For many people, hemorrhoids are a source of amusement or perhaps material for a comedians stand up routine. And while it’s true that hemroids might not be the worst thing that could happen to a person, it can cause itching, anal bleeding and in some more extreme cases a great deal of pain and discomfort.

If you do have itching, discomfort when using the bathroom, blood on the toilet paper or in the fecal material or any pain in the anal area, you may potentially have hemorrhoids, but a medical exam is necessary to rule out any potentially more dangerous conditions. A doctor needs to do a complete visual inspection of the outer rectal area and also an interior exam which may include a more detailed exam like a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. A colonoscopy is when the entire bowel is examined and a sigmoidoscopy is when only the last two feet of the colon is examined.

As unpleasant as the prospect of a colonoscopy sounds, it is actually a very safe, low risk procedure that should be a part of your general health screening when you reach a certain age. People with a family risk of colon cancer should get screened starting at age 40 and everyone else generally at the age of 50. After you have a yearly exam, you will need to be retested only every five to ten years if your tests were negative for any disease or growth. Probably the most unpleasant part of the colonoscopy is the bowel cleansing that needs to be done the day before the procedure. Generally a heavy duty laxative is prescribed which helps clean all the material out of the anal cavity. This bowel cleaning laxative treatment means spending the day at home in easy reach of a toilet. But other than that bit of unpleasantness the procedure itself is done under sedation so it’s not much of a worry.

The reason a visit to the doctor is recommended is to rule out the other more serious medical conditions that have similar symptoms to hemorrhoids. These can include colon cancer, polyps, rectal cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which are inflammatory bowel diseases. Other general problems with the anal cavity can be tears which are called anal fissures and anal abscesses which are infections next to the anus. Because the symptoms for these conditions are very similar to hemroids, it is necessary to rule them out.

Since hemorrhoids are much more common than the other medical conditions, it is more likely than not that your diagnosis will be hemorrhoids, but a doctor’s visit is necessary. So give yourself the gift of good health and peace of mind and make that doctor’s appointment.

Well, quite possibly it does, but since Venapro is a homeopathic hemorrhoid remedy, it is not approved by the FDA meaning that it has not under gone the rigorous testing that is required by the FDA for traditional medicines. According to the official Venapro website, the ingredients are as follows – Horse Chestnut, Arnica, Fluoride of Lime, St. Mary’s Thistle, Stone Root, Witch Hazel, Muriatic Acid, Krameria’Mapato, alcohol and purified water.

Some of these nutritional supplements have been used for years in homeopathic medicines and may prove helpful to many hemorrhoid sufferers. For example, some studies have shown that horse chestnut does work to reduce swelling and therefore would naturally provide some hemorrhoid relief. In addition horse chestnut also may improve and strengthen vein walls leading to a reduction in hemroid flare ups. Many of these ingredients are thought to exhibit similar properties to the horse chestnut, improving veins, reducing swelling, improving circulation, and just generally reducing hemroid symptoms. According to the Venapro website, the alcohol and purified water are used for preservation and serve no medicinal purpose.

The Venapro website contains this usage information:

INDICATIONS Treats symptoms associated with hemorrhoids
DIRECTIONS Adults and children over 12: Spray twice under the tongue 3 times per day. Children 2 to 12: Spray once under the tongue 3 times per day. Children under 2: Consult a doctor prior to use.
WARNINGS If symptoms persist, consult a doctor. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away. If pregnant or breast feeding, ask a doctor before use. DO Not use if TAMPER EVIDENT seal around entire bottle is missing or broken.
Keep out of reach of children.

The Venapro website also contains this disclaimer:

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDS. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Information on this site is provided form informational purposes only.  It is not meant to substitute for medical advice provided by your physician or other medical professional.  You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication.  You should read carefully all product packaging and labels.  If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your physician or health care provider.

Summary

Unfortunately our society has pushed homeopathic medicine to the back burner sometimes to the point that it seems in favor of big pharmaceutical companies. Since “medicines” are closely regulated and controlled by the FDA, Venapro can’t make any health claims. This is to stop the wholesale practice of scam artists hawking miracle cures like back in the Old West when scam artists would roll into town purporting to cure all manner of diseases with people “miraculously” being cured of blindness, physical ailments, and general malaise. This lack of testing doesn’t necessarily mean that Venapro doesn’t work – maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. I can’t say with any authority that Venapro is a miracle cure for hemroids because even Venapro can’t make that claim. My only advice is to discuss it with you doctor. And please be advised that even natural homeopathic medicines can have side effects and interact with any prescription medications you are taking, so this really does need to be discussed with your doctor.

