Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your lower rectum. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless, but tend to bleed. External hemorrhoids may cause pain. Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids), also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.

1. What Are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are clumps of dilated (enlarged) blood vessels in the anus
and lower rectum. The rectum is the last area of the large intestine before
it exits to the anus. The anus is the end of the digestive tract where feces
Diseases & Conditions
How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids:
Types, Causes and Treatments
Reviewed By Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD on 1/11/2019
Privacy & Trust Info

Or pick up now from your
local CVS®
Get started
1/ 28
How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoid…
 OnHealth 

2. leaves the body.
Sometimes hemorrhoids swell when the veins enlarge and their walls
become stretched, thin, and irritated by passing stool. Hemorrhoids are
classi몭ed into two general categories:
internal, originating in the rectum, and
external, originating in the anus.
Hemorrhoids (also termed piles) have caused pain and irritation
throughout human history. The word comes from Greek, “haimorrhoides,”
meaning veins that are liable to discharge blood. If you've had a bout of
hemorrhoid pain, you're not alone. It's estimated that three out of every
four people will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Even
Napoleon su몭ered from hemorrhoids, which distracted him with severe
pain during his defeat at Waterloo.
Enlarged Hemorrhoid Symptoms
Enlarged hemorrhoids are associated with symptoms such as
itching,
mucus discharge,
burning at the anus,
severe pain,
a sensation that the bowel is not really empty, and
bleeding without pain.
In this article, our medical experts will explain where hemorrhoid pain
comes from, what hemorrhoids feel like, and how they are diagnosed.
Then you will discover the various treatments for hemorrhoids both at
home and at a hospital, along with the positive attributes and drawbacks
of each hemorrhoid treatment.

3. Internal Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids sit in the inside lining of the rectum and are not
obvious unless they are substantially enlarged, in which case they can be
felt. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless and become apparent
because they cause rectal bleeding with a bowel movement.
Sometimes internal hemorrhoids prolapse or protrude outside the anus. If
so, you may be able to see or feel them as moist pads of skin that are
pinker than the surrounding area. These fallen hemorrhoids may hurt

4. because the anus is dense with pain-sensing nerves. Such slipped
hemorrhoids usually recede into the rectum on their own. If they don't,
they can be gently pushed back into place.
External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids are located underneath the skin that surrounds the
anus, and are lower than internal hemorrhoids. They can be felt when they
swell, and may cause

5. itching,
pain, or
bleeding with a bowel movement.
If an external hemorrhoid prolapses to the outside (usually in the course of
passing a stool), you can see and feel it.
Blood clots sometimes form within this type of fallen hemorrhoid, which
can cause an extremely painful condition called a thrombosis. If a
hemorrhoid becomes thrombosed, it can look rather frightening, turning
purple or blue, and could possibly bleed.
Despite their appearance, thrombosed hemorrhoids usually are not
serious, though they can be very painful. They will resolve on their own in
a couple of weeks. If the pain is unbearable, your doctor usually can
remove the blood clot from the thrombosed hemorrhoid, which stops the
pain.

6. Whom Do Hemorrhoids A몭ect?
Although most people think hemorrhoids are abnormal, almost everyone
has them. Hemorrhoids help control bowel movements. Hemorrhoids
cause problems and can be considered abnormal or a disease only when
the hemorrhoidal clumps of vessels enlarge.
Hemorrhoids occur in almost everyone, and an estimated 75% of people
will experience enlarged hemorrhoids at some point. However only about
4% will go to a doctor because of hemorrhoid problems. Hemorrhoids that
cause problems are found equally in men and women, and their
prevalence peaks between 45 and 65 years of age.

7. What Causes Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are caused by swelling in the anal or rectal veins. This
makes them susceptible to irritation.
This swelling can be caused by several things, including
obesity,
pregnancy,
standing or sitting for long periods,
straining on the toilet,
chronic constipation or diarrhea,
eating a low-몭ber diet,
coughing,
sneezing,
vomiting, and
holding your breath while straining to do physical labor.

