Hemorrhoids are usually not dangerous, but they are extremely painful and annoying to the person who has to put up with them.
Some people think that there is not much that you can do about it, so they put up with them for years.
Hemorrhoids or piles are swollen veins that you usually notice around the anus area.
These are often called external hemorrhoids.
Those occurring further up into the rectum area are called internal hemorrhoids.
Many people have these and are not even aware of it because they cause no pain.
Internal hemorrhoids are broken down into four grades, with each grade indicating a level of seriousness.
The grades are numbered from 1 to 4, with 4 being the most serious.
Since most people are unaware that they have internal hemorrhoids, a doctor is necessary to make this diagnosis.
These internal piles secrete mucus which causes itching when it comes into contact with the outside skin.
This accounts for the itching symptoms that many sufferers experience.
Piles usually manifest themselves by bleeding from the rectum.
You may notice it on your stool or on the toilet paper when you wipe.
Before treating yourself, however, you should first make an appointment with your doctor to ensure that the blood is not from some more serious medical condition.
If piles are really the cause of the blood, there are various treatments that you can take depending on the seriousness of your condition.
In the very mildest of conditions, you may only need to change your diet and let your system heal itself.
If your condition is a bit more serious, you may need to try lotions to reduce the swelling and provide you with relief.
If, however, your condition is more serious, you may have to consider surgery.
One of the more common methods of treatment is called banding or rubber band ligation.
In this procedure, the physician ties a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid.
The tightness of the rubber band restricts the ability of the hemorrhoid to receive blood.
Without blood, after a few weeks the hemorrhoid will die and drop off.
But, rubber band ligation is only a short term solution.
Unless you change your diet, you are destined to repeat the cycle of getting hemorrhoid and receiving treatments for the rest of your life.
The potential causes of piles are many.
They can be caused by a woman's pregnancy, by constipation, by sitting incorrectly for too long of a period, and by not exercising.
But, by far, the most common cause of pile is diet.
specifically the fast food fatty diets that so many are fond of.
Many times a change in diet will help to cure you more than any medicine will.