Haemorrhoids

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:

1. Chronic constipation or diarrhoea
2. Straining too hard during bowel movements
3. Sitting on the toilet for a long time

Factors that raise your risk of developing haemorrhoids include:

1. Lack of fibre in the diet
2. Obesity
3. Aging: as we get older, the connective tissue in the rectum and anus becomes weaker
4. 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.