8. How Do Foods In몭uence Hemorrhoids? Diet
Diet is believed to have a big impact in causing—and preventing—
hemorrhoids. People who consistently eat a high-몭ber diet are less likely
to get hemorrhoids, while those people who prefer a diet high in
processed foods face a higher hemorrhoid risk.
A low-몭ber diet can leave you constipated, which can contribute to
hemorrhoids in two way. For one, it promotes straining on the toilet. It also
aggravates the hemorrhoids by producing hard stools that further irritate
the swollen veins.

9. Painless Bleeding
The most common hemorrhoids symptom is painless bleeding. A
hemorrhoid su몭erer may notice bright red blood on the outside of the
stools, on the toilet paper, or dripping into the toilet.
The bleeding usually resolves itself without treatment. Nevertheless,
rectal bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should
prompt a visit to a health care professional. While hemorrhoids are the

10. most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement, there may be
other reasons for bleeding, including the following examples:
in몭ammatory bowel disease,
blood clotting problems,
몭stulas and/or 몭ssures (abnormal passages between a hollow organ and
body surface)
infection, and
tumors.

11. Severe Hemorrhoids vs. Mild Hemorrhoids: Stages
Many physicians use a grading system to categorize hemorrhoids along
four stages:
First-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that bleed, but do not prolapse.
These are slightly enlarged hemorrhoids, but they do not protrude outside
the anus.
Second-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and retract on their
own (with or without bleeding). These may come out of the anus during
certain activities like passing stool, and then return back inside the body.
Third-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and must be pushed
back in by a 몭nger.
Fourth-degree hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids that prolapse and cannot be
pushed back in the anal canal. Fourth-degree hemorrhoids also include
hemorrhoids that are thrombosed (containing blood clots) or that pull much
of the lining of the rectum through the anus.

12. Symptoms of Prolapsed Internal Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids prolapse when their blood vessels swell and extend from
their location in the rectum through the anus. In the anal canal, the
hemorrhoid is exposed to the trauma of passing stool, particularly hard
stools associated with constipation. The trauma can cause bleeding and
sometimes pain when stool passes.
The presence of
stool,
in몭ammation, and
constant moisture
can lead to anal itchiness (pruritus ani), and occasionally the constant
feeling of needing to have a bowel movement. The prolapsing
hemorrhoid usually returns into the anal canal or rectum on its own or can
be pushed back inside with a 몭nger, but falls out again with the next
bowel movement.

13. Symptoms of Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids can be felt as bulges at the anus, but they usually
cause few of the symptoms that are typical of internal hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids can cause problems, however, when blood clots
inside them. This is referred to as thrombosis. Thrombosis of such a
hemorrhoid causes an anal lump that is
very painful,
tender, and
often requires medical attention.
The thrombosed hemorrhoid may heal with scarring, and leave a tag of
skin protruding in the anus. Occasionally, the tag is large, which can make

14. anal hygiene (cleaning) di몭cult or irritate the anus. Even after such a
hemorrhoid goes away, a residual skin tag may remain, and this may need
to be surgically removed.
How Long Do Hemorrhoids Take to Heal?
For many people, hemorrhoids last and last. Ongoing pain is especially
common for people over age 50. For many people, hemorrhoidal pain
returns years after treatment, and for many others the condition comes

15. and goes, becoming more common over time.
Do Hemorrhoids Ever Go Away on Their Own?
Sometimes they do. Smaller hemorrhoids are apt to go away in just a few
days. It's a good idea during this time to avoid further irritating your rectal
area by keeping the area as clean as you can.
How Can You Make Hemorrhoids Go Away?
Tougher cases of hemorrhoids may not go away on their own. After trying
home remedies and over-the-counter options without success, you will
need to talk to your doctor about other treatment options.

