30
April
2008
Bleeding is simultaneously one of the most common and most frightening symptoms of hemorrhoids.
You’re going about your daily life, usually feeling no major discomfort, and then suddenly it looks like you’re losing massive amounts of blood!
Why do hemorrhoids do this? What causes them to bleed so frequently and so profusely?
First, remember that they are probably not bleeding as profusely as it would first appear.
Blood from the mucosal tissue lined anal canal gets diluted in the large amounts of mucus that irritation produces.
Mucus is generally clear, while of course blood is not.
Therefore a relatively small amount of blood can get quite large in volume when mixed with mucus while retaining it’s bright, oh so alarming color. In addition, any bleeding that occurs in the bowl of a toilet is going to quickly get diluted by the toilet water, and again, it can look like a lot more than it really is.
But, you may ask, why do hemroids bleed in the first place?
A hemorrhoids is, by definition, a swelling in a vein and the tissue surrounding that swelling. As a vein swells, the vein wall gets thinner, much like an inflated balloon. If something hard or harsh, for example a constipated stool, scrapes against it, that vein is quite likely to give way.
In addition, smaller blood vessels close to the surface of the tissue are also under pressure and frequently behave the same way. To continue with the balloon analogy, straining can cause the blood vessels of the area to “pop” under increased hydraulic blood pressure.
Of course, because even the smallest hemorrhoid projects above the area of the surrounding tissue, it’s going to be under the most pressure from any straining or hard stools.
Is hemorrhoidal bleeding a major cause for concern?
If you are experiencing anal bleeding for the first time, yes.
There are a multitude of potential causes for anal bleeding, including some quite serious health conditions such as colon cancer, and a doctor needs to rule out those causes. Hemorrhoidal bleeding should always be relatively bright red in color and fresh.
If you are experiencing anal bleeding and the blood is dark brown, black, or scablike, it is even more serious and should be seen by a doctor right away.
Even fresh, bright red bleeding can be a symptom of something other than hemorrhoids, such as anal fissures, fistulas, or warts, so it’s a good idea to get a correct diagnosis.
In addition, bleeding hemorrhoids can be a target for infection, especially due to location, so that’s something to keep an eye on.
If you ever find yourself with an unexplained fever, chills, or other signs of infection, go see a doctor immediately.
However, if other causes have been ruled out and your hemorrhoids are not infected, bleeding is a fairly common symptom, especially of internal hemorrhoids.
If you suffer from chronic bleeding due to hemorrhoids, there are several things - treatments - that can help.
If you bleed from an external hemorrhoid, getting a hemorrhoid cream that includes a topical vasoconstrictor and either calamine or zinc oxide can help stop the bleeding.
Internal hemorrhoids may be helped by a prescription for a vasoconstrictor to be taken by mouth.
Using the normal recommended methods of treating hemorrhoids in general will also help reduce and eventually eliminate hemorrhoidal bleeding.
Posted: Hemroid Health, Hemroids / Hemorrhoids Bleeding, Hemroids Cure, Hemroids Relief
22
April
2008
As if external hemroids weren’t enough to deal with on their own, they can start bleeding too! How much more messy and embarrassing can these things get?
Fortunately, there are quite a few ways of dealing with bleeding external hemroids, many of which are available at home or cheaply at your local pharmacy.
Bleeding from hemroids ranges from a light tracery to heavy bleeding, and what tactic you take will depend on the kind of bleeding you suffer from.
External Bleeding Hemroids - Home Treatments
If you are having heavy hemorrhaging problems, the first thing you’ll want to do is apply pressure to the area with clean toilet paper or a clean cloth. This will induce clotting so that the bleeding slows and eventually, stops.
No matter what kind of bleeding you suffer from, you’ll want to wear clean, relatively loose, plain cotton underwear. While this sort of granny underwear may have to be the least attractive sort in the history of clothes, it absorbs excess moisture well and doesn’t irritate or constrict the area in question.
Sitting on a towel-wrapped icepack is the next step to take because the cold constricts the blood vessels in the area, slowing any bleeding.
Astringents are a useful home line of defense against hemorrhoidal bleeding.
Such things as witch hazel, aloe vera juice, or even apple cider vinegar, applied with a clean pad, all serve to clean, disinfect, and dry the area. This both helps stop the bleeding and ensures that infection doesn’t start to rear its ugly head.
When applying anything to an external hemorrhoid, remember to pat gently instead of scrubbing or rubbing. If you’ve developed a scab over the open wound, rubbing it off is the last thing you really want to do!
Raising legs to reduce bleeding hemroids
Once you get to the pharmacy, you may want to look into either getting a squat toilet or a footstool to put your feet up on while you use the toilet. Getting your knees up above your hips takes strain off of the area. This not only helps with bleeding but eliminates one of the core causes of the hemorrhoids, unnatural strain on your pelvic floor.
The toilet position we are accustomed to taking removes almost all muscular support from the hemorrhoidal cushions, which places pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins to start protruding downwards, which leads to hemorrhoids.
Taking the pressure off by raising your knees above the level of your hips gives much needed support to those hemorrhoidal cushions.
Creams for bleeding external hemroids
When looking for a hemorrhoidal cream to assist with bleeding external hemroids, getting one with a local anesthetic, an astringent, and a vasoconstrictor is probably your best bet.
Some of the most common anesthetics include lidocaine and benzocaine, witch hazel, aloe, and calamine are the most popular astringents, and phenylephrine, ephedrine, and epinephrine are the vasoconstrictors cleared for topical use.
Getting a combination of these ingredients will ensure the best possible cream for bleeding external hemroids.
External bleeding hemroids in conclusion
Hopefully, this brief outline has given you a starting point for dealing with your bleeding hemroids instead of suffering from them. Look carefully at all your options for more permanent treatment, and your hemroids will hopefully be a thing of the past.
Posted: Hemroid Health, Hemroids / Hemorrhoids - External, Hemroids / Hemorrhoids Bleeding