A hemorrhoid is simply a vein in the anal region that becomes stressed and then swells up. Because it is then swollen and protruding, it can then become further irritated by passing stools or other daily activities. Think of it sort of like a varicose vein in the anal cavity.

Internal Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are exactly what they sound like, hemorrhoids that are located within the anal cavity. Because these hemorrhoids are somewhat protected within the body, they usually don’t exhibit as many symptoms as external hemorrhoids which are a more painful condition. In a lot of cases, people with internal hemorrhoids may not even realize they a hemorrhoid. Internal hemorrhoids may become recognizable if a patient sees blood on tissue paper, in the bowl, or on stools after having a bowel movement. If blood is visible, it is always recommended that you immediately schedule an appointment with a doctor to rule out any other diseases or conditions that can mirror the symptoms of internal hemorrhoids.

It’s also important to treat internal hemorrhoids at the first recognition of symptoms because more serious problems may result if left untreated. When left untreated, internal hemorrhoids may become so swollen that they then protrude from the anal cavity, this can lead to two of the more serious types of hemorrhoids, the strangulated hemorrhoid and the prolapsed hemorrhoid. A prolapsed hemroid is an internal hemorrhoid that gets pushed outside the anal cavity and when this prolapsed hemorrhoid then becomes trapped outside of the anal cavity due to constriction of the anal muscles it is referred to as a strangulated hemorrhoid. Once the hemorrhoid is forced out of the protection provided by the anal cavity they will exhibit more symptoms including pain and discomfort. Still, in most cases surgery usually isn’t required and hemorrhoids are a manageable condition.

External Hemorrhoids

Recognizing external hemorrhoids is much easier than with internal hemorrhoids because you will have a lot more easily recognizable symptoms such as pain, itching, swelling and with external hemorrhoids the actual hemorrhoid can be visually seen or felt as a small bump located near the anal opening. When a blood clot forms in an external hemorrhoid, this is referred to as a thrombosed hemorrhoid and this is felt as a bump and can be extremely painful. In addition, a thrombosed hemorrhoid can turn dark in color and it may also bleed, but even though it looks and feels terrible, the condition usually clears up in 7 – 10 days. If the pain is too much, the thrombosed hemorrhoid can be removed by a doctor.

Regardless of which type of hemorrhoid condition you suffer from, a complete medical exam is always required. Because anal bleeding can be a sympom of some more serious conditions, it is imperative to have a complete exam and not self diagnose. Although potentially embarrassing and painful, hemorrhoids are usually an easily treated condition.

Hemorrhoid surgery has come along way from the surgeries of the recent past. Most hemroid surgery used to involve the actual cutting of the hemorrhoids to remove them from the body, this is called a hemorrhoidectomy. Because this technique may result in long term problems, pain, and a slower recovery, more advanced techniques have gained favor resulted in less discomfort and a much quicker recovery time. The hemorrhoidectomey is still used today, but only for more serious conditions.

Here is a list of some of the most common hemroid surgery options available:

Rubber Band Ligation – A tiny elastic band is wrapped tightly around the hemorrhoid so that the blood is cut off and then the hemorrhoid is just naturally removed from the body.

Hemorrhoidectomy – This procedure is exactly what it sounds like, a surgery to remove the hemorrhoid. This is usually only used in the worst cases because the recovery is very painful and it might cause incontinence problems down the road.

Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy – This is usually performed on prolapsed hemorrhoids and not external hemroids. It is very similar to the rubber band ligation in that it cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid so that it can be simply removed.

Sclerotherapy – An injectable irritant (sclerosant) is injected into the hemorrhoid itself and this causes the veins to harden and then the hemorrhoid shrivels up and dies.

Doppler Guided Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation – During this procedure, an ultrasound (Doppler) devise is used to find hemorrhoidal arteries which are then cut off with a small stitch. With this treatment, there is less discomfort and possible complications than with surgery and the process is very quick and easy.

Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) – A stapler is used to move the anal cavity tissue in such a way that blood supply is cut off to the hemorrhoid and it shrinks, this usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. This is   less painful than a hemorrhoidectomy because it is done in the area with no pain sensors; it also has a faster recovery time and less possible complications.

