External Hemorrhoids Internal hemorrhoids

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Internal and External Hemorrhoids
by Donald Urquhart

Hemorrhoids come in two basic kinds, internal and external.
Internal hemorrhoids are actually on the hemorrhoidal cushions, inside the anal canal, and you generally don't know that they're there until either they start bleeding or they prolapse, which means to poke outside the body.

Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids are a very, very bad thing, especially if they won't stay inside the body after a bowel movement, because the powerful anal sphincter can strangulate them and start causing them to go gangrenous.
However, most internal hemorrhoids are the garden variety that will subside on their own if treated properly, and, as a bonus, they generally don't hurt badly as they're in a part of the body without many nerves.

External hemorrhoids, which occur on the outside of the body, are a whole different matter in the pain department. They don't occur on the hemorrhoidal cushions themselves, but rather on the veins that run below them before going back up to the heart.
What they do occur on, however, is the extremely sensitive and dense band of nerves that serves to keep the anal sphincter closed. For this reason, external hemorrhoids can make anyone's life absolutely miserable.
Itchiness, pain and bleeding are all symptoms of hemorrhoids, as is an occasional mucus discharge from the general inflammation of the area.

Why is this important to know?
The home treatment you choose is highly dependent on the type of hemorrhoid you have.
External hemorrhoids can be treated by a whole of different creams and solutions that can be easily applied.
Internal hemorrhoids cannot be treated so easily, as placing the cream or solution into your rectum, or onto a prolapsed hemorrhoid, means you are placing it on the digestive membranes - the mucus membranes.
Anything placed on the digestive membranes is far more quickly and far more readily absorbed by the body. So a cream strong enough to take out an external hemorrhoid, is considered way overpowered for an internal or prolapsed one.
In fact, the risks are so great that NO drug company has succeeded in making a cream which the FDA considers safe for human use.
Think about it, would you consider swallowing the hemorrhoid cream or solution? No you wouldn't and there are probably warnings about taking it by mouth. Sticking it into your bottom is almost the same as putting it into your mouth.
Why are prolapsed ones included with internal hemorrhoids, when they are hanging outside?
The reason is that the prolapsed ones are covered by the same mucous lining as the internal ones are and, it's the mucous lining that absorbs things so very well.
Treatments for both types:
Of course, there are some treatments, such as sitz baths, that can be used for both internal and external ones. Such treatments do not rely on being absorbed in any way, but instead work by relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow.
Tablets are more a long term attempt at treating hemorrhoids. The idea is that they strengthen and rebuild the veins, while providing a strong pain killers. Such tablets tend be herbal in nature and use herbs like butchers broom.

In conclusion:
To conclude, finding out what type of hemorrhoid problem you have, is absolutely necessary to properly and safely deal with your hemorrhoids.
Anything that claims to treat an external hemorrhoid, is expected to be too powerful for use on an internal one, while any cream or lotion designed for an internal one, is likely to be too low in active ingredients for an external one.

About the Author
Donald Urquhart is both a chief editor and writer who works extensively on several health related web sites. Hemorrhoids is one of those interests. So if you have internal hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids Symptoms

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Hemorrhoids Symptoms
by Donald Urquhart

Hemorrhoid symptoms in general can include one or more of the following:
Pain around the anus when sitting, standing or walking.
Pain at the anus on passing a motion.
Intense pain can be caused by thrombosed hemorrhoids, for the most past such pain is unbearable and you'll most likely head to the hospital or doctor.
Discomfort on passing a motion.
Discomfort - feeling you need to go, but nothing comes out. All the straining just makes things worse by the way.
Just a general feeling of discomfort from the anal area.
Leakage of stool can be a very smelly and a very uncomfortable symptom. Leakage can also lead to the feelings of burning and itching, as it can cause a nappy rash type reaction.
Itching around the anus can become intense and very unpleasant.
A burning sensation around the anus can also be quite unpleasant.
Bleeding is another common sign of hemorrhoids, especially into the stool. Bright red blood is suggestive of hemorrhoids, while very dark or black blood is more suggestive of other complaints higher inside.
Feeling the hemorrhoids when washing can sometimes really scare someone for the first time. Prolapsed hemorrhoids - hemorrhoids that develop inside but 'fall' out - and external hemorrhoids - hemorrhoids that develop outside - are two types of hemorrhoids that can be felt while bathing. The former often feels like a dangly bit, while the external ones feel like a small lump.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids look like a small bunch of tiny grapes.
Thrombosed hemorrhoids look big and tight for the most part.
The normal color of prolapsed hemorrhoids is reddish pink, while a thrombosed one is often bluish, while an external one is often brownish. Internal ones you can not see, but they are pinky red too.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids are 'graded' by doctors according to their symptoms, the more they show outside and the harder they are to keep inside, the higher the grade given to them. When symptoms are diagnosed at a grade four level, a hemorrhoidectomy may well be suggested.
Summing Up
These are, by far and large, the most common signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids. If you have any of these symptoms, then there is a real possibility that you may be suffering from hemorrhoids. Differential diagnosis is, however, very important. Blood in the stool can be caused by typhoid fever or cancer. Itching can be caused by genital warts, especially if sexual penetration was involved. Burning by any sort of infection. Incontinence - leaking stool - by infection or organic causes.
The best way to diagnose is to see your health professional - for most people this will normally be their doctor. The doctor or other health professional will look at your symptoms and may suggest the need for more definitive tests to obtain an accurate diagnosis or grade your hemorrhoids to help work out which medical or alternative treatment may be the best way of helping you.
If seeing the doctor is too awkward, consider writing the symptoms down for them to read. A good doctor will normally be sensitive and understanding to your embarrassment and put you at ease before doing an examination. If you are a male you may prefer a female doctor, if you are a female, you may feel less threatened if the consultation is with a female doctor.

About the Author
Donald Urquhart writes extensively on various health topics, including hemorrhoids how to attain hemorrhoids relief quickly, as well as how to cure he