16. How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis and
Treatments
Most individuals who have hemorrhoids discover them by either
feeling the lump of an external hemorrhoid when they wipe themselves after
a bowel movement,
noting drops of blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper, or
feeling a prolapsing hemorrhoid (protruding from the anus) after bowel
movements.
With a history of symptoms, a physician can begin diagnosis on the basis
of a careful examination of the anus and anal area. Although the physician
should try his or her best to identify the hemorrhoids, it is perhaps more
important to exclude other causes of hemorrhoid-like symptoms that
require di몭erent treatment such as
anal 몭ssures,
몭stulae,
bowel disorders like ulcerative colitis,
blood coagulation disorders,
perianal (around the anus) skin diseases,
infections, and
tumors.
Seeing a Doctor About Hemorrhoids
Many people are embarrassed to go to their doctor about their
hemorrhoid problems, which is probably why only an estimated 4% of
people see the doctor even if 75% of us experience enlarged hemorrhoids
at some point in time. Despite the embarrassment, hemorrhoids should
always be examined professionally. Getting a medical exam will help your

17. doctor recommend an e몭ective treatment, and will also help to rule out
more serious causes for your symptoms.When you visit your doctor, you
will probably be asked to describe your symptoms. The doctor will
perform an examination to see whether your anus is in몭amed, and
whether enlarged hemorrhoids are present.
The doctor will want to know if you have found blood in your stool, which
may prompt a bowel endoscopy examination. The doctor will likely feel
for anything unusual through a digital rectal examination.
Remember that while this might be a little embarrassing and
uncomfortable, hemorrhoid exams are usually painless. Also, your doctor
is accustomed to caring for this sort of problem, which is very common.
If you seem to have enlarged hemorrhoids, the doctor will probably
recommend a proctoscopy. During a proctoscopy, a short tube with light
and a lens will be used to examine the membranes lining your rectum.
This will let your doctor see the enlarged hemorrhoids and determine
their size. Again, this procedure is usually painless.

18. Can Hemorrhoids Be a Sign of Cancer?
Can hemorrhoids kill you? First of all, hemorrhoids have no relationship at
all to colorectal cancer; hemorrhoids themselves are rarely life-
threatening. But they share some of the symptoms of more serious
diseases, including some rare anal cancers. That's why a doctor's
diagnosis is so important.

19. How to Cure Internal Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an internal hemorrhoid is easy if the hemorrhoid
protrudes from the anus. Although a rectal examination with a gloved
몭nger may uncover deep hemorrhoids, the rectal examination is more
helpful in excluding rare cancers that begin in the anal canal and adjacent
rectum.
A more thorough examination for internal hemorrhoids is done visually
using an anoscope, which is similar to a proctoscope, but smaller. If there
has been bleeding, the colon above the rectal area needs to be examined
to exclude other important causes of bleeding other than hemorrhoids
such as
colon cancer,
polyps, and
colitis.
This is true whether or not hemorrhoids are found during anoscopy.

20. How Do You Treat External Hemorrhoids? Diagnosis
External hemorrhoids appear as bumps and/or dark areas surrounding
the anus. If the lump is tender, it suggests that the hemorrhoid is
thrombosed. Any lump needs to be carefully followed, however, and
should not be assumed to be a hemorrhoid since there are rare cancers of
the anal area that may masquerade as hemorrhoids.

21. Who Removes Hemorrhoids? Treatment
Treating enlarged hemorrhoids is important, because they tend to get
worse over time. Hemorrhoids are treated with a variety of measures
including diet, over-the-counter medicine like
anti-in몭ammatory pain killers,
creams,
lotions,
gels,
pads, and
wipes,
and various treatment options are available, like

22. sclerotherapy,
rubber band ligation, and
surgery.
Who Removes Hemorrhoids?
Most hemorrhoid complaints begin with a trip to a family doctor. Your
doctor will then refer you to a specialist: either a gastroenterologist or a
proctologist (also known as a colorectal surgeon). Proctologists specialize
in surgical treatments, while gastroenterologists are experts in digestive
diseases.

