About 75 percent of
people will experience haemorrhoids at some point.
Haemorrhoids are
varicose (enlarged and swollen) veins around the outside of the anus or in the
lower rectum.
The rectum is the
last part of the bowel that leads to the anus. The anus is the opening at the
end of the bowel where faecal matter leaves the body.
Sometimes called
piles, haemorrhoids are often the result of straining to make a bowel movement.
Lifting heavy
objects, along with other activities that may cause straining, can also lead to
haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoids may be
painful, but they are not dangerous or life-threatening. They will usually go
away on their own.
Haemorrhoid Prevalence
Haemorrhoids are
very common. About 50 percent of all people in most countries will have haemorrhoids
at some point in their lives.
The most common time to get haemorrhoids
is between ages 45 and 65. Haemorrhoids are also common in pregnant women.
By the age of 50,
roughly a great percentage of people have had to deal with haemorrhoids.
At any given time,
about 10 million Americans — roughly 4 percent of adults — have haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoid Causes and Risk Factors
There are several
known direct causes of haemorrhoids, including:
- Chronic constipation or diarrhoea
- Straining too hard during
bowel movements
- Sitting on the toilet for a
long time
Factors that raise
your risk of developing haemorrhoids include:
- Lack of fibre in the diet
- Obesity
- Aging: as we get older, the
connective tissue in the rectum and anus becomes weaker
- Pregnancy: as the fetus
grows and puts pressure on the abdomen, the veins in the rectum and anus may
become enlarged
Prevention
Preventing
constipation by keeping your stool soft and regular is one of the best ways to
help prevent haemorrhoids.
What to Know
The following tips
may help you prevent constipation:
Eat a lot of fibre. Increase your
intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other high-fibre foods such as
beans.
A high-fibre diet
can make stools softer and bulkier so that they pass easily. Aim for 25 to 38
grams of fibre each day.
Consider fibre
supplements. If you're having trouble getting enough fibre in your regular
diet, consider a fibre supplement such as Metamucil or Citrucel.
Drink plenty of
water and other fluids. Aim for eight glasses of water each day.
Exercise regularly. Exercise can
help keep bowel movements regular.
Other tips for
preventing haemorrhoids include:
Don't strain or
hold your breath during bowel movements. Straining can put excess
pressure on veins and lead directly to haemorrhoid development.
Go to the bathroom
as soon as you feel the urge. Letting the urge go away can
make your stool harder to pass.
Avoid long periods
of sitting. Sitting for too long, especially on the toilet, can stress veins
in the anus
Complications
Haemorrhoid complications
are rare. Complications may include:
Anaemia: Bleeding from
chronic haemorrhoids can cause anaemia, or not having enough red blood cells.
Red blood cells
carry oxygen throughout the body. Having anaemia can make you feel tired, weak,
or short of breath.
Strangulated haemorrhoid: In rare
situations, swelling may cut off the oxygen supply to a haemorrhoid that has
prolapsed, or popped out of the rectum.
Strangulated haemorrhoids
can be extremely painful. If they are left untreated, the tissue around the
anus may begin to die — a condition known as gangrene.
Surgery may be
needed to treat a strangulated haemorrhoid.
