What Are Hemorrhoids and Other Questions Answered

You may have heard of them.  You may have been horrified at their sight.  You may even have suffered from them.  No, we are not talking about the latest infectious disease, thank our lucky stars.  Instead, we are talking about hemorrhoids that, thankfully, are never infectious.  Yes, painful, swollen and inflamed but neither infectious nor serious.

Still, we should not be so complacent as to avoid asking sensitive but necessary questions like what are hemorrhoids, what causes them, what their symptoms are and what the treatment methods are.  After all, this is your body we are talking about and you have every right to ask questions and be provided with straight answers.

First on the list, what are hemorrhoids?  Also called piles, which sound less gross to the ears, these are inflamed, swollen and often painful veins located in your lower rectum and anus.  These purplish, bulging veins can stand in the way of leading an active life because of the way these rub against the anal skin, thus, leading to more pain and irritation.

Second, what causes the piles to appear seemingly out of nowhere and into your anus?  Well, the most common cause is that you strained during your bowel movements, either because you have diarrhea or constipation.  And if you are a pregnant woman, you are more likely to have hemorrhoids during your sixth month.  This is because there is increased pressure on your pelvic area as your baby grows larger, not to mention that straining during bowel movement often cannot be helped.

Third, what are the methods of treatment for piles?  Fortunately, there are many treatments available ranging from medication and lifestyle changes to excision surgery.

Indeed, the answers to the question of what are hemorrhoids will often lead down the path of enlightenment about the subject.  So, get asking now and be rid of piles!