23. What Should I Eat if I Have Hemorrhoids? Diet
Individuals with hemorrhoids should soften their stools by increasing the
몭ber in their diets.
Fiber is found in numerous foods, including
fresh and dried fruits,
vegetables,
whole grains, and
cereals.
In general, 20 to 30 grams of 몭ber per day is recommended, whereas the
average American diet contains less than 15 grams of 몭ber. Fiber
supplements, like psyllium, methylcellulose, and calcium polycarbophil,
also may be used to increase the intake of 몭ber.
Stool softeners and increased drinking of liquids also may be
recommended, as well as bulk-forming laxatives. Nevertheless, the
bene몭ts of 몭ber, liquids, and stool softeners have not been well-tested
with respect to hemorrhoidal control in scienti몭c studies.

24. How to Heal Hemorrhoids: Over-the-Counter
Medications
Products used to treat hemorrhoids are available as
ointments,
creams,
gels,
suppositories,
foams, and
pads.
When used around the anus, ointments, creams, and gels should be
applied as a thin covering. When applied to the anal canal, these products
should be inserted with a 몭nger or a "pile pipe." Pile pipes are most
e몭cient when they have holes on the sides as well as at the end. Pile
pipes should be lubricated with ointment prior to insertion. Suppositories
or foams do not have advantages over ointments, creams, and gels.

25. Hemorrhoid Home Remedies: Warm Sitz Bath
A sitz bath (a bath where only the hips and buttocks are immersed in
warm or saline water) refers to sitting in a few inches of warm water three
times a day for 15 to 20 minutes. A sitz bath may help decrease the
in몭ammation of hemorrhoids. Drying o몭 the anal area completely after
each sitz bath is important for minimizing moisture that irritates the skin
surrounding your rectal area.

26. Hemorrhoids Treatment: Stool Softeners
Stool softeners may help, but once hemorrhoids are present, even liquid
stools may cause in몭ammation and infection of the anus. Your health care
professional and pharmacist are good resources for discussing the use of
stool softeners as hemorrhoid treatments.

27. Hemorrhoids Treatment: Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment for hemorrhoids.
During this o몭ce-based procedure, a liquid (phenol or quinine urea) is
injected into the base of the hemorrhoid.
The veins thrombose, in몭ammation sets in, and ultimately scarring takes
place. Ultimately sclerotherapy causes the hemorrhoid to shrink. Pain may
occur after sclerotherapy, but usually subsides by the following day.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids frequently return after several years and may
require further treatment.

28. Hemorrhoids Treatment: Rubber Band Ligation
The principle of rubber band ligation is to encircle the base of the
hemorrhoidal clump with a tight rubber band. The tissue cut o몭 by the
rubber band dies, and is replaced by an ulcer that heals with scarring.
A similar procedure was described in 460 BC by the Greek physician
Hippocrates:
“And hemorrhoids … you may treat by trans몭xing them with a needle and

29. tying them with very thick and woolen thread, for application, and do not
foment until they drop o몭, and always leave one behind; and when the
patient recovers, let him be put on a course of Hellebore.”
Rubber band ligation can be used with 몭rst-, second-, and third-degree
hemorrhoids, and may be more e몭ective than sclerotherapy. Symptoms
frequently recur several years later, but usually can be treated with further
ligation.
The most common complication of ligation is pain. However, bleeding one
or two weeks after ligation or bacterial infection in the tissues surrounding
the hemorrhoids (cellulitis) may occur.

30. Doppler-Guided Artery Ligation
Another minimally-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids is found in
Doppler-guided artery ligation. Instead of removing the hemorrhoids
themselves, artery ligation cuts o몭 their blood supply. This treatment
works best for grade II-III hernias, and while it is meant to reduce
postoperative pain, 20% of patients still report pain after the procedure,
particularly when pooping.

