Hemorrhoids is a disease that is not customary to talk about with friends and acquaintances. For example, you can show your swollen joints or complain about high blood pressure. Many are simply ashamed to talk about this delicate ailment, because very often it is a source for jokes. But in vain! The pain that arises in a person gives him great torment, not allowing him to stand up or sit down.
But the silence of one who suffers from hemorrhoids continues as long as he has the patience. Then the patient becomes no longer ashamed, and he begins to ask acquaintances and friends how to get rid of this ailment.
Risk groups
This delicate problem affects almost 15% of the world's adult population. The word "hemorrhoids" came to us from the Greek language. There it means "bleeding". As you can see, the ancient Greeks were familiar with this disease. Today, many doctors believe that hemorrhoids are a kind of retribution for humanity for upright posture. If we consider all risk groups, then we canconsider this pathology a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle.
Hemorrhoids are an occupational disease of accountants, drivers, programmers and other people who spend a lot of time in a sitting position.
Who is at risk? Who is most at risk for signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids? These are men and women who spend most of their time in the office, as well as people who do manual labor and often lift weights. Another risk group includes those who suffer from constipation. Such people in the process of defecation have to push hard. This leads to excessive pressure on the veins and walls of the anus.
Doctors believe that the symptoms of hemorrhoids (the photo below illustrates the layout of the organ affected by this disease) develop due to an increased tendency to thrombosis, as well as due to various vascular lesions.
Such manifestations are characterized by an increased flow of arterial blood that occurs in the rectum. And the level of outflow in this case becomes lower. This leads to the filling of the veins with blood and their stretching. Later, a node is formed in the pathology zone, which gradually increases in size and eventually becomes inflamed.
Another cause of hemorrhoid symptoms is a genetic predisposition. However, this is only a tendency to an ailment that manifests itself as a result of exposure to provoking factors.
Often people confuse the symptoms of hemorrhoids with other pathologies. For example,the presence of blood in the stool may be a sign of a malignant tumor in the intestine.
Causes of hemorrhoids in women
The development of this delicate disease sometimes provokes menstruation. Indeed, during the period of the cycle, blood is intensively supplied to the pelvic organs of the fairer sex. It is important here that the woman does not have problems with the intestines, which, together with these processes, will become factors that provoke hemorrhoids. To eliminate the risk of pathology, it is very important for every lady to adjust her chair, adhering to a balanced diet every day.
Provokes the occurrence of symptoms of hemorrhoids in women and the process of pregnancy. During this period, the body of the expectant mother is subjected to great stress. Pregnant women are sometimes afraid to move a lot, which leads to congestion in the intestines. In addition, the uterus gradually increases and begins to put pressure on the vessels. A similar phenomenon provokes stagnation of blood. All these factors, as well as increased stress during childbirth, provoke the development of symptoms of hemorrhoids in women.
Experts consider stress to be another cause of pathology. The risk group here is mainly women. After all, they are very emotional, therefore, prone to stress. Most often they have tension associated with fear for children. The constant anxiety of a woman contributes to the development of pathology.
What are hemorrhoids
As you can see, this delicate disease occurs not only because of a sedentary lifestyle. This explains the fact that antiquity also suffered from hemorrhoids. After allIt is very difficult to blame our ancestors for a sedentary lifestyle. Scientists suggest that in ancient times, hemorrhoids overtook people who lifted weights or took very hot baths. It is worth noting that in addition to those who are forced to be in a sitting position at their desk for a long time, hemorrhoids often overtake obese people. They always have a whole "bouquet" of diseases.
So what is this disease? Hemorrhoids are nodular varicose veins that occur in the lower rectum. Pathology has its own varieties. Hemorrhoids are internal (submucosal) and external (subcutaneous). In the first version, they are practically invisible. Of the main symptoms of internal hemorrhoids, blood is noted on toilet paper, on feces or in the toilet.
