorrhoids in San Antonio TX. The first thing to try is diet and lifestyle modifications. This consists of increasing the fiber and fluids in your diet and avoiding prolonged sitting or prolonged straining. The next option is topical medications. These come in the form of creams, ointments and suppositories some of which are over-the-counter and some are by prescription. When those options fail the next step is to proceed to hemorrhoid banding. In this procedure, small rubber bands are placed on the vessels that supply blood to the hemorrhoids in attempt to get them to shrink. The last option is removal of the hemorrhoids with things like laser ablation or hemorrhoid surgery. If you are having problems with hemorrhoids please contact your physician or our office and we will discuss treatment options. This digestive condition is not something you should have to continue to suffer with.

Hemorrhoid FAQs

For additional information on the causes and treatment options, I suggest visiting my hemorrhoid FAQ page.

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