Hemorrhoids Symptoms in Men

The veins that are located in the anus and lower rectum, due to certain reasons, may swell up or suffer inflammation. These swollen veins are known as hemorrhoids, or better known as piles. The condition is one of the most common medical conditions. However, most people do not find it comfortable to discuss it with doctors, and hence the condition remains untreated. The condition of hemorrhoids in men and women seems to be common among adults of or over 50. Although a painful, and embarrassing condition, there are several medical options to deal with it. And some people recover with the help of simple home remedies and lifestyle changes.

What Indicates Piles in Men or Women?
As mentioned, the symptoms are influenced by the location of the inflamed veins; they can occur inside the rectum, or around the anus. Also, the symptoms are the same for women too. Common ones include:

• Presence of blood in the toilet bowl. This bleeding is usually painless
• The anal region may itch or irritate
• In some cases, there might be a mild pain and discomfort
• The patient might also feel hemorrhoids protruding from the anus. These are nothing but the swelled up veins which are pushed out through an anal opening, due to straining. This can cause great pain and discomfort
• The anus may be felt to have swelled up
• A lump may occur in the proximity to the anus; it may be sensitive and painful
• Feces may leak unintentionally

Speaking about hemorrhoids that form inside the rectum, these cannot be seen nor felt, and they do not usually become the source of any discomfort. However, as these veins have a delicate surface, straining during bowel movement may injure them and cause them to bleed.

As said, piles also form externally around the anus. They stay vulnerable to bleed or itch, when irritated. In some cases, the bleeding may form blood clots in the external piles, and cause excruciating pain and severe swelling.

Causal Factors
The main cause is an increase in pressure in the lower rectal area. And this pressure can be triggered by:

• Digestive disorders such as constipation and diarrhea
• Obesity
• Pregnancy (it increases the pressure in the veins)
• Indulging in anal intercourse

The reason older people are more vulnerable to develop this condition, is the weakening of the tissues and veins of the rectum and anus, with time.

Treatment Options
Normal, with the help of a few home remedies and lifestyle changes, this condition can be easily dealt with. However, in some cases, use of medications might be inevitable for hemorrhoids relief. If the symptoms are mild, then use of over-the-counter medication is good enough. These may include reams, ointments, suppositories or pads. These products help in relieving itching and swelling. However, it is unsafe to use such medications for more than a week, unless directed by the doctor.

For an external hemorrhoid that has developed a blood clot, the doctor can perform a small incision to remove it. This would provide instant relief from the symptoms. Other methods to deal with the symptoms of hemorrhoids include rubber band ligation, injection and coagulation. In the first method, rubber bands are placed at the base of the inflamed veins to cut its blood supply. Within a few days, the piles fall off by themselves. The injection is treats the hemorrhoid tissue with a chemical solution, which causes it to shrink. And coagulation is about causing the piles to become hard and decrease in size, with the help of infrared light or heat. Sometimes all these methods do not work, especially with large hemorrhoids. So the surgeon gets rid of the tissues that bleed, with the help of a surgery.

Self-Care Measures
Symptoms of the condition can be manged by taking some self-care measures. These natural remedies may include soaking in warm bath, using sitz bath, avoiding using dry toilet paper, using ice packs to reduce swelling, and using topical and oral medications as directed.

To conclude this article, piles can be prevented by eating high-fiber foods, drinking plenty of fluids including water, avoiding straining during bowel movement, and inculcating regular exercises. Also, it is important to attend an urge for toilet as soon as you get it, and reducing the time spent in sitting in the toilet.