These are some of the most common surgical hemorrhoid treatment options, but there are several other surgical hemroid treatment options that your doctor may discuss with you. Only in the worst hemorrhoid cases is it necessary to have surgery and with any luck you will be able to control your hemorrhoids without the need for surgery. Usually simple lifestyle changes are enough to manage the condition.

There are many hemorrhoid treatment options available on the market, some require a prescription and some can be bought over the counter. To give you a general idea of how they’re used to treat hemorrhoids or piles I’ll explain how each one is used, how it works, and ultimately why they may not give you the long term hemorrhoid relief you’re looking for.

Hemroid Treatment #1

First, the easiest and probably the least expensive are creams and ointments which are readily available in drug stores or by prescription from your doctor. These are topical solutions which are applied to the outer area of the rectum and are used to calm and soothe the blood vessels. Since the blood vessels are more relaxed they’re less likely to swell up which then reduces hemroid flare ups. This method does give temporary relief from hemorrhoids but does not cure the underlying problem which means that more flare ups are likely to occur in the future.

Hemroid Treatment #2

The second hemorrhoid treatment is suppositories which are inserted into the anal cavity to provide moisture to alleviate rectal pressure so that the hemorrhoids are then given time to heal so they won’t rupture again. This treatment works well for some, so it may be worth trying, but it doesn’t work for everyone so you may have to try several options before you find one the gives you hemorrhoid relief.
 

Hemroid Treatment #3

The third non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment option is the favorite of drug manufacturers. You can take prescription medication that regulates blood pressure thereby reducing swelling in the veins and reducing hemorrhoid occurrences. Of course, anytime you take medication it comes with a list of side effects that can be worse than the underlying problem you’re trying to cure. Only a talk with your doctor can determine if this is the right hemorrhoid treatment for you.

Once these options have been tried or discounted, there is always the option of more intensive treatments which involve surgery, injections or rubber band ligation. Hemroid surgery is usually only needed in the most serious cases of hemroids and only after all other options have been tried should you resort to surgery.

If you’ve already tried some of these treatment options and found them to be ineffective and you’re hoping to avoid surgery, please review the section on natural hemroid treatment options and be sure to avoid the most common mistakes a lot of people make. Hopefully with some simple life style changes you’ll be able to get some long lasting hemorrhoid relief.

Hemroids are a very common problem in the more industrialized parts of the world. By some estimates, 40% of the adult population will have hemorrhoids or what is sometimes called piles. This is simply an inflammation in the veins of the lower anal area. It can range in severity from just mildly irritating to potentially impacting the quality of your life to such an extent that you may be considering surgery. In most cases hemorrhoid relief can be obtained with simple over the counter hemroid treatments and only in the worst cases is surgery required. By making a few simple changes, hemorrhoid relief is definitely an obtainable goal but you have to be open to making the changes that are requred.

If you experience pain during constipation, blood on the toilet paper or itching in the anus region then you may be experiencing hemorrhoids. If you have a more severe case, the hemroids can become prolapsed which simply means that an interior hemorrhoid becomes so distended that is pushes out of the anus and can be felt as a small bump at the opening of the anal cavity.

Even if you are already suffering from hemroids, avoiding these mistakes can help you on your way to better health.

Hemroid Mistake #1:  A diet with too much processed food

People in industrialized countries are eating high volume low content food which basically means too much food with not enough nutrients. We have moved away from fresh fruits and vegetables which contain high amounts of natural fiber and now consume foods with unpronounceable ingredients. Processed foods are harder to digest and can cause constipation, so cut down on the sugars and chemicals and give your body a little help.   

Hemroid Mistake #2: Too much time sitting instead of moving

Sitting for long periods of time puts pressure on the anal area which when coupled with constipation or pregnancy can create additional stress on the bottom area. It’s best to not sit for over an hour at a time. Stretch and move about, it’s not just good for hemorrhoids, it good for the entire body.

Hemroid Mistake #3: Processed Medication and Creams

This is essentially the same as over processed foods. Even the fiber supplements that you may take to help with the hemroids contain processed and artificial ingredients that can cause problems or side-effects that potentially may create more problems than the one you’re trying to cure.

Another downside to the chemical creams is that although they may provide some temporary hemorrhoid relief, they do not get to the root of the problem which can then cause the hemorrhoid to worsen.

If you try to avoid these three mistakes you will be on your way to a healthier you and decrease your incidence of flare ups.

