Customer question:
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids? Anonymous customer.
Pharmacist's answer:
Hemorrhoids are normal tissue and only cause concern if they swell, inflamed, or bleed. If you think you have hemorrhoids, the first step is to see your doctor and get a diagnosis. To determine whether you have internal or external hemorrhoids, your doctor will examine your anus and rectum. The signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids usually depend on the type of hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids:
- itching or irritation in the anal area
- pain or discomfort in the anal area
- swelling around the anus
- bleeding
Internal hemorrhoids
- painless bleeding during stool
- hemorrhoid protruding through the anal opening (prolapsed or protruding hemorrhoid), causing unpleasant pain and irritation
Thrombosis hemorrhoids:
- severe pain
- swelling
- inflammation
- hard lump near the anus
How to differentiate between internal and external hemorrhoids?
Normal hemorrhoidal tissue cannot be seen because it must first swell and become inflamed or develop a clot to cause symptoms. Therefore, we can only see swollen external hemorrhoids or internal prolapsed hemorrhoids.
Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum. These are usually small, swollen veins in the rectal wall. Internal hemorrhoids usually do not cause pain and do not require special treatment.
External hemorrhoids occur outside the anus. These are usually larger, swollen veins, can be painful, and can be treated with several home remedies, such as over-the-counter creams and warm baths.
Interesting reading: Hemorrhoids images
Interesting reading: Home remedy for hemorrhoids