31. Hemorrhoid Treatment: Heat Coagulation
There are several treatments that use heat to destroy hemorrhoidal tissue,
and promote in몭ammation and scarring, including
bipolar diathermy,
direct-current electrotherapy, and
infrared photocoagulation.
Such procedures destroy the tissues in and around the hemorrhoids and
cause scar tissue to form. They are used with 몭rst-, second-, and third-
degree hemorrhoids. Pain is frequent, though probably less frequent than
with ligation, and bleeding occasionally occurs. Other methods such as
laser and radiowave ablation have been done. Non-surgical treatments
are usually done on hemorrhoids graded I to II and some grade III; you
should discuss the treatment and its projected outcome and recurrence
rates with your doctor.

32. Hemorrhoids: Surgery
The vast majority of patients can manage their symptom-causing
hemorrhoids with non-surgical techniques. Non-operative treatment is
preferred because it is associated with less pain and fewer complications
than operative treatment. It is estimated that fewer than 10% of patients
require surgery if the hemorrhoids are treated early.
Surgical removal of hemorrhoids, known as a hemorrhoidectomy or
stapled hemorrhoidectomy, is reserved for patients with third- or fourth-
degree hemorrhoids.
History of Hemorrhoid Surgeries
Surgery for hemorrhoids dates back to ancient times. Ancient Greeks,
Romans, and Indians all described surgeries used to alleviate the pain and
discomfort of enlarged hemorrhoids. These procedures improved greatly
by the 13th century, and surgical treatments accelerated once again in the
19th century.

33. Getting Rid of Hemorrhoids: Excisional
Hemorrhoidectomy
During an excisional hemorrhoidectomy, the internal hemorrhoids and
external hemorrhoids are cut out. The wounds left by the removal may be
sutured (stitched) together (closed technique) or left open (open
technique). The results with both techniques are similar.
A proctoplasty may also be performed. This procedure extends the
removal of tissue higher into the anus so that redundant or prolapsing
anal lining is also removed. Postoperative pain is a major problem with
hemorrhoidectomy, and potent pain medications (narcotics) are usually

34. required.
Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy (“Stapled
Hemorrhoidopexy”)
The stapled hemorrhoidectomy (“stapled hemorrhoidopexy”) is a newer
surgical technique that is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for
third-degree hemorrhoids. This surgery does not remove the
hemorrhoids, but rather the expanded hemorrhoidal supporting tissue

35. that has allowed the hemorrhoids to slip downward.
This procedure involves several steps:
A circular, hollow tube is inserted into the anal canal and a suture (a long
thread) is placed through it and woven circumferentially within the anal canal
above the internal hemorrhoids.
The ends of the suture are brought out of the anus through the hollow tube.
The stapler is placed through the hollow tube and the ends of the suture are
pulled, expanding the hemorrhoidal supporting tissue into the jaws of the
stapler.
The hemorrhoidal cushions are pulled back up into their normal position
within the anal canal.
The stapler is then 몭red, cutting o몭 the circumferential ring of expanded
hemorrhoidal supporting tissue trapped within the stapler.
At the same time staples bring together the upper and lower edges of the cut
tissue.
Stapled hemorrhoidectomy is less painful and faster than a traditional
hemorrhoidectomy. It takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.

36. Sources: 
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information
© 2005-2021 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Hemorrhoids: Prevention
The best way to prevent hemorrhoids is to keep your stools soft so they
are easy to pass and don't require straining. Eating a high-몭ber diet and
drinking plenty of 몭uids (six to eight glasses each day) can help you stay
regular and keep your stools soft, and may reduce constipation and the
need to strain on the toilet, lowering your risk of developing new
hemorrhoids.

37. "Former Chronic Hemorrhoids
Sufferer Reveals The Only Holistic
System In Existence That Will
Show You How To Permanently
Treat Your Hemorrhoids In 48 Hours
and Stop Your Pain and Embarrassment For Good,
Using A Unique 5-Step Method
No One Else Will Tell You About..."
Watch the following video and get rid of
your hemorrhoid today: