What are the Symptoms of Hemorrhoids?

There are many symptoms of hemorrhoids. If you know the symptoms, you will be able to identify and tackle this problem the moment it crops up. In this article, we shall discuss some of the main symptoms that are seen when hemorrhoid flare up.

The main symptoms of hemorrhoids are pain in the rectum, itching and bleeding that happens at the time of bowel movements.

External Hemorrhoids

Pain in the rectum is a main symptom that occurs when you have external hemorrhoids. Some blood may be accumulated below the skin which gives rise to a painful hard lump. This kind of clotted hemorrhoid is called “thrombosed”. When there is difficulty during the passage of a stool and bleeding might occur in bowel movements. In fact, it is not uncommon to see blood on the toilet paper when you are having difficulty in stool passage.

Internal Hemorrhoids

Rectal bleeding is the most common sign of internal hemorrhoids. While in the case of external hemorrhoids, you might find some blood on the toilet paper. Yet, in the case of internal hemorrhoids, the amount of blood on the toilet paper increases drastically. Blood might also be found in the toilet or on the surface of the stool even if you have a normal bowel movement.

Itching is another common internal hemorrhoid symptom. This happens because mucus is often released in this case and it irritates the anal skin which may cause itching. Skin irritation can also be caused by large hemorrhoids when they come out of the anus and create mucus secretions.

Discomfort and pain are some of the other symptoms that characterize internal hemorrhoids. Discomfort is directly proportional to the size of the hemorrhoid. Generally, internal hemorrhoids do not cause pain but if hemorrhoids occur in the anus area, then they might cause severe pain.

But pain and bleeding in the rectum might not only be the symptoms of hemorrhoids. They can also be the premonition of anal, rectal or colon cancer. So if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is always better to check with a doctor for more information. It is even more important if you are over 50.