How Big is a Hemorrhoid?

Hemorrhoids are actually a normal part of the human body. These are found in the canal of the anus and they assist in controlling stools. Hemorrhoids actually help in the passage of bowel movements. They only become a problem when they get swollen.

There are 2 kinds of swollen hemorrhoids: internal and external. This condition also known as piles, when found in the internal canal of the anus normally results in bleeding in the rectal area.

External hemorrhoids on the other hand, may cause discomfort, pain and itching on the outer parts of the anus.

There is actually no specific size for a hemorrhoid. The size of hemorrhoids can be anywhere from that of the size of a grape or down to the size of a raisin or a pea.

The hemorrhoids may be in the form of clusters and the number of the grape-like or pea-like inflammations may vary from person to person.

What Causes Inflamed Hemorrhoids?

There are a number of causes that lead to inflamed hemorrhoids. One of these is pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman’s uterus increases in size and this may result in putting pressure on the pelvic area and the pelvic veins affecting normal blood circulation in this area.

The affected blood flow may increase the pressure on the veins resulting in swollen hemorrhoids. Constipation is also another side effect of pregnancy and constipation is one of the leading causes of hemorrhoids.

Irregular bowel movements, whether constipation or diarrhea may likewise cause the hemorrhoids to get swollen.

Signs of Inflamed Hemorrhoids

One of the most telling signs of inflamed hemorrhoids is rectal bleeding. If you notice that your stool has blood or there is blood on your rectal area particularly during bowel movement, you may already have swollen hemorrhoids.

If you also experience pain and itching in the anus area or you feel lumps around the same area, these are clear indications of inflamed hemorrhoids.

Treating Hemorrhoids

There are several ways to treat inflamed hemorrhoids. If the condition is mild, over-the-counter creams, ointments or gels may be used to relieve the pain, itching as well as get the hemorrhoids down to normal size.

A minor surgery called clot removal may also be recommended by your physician to remove the external hemorrhoids while hemorrhoidectomy or surgical removal of the swollen hemorrhoids may be recommended for patients with severe cases of inflamed hemorrhoids.

Alternatively, increasing your fiber intake could help in controlling hemorrhoids and reducing them down to their normal size. This will likewise regularize your bowel movements, since as previously mentioned, irregular bowel movements could result to swollen hemorrhoids.