As for the external nodes, they are already noticeable, they look like painful swellings or hard bumps surrounding the anus. At the same time, they bleed from time to time, itch, cause severe pain during movement and defecation.
Common signs
If hemorrhoids have arisen for any reason, and the symptoms of the disease in the form of venous nodes cause significant discomfort, then the specialist must select the appropriate treatment for the patient. The doctor selects the course of therapy strictly individually, taking into account the gender of the patient, his age, the nature of the course of the disease, its stage, as well as the existing concomitant ailments.
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids, it is advisable for everyone to know, so that in the event of certain signs, not to confuse it with anotherpathology.
As a rule, the first manifestation of the inflammatory process in the lower rectum is a slight itch, which is observed in the anus. Often men and women ignore such an uncomfortable feeling, considering it a manifestation of other factors. Gradually, the symptoms of hemorrhoids make themselves felt more and more often. Later appear:
- More and more discomfort in the rectum and anus.
- Feeling of the presence of a foreign body in this area.
- Feeling insufficient bowel movements.
- Feeling heavy.
- Drawing pains, burning and itching.
Stages of disease
The symptoms of hemorrhoids in women and men are not limited to those listed above. With further ignoring the discomfort that has appeared, the disease begins to progress.
In general, hemorrhoids go through four phases in their development. The symptoms of the first of them are subtle and are expressed in the formation of small venous nodules.
The second phase of the disease is more noticeable. In this case, the signs of hemorrhoids become more pronounced. The knots sometimes fall out.
The third stage is characterized by the manifestation of venous tubercles not only during the act of defecation. They make themselves felt even with little physical effort.
At the fourth stage of the disease, both the symptoms of hemorrhoids and the treatment are already much more serious. At this stage, the nodes are located outside and constantly bleed. The problem can only be solved by surgery. Consider the development of the disease in more detail.
First stage
Any disease has certain clinical signs that clearly indicate the beginning of the pathological process. Symptoms of hemorrhoids in men and women do not have any differences. They are typical for patients of any gender. The differences are only in those factors that provoke the occurrence of pathology. So, if men suffer from hemorrhoids, as a rule, due to irrational physical exertion, then in women the first signs of the disease appear during pregnancy, as well as after childbirth.
The initial symptoms of hemorrhoids in men and women are:
- Discomfort that occurs in the rectum or anus after a bowel movement.
- Itching and burning, not related to intestinal disorders, viral, microbial and fungal diseases, which also appear after the defecation process.
- Slight sensation of a foreign body and heaviness in the lower rectum.
- The appearance of blood in the stool from time to time.
As the development progresses, the symptoms of the disease in men and women associated with the growth of hemorrhoids gradually increase. However, such venous inflammations are so small that it is impossible to notice them from the outside.
Since at the beginning of the disease the symptoms of hemorrhoids are almost invisible in men and women, and treatment at the first stage, as a rule, does not begin. After all, 80% of patients are in no hurry to consult a specialist.
Signs of the second stage
In the future, the disease beginsprogress and manifest itself as a more pronounced picture of the clinical process. Those nodes that were small in the first stage, increase significantly and may begin to fall out of the anus in case of intense exposure to various provoking factors. During this period, men and women make such complaints:
- Increased burning and itching, which begin to bother not only after a bowel movement, but also at other times.
- Presence of blood in the stool.
- Increased pain during bowel movements.
- A distinct sensation of a foreign body in the area of the rectum and anus.
Distinctive features of this stage are knots falling out. Most often this happens during the tension caused by constipation, which is present in the process of defecation. At this stage, the knots sometimes pull back on their own.
Third stage symptoms
At this stage, the disease begins to progress. During its exacerbation, pain, discomfort and itching bother a person almost constantly. There is an increase in bleeding. A characteristic symptom of this stage is an increase in hemorrhoids. In this case, the inflamed veins do not spontaneously reduce after a bowel movement. You can only fix their position with your hands.