Hemroid is actually a misspelling of the medical condition hemorrhoids; it’s a word that’s prone to misspellings. A hemroid is an enflamed vein in the anal canal or directly at the opening of the canal. If the vein comes under stress it can weaken and form a tiny bulge in it, the bulge is the hemroid. A hemroid inside the anal canal is called an internal hemroid while one at the opening is an external hemroid.

Hemroids are graded on a scale of I – IV according to the level of prolapse. Prolapse means that a hemroid has become so enflamed that it begins to distend, at this point an internal hemroid can actually fall out of the anal canal. 

• Grade I – no prolapse
• Grade II – prolapsed, but it reduces on its own
• Grade III – prolapsed, but can be manually reduced
• Grade IV prolapsed, but can’t be manually reduced. Grade IV hemroids include strangulated hemorrhoids which are hemorrhoids that become trapped outside the anal canal when the sphincter muscles contract.

Causes

The leading cause of hemroid formation is straining while passing stools, this is usually due to a diet without enough fiber.

Other Causes: 

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Sitting too much
• Genetics
• Chronic diarrhea
• Anal sex
• Aging – this may cause a loss of muscle strength holding the anal veins in place

Symptoms

• Itching
• Pain
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Burning

Internal hemroids located above the dentate line usually have no symptoms except for bleeding unless they begin to prolapse. This is because the upper 2/3rds of the anal canal, which is above the dentate line, has no pain sensors. External hemroids are usually much more uncomfortable, not only because they are located in a region with pain sensors, but also because they are subjected to a lot more daily stress from things like sitting and cleaning with toilet paper.

Home Treatment

Improve your diet with fiber. This is the biggest little thing you can do to improve your hemroids. No matter what grade of hemroid you have, dietary improvements will be required. In fact, patients with grade I hemorrhoids may find that an improved diet may entirely correct the condition. The average adult should be getting about 25 grams of daily fiber, but most Americans get less than half of this required amount. Fiber helps reduce straining and it also helps to soften stools, this not only helps provide relief for any current hemroids but may help prevent them in the future.

Use a sitz bath. A sitz bath is a tub designed to submerge the anal area in a small tub while in the sitting position. A sitz bath is recommended a couple times a day and after bowel movements. Don’t use Epsom salts or other bath products as these may cause irritation.

Non-prescription medications. These medications include creams and suppositories to help reduce swelling and minimize discomfort, such as preparation H.

Astringent pads. Tuck’s Pad contains witch hazel which is very soothing to external hemroids.  

Use a cold compress. This sounds like it may be unpleasant, but it helps to reduce swelling and some people find it helps.

Stay dry. Keeping the area dry can help reduce irritation. Don’t rub the area with a towel; try gently drying with a blow dryer. Change out of work out clothes as soon as possible.

Avoid irritation. Try switching to wet wipes instead of toilet paper, stay away from perfumed soaps, and scented bath oils and beads. 

Over the counter pain medications. Aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen can all provide temporary relief from hemroid pain.

Medical Treatment

Prescription medications. There are prescription strength creams and suppositories that work the same way as the over the counter versions, they just contain stronger versions of the active ingredients.

Rubber band ligation. Using a small drum like instrument that shoots small rubber bands, the doctor applies the bands to the hemroids. Usually this pain during this procedure is minimal because it is used on hemroids above the dentate line. The band cuts off the blood supply to the hemroid and in about 1 week, the hemroid shrivels up and is sloughed off naturally. The success rate is about 87%.

Sclerotherapy. A hardening agent (or sclerosing agent) is injected into the hemroid, causing the vein walls to collapse and the hemorrhoids to dry up. The success rate is 70%.

Infrared coagulation. This procedure involves using a highly accurate beam of infrared light to cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid by causing a blood clot. Coagulation can also be done with lasers or cryosurgery which involves freezing.

Doppler guided hemroid artery ligation. A Doppler ultrasound device is used to identify the hemorrhoidal veins, and then the hemorrhoidal veins are quickly stitched off cutting off cutting off the blood supply to the hemroid.

Stapled hemorrhoidectomy. Staples are used to reposition the hemorrhoidal tissue disrupting blood flow to the hemroid.

Hemorrhoidectomy. This is the most serious of all hemroid procedures and is usually only used after other methods have already been tried. The hemorrhoidectomy involves surgically removing the hemroid with a scalpel. This procedure is more painful than other procedures with a higher risk of complications such as infection and short term and long term incontinence.