Proctology Institute

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An Uncomfortably Close Illustration of Hemorrhoids

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Look away if you must, but this diagram offers some useful information about hemorrhoids – their anatomy, function, and development.

The most valuable part of the illustration is the way it differentiates between internal and external hemorrhoids, which are two distinct phenomena which occur in different tissue types, separated by something known as the dentate, or pectinate line.

That lines defines the end of the GI tract and the beginning of your body’s outside, and it stands between a completely different set of tissues on one side versus the other. That hemorrhoids can arise on both sides, and even extend from one to the other, is just one more piece of evidence that these swollen blood vessels are a universal biological response to excess pressure and straining.

The solution, as always, is to exercise more, eat fiber, and stay hydrated, all to avoid pushing and bearing down when you’re on the toilet. When these measures fail to solve the problem, then you move onto the next step: visiting a hemorrhoid doctor who can offer more aggressive responses, including hemorrhoid removal surgery.

So: memorize the diagram, and pick up the phone if you can’t get rid of the issue on your own. Dr. Maz can help with all kinds of hemorrhoid removal in LA.

Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

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Hemorrhoids are commonly discussed but rarely diagnosed at home. Most people panic the first time they see any blood in their stool; over time the panic wears off, and hemorrhoids become the de facto diagnosis for any kind of itching or discomfort south of the border.

But accuracy is important here, especially since the symptoms of hemorrhoids can easily mimic those of more serious disorders such as anal dysplasia and anal cancer. Understanding precisely what causes hemorrhoids, and how they can present under different circumstances, is an important part of getting the best care for your particular symptoms.

How do we diagnose hemorrhoids? The process is as simple as understanding which symptoms are most closely associated with hemorrhoids, and ruling out those which do not fit the bill. Once you have a solid checklist in hand, you can begin to apply the process of elimination to ensure that you are getting the best possible treatment for your complaints.

This is especially important during pregnancy, a time when hemorrhoids can appear fairly quickly and without warning in otherwise healthy women who have no history of symptoms in this area. As this piece recently described the telltale signs of this disorder:

Two types of hemorrhoids can occur during pregnancy — internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids can cause painless, light-colored blood around your stool or on your toilet paper after wiping. Occasionally, these internal hemorrhoids can protrude, and you will feel soft swollen masses when wiping. External hemorrhoids can cause painful, hard lumps around your rectum.

Getting this right is one of the fastest and easiest ways to protect your body, and your baby’s body, throughout the course of your pregnancy. If you have any questions about what you’re seeing and whether your symptoms should be cause for concern, please don’t hesitate to contact the Proctology Institute for better care throughout your pregnancy.

Why We Get Hemorrhoids

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Hemorrhoids come in many shapes and sizes: they may be internal, external, prolapsed, and so on. And they come from many causes, including diet, habits, and genetics. When people ask me why they have hemorrhoids, there is rarely a unitary answer involved; hemorrhoids appear because of a combination of factors. Here are few of the most common.

Straining

The biggest cause of hemorrhoids is straining during bowel movements. If you have trouble defecating comfortably, or you and find yourself “bearing down” or causing pain, you may want to add more fiber to your diet. Other measures which can help include staying hydrated, and easing off the use of antacids.

Obesity

Being overweight can lead to digestive difficulties which may create the circumstances for hemorrhoids to arise. More immediately, carrying that extra weight can put a strain on the blood vessels around your anus, as increased pressure and decreased mobility take a toll.

Sitting Too Long

Again, this is a question of sustained pressure, which can eventually cause the blood vessels to bulge or even protrude from the anal opening over time. If you have a sedentary job, consider standing and moving around every hour or so – or better yet, invest in a standing desk to keep the pressure off your behind.

Cure Hemorrhoids in LA

The Proctology Institute sees patients from around the world who are struggling with chronic hemorrhoid issues. If you want the best care in California for hemorrhoids/piles, contact us today.

Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

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Let’s clear up a few things about hemorrhoids. First of all, everyone has them in a sense, because hemorrhoids aren’t precisely a hard diagnosis but a continuum: when pronounced, hemorrhoids are simply swollen versions of common and healthy blood vessels that we all have, in and around the anus.

Hemorrhoids develop when pressure or friction on these blood vessels causes them to swell and become irritated, giving rise to the telltale bulging appearance that is one of the diagnostic criteria for true hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids can appear in the lower rectum, where they are known as internal hemorrhoids, or around the anus, where they are known as external hemorrhoids. Both types are prone to bleeding, which is why bright red blood in the toilet or on your toilet paper after defecating is another of the signature symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Do All Hemorrhoids Itch?

One of the common misconceptions about hemorrhoids is that they are always accompanied by pain or itching. In fact, internal hemorrhoids often are not painful at all, while external hemorrhoids can be excruciatingly painful. In between these extremes, many external hemorrhoids may simply itch if the irritation isn’t too severe.

How To Tell If You Have Hemorrhoids

Look for bright red blood in the stool, and you may be able to feel for swollen blood vessels in the shower or bath. If you have experienced repeated bleeding, itching, or pain, it’s time to visit a hemorrhoid doctor or specialist. The Proctology Institute offers the best hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles.

Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

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As the leading proctologist in Southern California, one of my jobs is to field a number of questions that most patients wouldn’t ask their general practitioner. One of the most common if these – Do I have hemorrhoids? – is typically inspired by a bloody stool, or by painful or itchy sensations.

Unfortunately there’s no completely reliable way to self-diagnose hemorrhoids. Every one of the most common symptoms – itching, pain, and bright red blood – can be attributed to other ailments, so the only way to know for sure is to visit your proctologist for a physical exam.

The good news is that hemorrhoids treatments are often non-invasive, and very often painless. Common treatments may include hemorrhoid banding, also known as rubber band ligation; infrared coagulation; and sclerotherapy. For sub-chronic hemorrhoids that don’t demand immediate intervention, you may get some relief just by applying an ointment or changing your diet.

The Los Angeles and Orange County Proctology Institute is the premier resource for hemorrhoid treatment in LA and beyond. To find a hemorrhoid doctor who can offer you swift and effective relief today, contact us here.