At this stage, a person experiences unbearable pain at the slightest overwork and stress. Inflammatory processes begin to intensify in him, and the nodes that have arisen in the anus are pinched. In addition, cracks form in the anus.
At this stage, how to treat the symptomshemorrhoids in women and men? Therapy of the disease in this case is very difficult. If at the initial stages it was possible to achieve remission using non-drug methods, then with the further development of the disease this becomes impossible. Even after an appropriate course of treatment, the symptoms of the disease may not completely go away. They just become less pronounced.
Signs of the fourth stage
The symptoms of hemorrhoids, which were described above, are also characteristic of the late stage of the disease. However, the severity of all available signs in this case increases significantly. All manifestations of pathology cause real suffering to women and men. Some patients report that surgery at this stage is much easier than having to endure pain that does not subside with clinical treatment.
A characteristic symptom, confirming the transition of the disease to its last stage, is the inability to set the knots into the anus after they fall out. People with this pathology are not able to lead their usual way of life. After all, the inflamed areas of the veins that have fallen out make it difficult not only to sit, but also to walk. This forces patients to lie down or semi-sitting.
Almost always the fourth stage of the disease is accompanied by complications such as easy and profuse bleeding, thrombosis and strangulation.
Urgent action will definitely be required if such serious symptoms of hemorrhoids are detected in women and men. And treatment in this case with medicines is unlikely to help. Taking medication will bring only minor relief. The main method in this case is surgery.
Signs of internal hemorrhoids
If the pathology is diagnosed as internal hemorrhoids, the characteristic signs are very different.
The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids are similar to those that occur in the initial stages of the external form of the disease. This is the period when the nodes have just begun their formation, therefore they are absolutely invisible. That is why the symptoms of internal hemorrhoids in women and men are so weak. People don't really care about anything. Only a few situations lead them to discomfort or the sensation of a foreign object in the anus. Hemorrhoids with this form of pathology do not protrude outward, which does not allow the patient to determine what the unpleasant sensations that arise in him are connected with. It is not very common for toilet paper to show bloody discharge after a bowel movement.
In the future, the symptoms of internal hemorrhoids in men and women cause more noticeable discomfort in the anus. This is due to the increase in nodes to such a size that they begin to put pressure on the walls of the intestine. Going out with difficulty, dense feces touch the inflamed areas of the veins, which causes pain to a person. Negative changes also apply to the mucous membranes located in the anal region. They become inflamed, which also gives the patient discomfort. From the rectum there is a constant release of fluid. In this regard, the problem area is moisturized. This leads to burning and itching. Oneof the symptoms of internal and a harbinger of external hemorrhoids are bleeding. The gradual descent of the inflamed nodes leads to the fact that the patient has a constant desire to defecate, even when his intestines are empty. Such inconveniences can physically exhaust a person and exhaust his body.
External pathology
In the rectal region, under the layer of adipose tissue, hemorrhoidal plexuses are located. In the presence of an inflammatory process, they begin to increase in size. In this case, the disease passes into the form of external or external hemorrhoids. Inflamed nodes protrude, bulging around the anus. Visually, such areas are similar to bloody skin folds of various sizes and shapes, painted in a bluish color.
When hemorrhoids protrude, a person is forced to endure severe pain during a bowel movement. This is a clear symptom of the external form of pathology. It leads to thrombosis of blood vessels and veins in the anal region.
Signs of the chronic stage of the disease
Often, patients who are faced with hemorrhoids want to know what symptoms of this insidious disease occur with its protracted form.
Chronic illness goes through its wave-like development. Quite often it is in a stage of calm (remission). But even during this period, the person continues to experience inconvenience, since he does not leave the feeling of finding a foreign object in the anus area. The problem area continues to itch and is strongly moisturized. After some time, such painful sensations are replaced by bleeding. It can be observed notonly in feces. Sometimes blood trickles down the toilet during a bowel movement. Often blood appears on underwear.
