Hemorrhoids
They’re swollen blood vessels of the rectum. The hemorrhoidal veins are located in the lowest area of the rectum and the anus. Sometimesthey swell so that the vein walls become stretched, thin, and irritatedwhen you have bowel movements.
Internal hemorrhoids lie far enough inside the rectum that you can’t see or feel them. They don’t usually hurt because there are few pain-sensing nerves in the rectum. Bleeding may be the only sign they’re there.
Sometimes internal hemorrhoids “prolapse,” or enlarge and protrude outside the anal sphincter. When this happens, you may be able to see or feel them as moist, pink pads of skin that are pinker than the surrounding area. Prolapsed hemorrhoids may hurt because the anus is dense with pain-sensing nerves. They usually go back into the rectum on their own. If they don’t, they can often be gently pushed back into place.
External hemorrhoids lie within the anus. They’re usually painful. If they move, or prolapse, to the outside (usually when you have a bowel movement), you can see and feel it. Blood clots sometimes form within prolapsed external hemorrhoids, causing a very painful condition called a thrombosis. If that happens, the hemorrhoid can turn purple or blue, and could possibly bleed. Despite its appearance, it’s usually not serious, apart from the pain. It will go away in a couple of weeks. Your doctor can remove it if the pain is unbearable.You should get any anal bleeding and pain checked by a doctor to make sure it’s not a more serious condition. Hemorrhoids are the No. 1 cause of this type of bleeding and are rarely dangerous, but you should find out for sure.
What Causes Them
Doctors don’t know the exact cause. Some people may be more likely to get them because they have “weak” veins, leading to hemorrhoids and other varicose veins. That may be something you inherit.There are other possibilities, too. It’s likely that extreme abdominal pressure makes the veins swell and become likelier to get irritated. The pressure can be caused by:
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Obesity
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Pregnancy
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Standing or sitting for a long time
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Straining during bowel movements
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Coughing
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Sneezing
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Vomiting
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Holding your breath when you do something that’s physically hard