If, at the first symptoms of hemorrhoids, a person did not go to the doctor and tried to get rid of the pathology on his own, then the result can be disastrous. In this case, even a temporary remission does not save, since after it the disease begins to progress again. In an advanced case, the symptoms of the disease become even more pronounced and painful.
Signs of acute hemorrhoids
There is a special form of the disease, which leads to severe consequences. This is acute hemorrhoids.
Sometimes this stage begins quite suddenly, without the influence of any significant factors:
- The dropped knot is pinched. The tissues swell, the process of their death begins. Acute hemorrhoids are manifested by significant pain. They come in the form of twitching, tingling or pulling. Any movement, even a slight one, causes discomfort. A similar phenomenon is provoked by nerve endings, a large number of which are located in the anus.
- Thrombosis forms in hemorrhoidal nodes. This process provokes infection, as a result of which inflammation begins to develop in the lower rectum. In this case, painful symptoms occur, the body temperature rises. When examining a patient, the doctor observes swelling in the anus and cyanosis of the nodes. Self-diagnosis of hemorrhoids in the acute stage is impossible due to the strongpain.
How to get rid of pathology
Knowing the causes and symptoms of hemorrhoids, the treatment of the disease should be started immediately. The sooner the patient sees a doctor, the greater the chance of getting rid of the disease.
In the acute phase of hemorrhoids, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms. In the future, the patient will need to adhere to all the recommendations of the doctor, limit the weight of objects raised and follow a diet.
In chronic hemorrhoids, which are characterized by periodic exacerbations, prescribe conservative therapy, selected by the doctor individually.
How to treat the symptoms of hemorrhoids at its initial stage? To do this, you need to use medicines and follow a diet. With the initial symptoms of hemorrhoids, home treatment will consist of using special ointments and baths. The patient should not lift weights and laugh hysterically.
Advice like this will have no effect in a severe fourth degree that can only be cured by surgery or a minimally invasive method.
Danger of hemorrhoids
If the disease is not treated, it can develop into serious pathologies, one of which is a malignant tumor. It may take only a few years from the first stage to the last.
What are the consequences of hemorrhoids? During its course - both in the internal form and in the external form - changes in the tissues occur in the rectal region. Fecal masses passing through the rectum and traumatic nodes create a dangerinfections. After all, excrement contains fungi, bacteria and many other pathogenic microorganisms. With the transition to a chronic form, hemorrhoids begin to negatively affect neighboring tissues. In such cases, the sphincter is especially affected. Its locking function is impaired, causing the development of a very unpleasant complication. It is expressed in the fact that excrement begins to leak from the rectum almost constantly.
Enlarged hemorrhoids for a pregnant woman are dangerous not only for discomfort. They complicate her condition during this period. Childbirth in such a woman is more painful.
Diagnosis
There are certain methods that allow you to accurately determine the presence of hemorrhoids in a person. The proctologist, to whom a person turns when the first signs of pathology appear, examines the patient on a gynecological chair.
In this case, the patient can be on his back, on his side or on all fours.
- At the initial stage, the anal area is examined. The doctor asks the patient to stay calm, then strain. Visually, the specialist is able to detect protruding external nodes, cracks, inflammation, pustules, etc.
- Palpation. It is considered an important diagnostic technique. Palpation, despite its simplicity, allows you to obtain information about the condition of the walls of the rectum and anus, check muscle tone, examine the pelvic organs and identify the presence of hemorrhoids.
- Sigmoidoscopy. When applying this methodpathologies of the rectum accompanying hemorrhoids are diagnosed.
- Anoscopy. When carrying out this technique, a special tube with lighting is used. It is used to examine the rectum and anal canal.
- Colonoscopy. In this case, a special probe is used, which allows a visual examination of the colon.
- Coprogram. This method is an analysis of feces for mucus, as well as for foreign inclusions.
- Irrigoscopy. Represents an X-ray examination.
