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Article Series: Hemorrhoids
Help Me Get Rid Of My Hemorrhoids
What
Causes Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids, also sometimes referred to as
piles, are bulging or dilated veins in the rectum and/or anus
that are caused by excess pressure being placed on
the rectal veins. It is estimated that 50 to 75
percent of the American
population will develop hemorrhoids at some point in their
lives.
Hemorrhoids affect the blood vessels that surround the anus.
When too much pressure is exerted on the rectum walls this
action serves to weaken the muscles that keep the hemorrhoidal
vessels strong. These vessels respond to the excess pressure
by getting larger and losing the support they used to have.
From there they give way to a sac-like protrusion that is either
found inside the rectal canal or else is found under the skin
and around the anus area. The former is known as internal hemorrhoids
while the latter is known as external hemorrhoids.
The
internal hemorrhoid can stay put or else it can push its
way out, resulting in a prolapsed hemorrhoid. There are
times when blood will accumulate in an external hemorrhoid
leading to the formation of a clot. This is known as thrombus.
In this case the pile would be described as being a thrombosed
external hemorrhoid.
Internal hemorrhoids as well as external hemorrhoids can develop
at any given time in a person’s life; however they are more
common as people age. Hemorrhoids do occur in young people
on occasion. Hemorrhoidal difficulties are most likely to develop
in women who are pregnant as well as women who have given birth
to a number of children.
What Causes Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are caused by a number of different factors. They
include:
- Constipation
that leads to habitual straining on the toilet
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
and/or sneezing
- Prolonged
sitting
- Vomiting
- Pressure
on the lower abdomen as a result of pregnancy
- Lack
of fiber in the diet
- Sedentary
lifestyle
- Being
overweight
- Anal
intercourse
- Anal
or rectal infection
- Standing
too much or lifting heavy objects
- Cirrhosis
of the liver
The two most likely causes of hemorrhoids include a poor
diet and straining when
using the toilet. These two factors are
linked because a bad diet that lacks adequate fiber can lead
to constipation which then leads to trouble on the toilet.
Experts surmises that the highly
processed diet and lack of
dietary fiber that many people in this country subscribe to
plays a role in the development (and sometimes re-development)
of hemorrhoids. This is because those living in the western
hemisphere tend to have higher incidences of hemorrhoids than
those living in parts of the world where they consume a healthy
supply of fiber and roughage on a regular basis.
Even the design of the modern
toilet needs to shoulder some
of the blame. The modern toilet is such that straining is encouraged
as opposed to discouraged. The more pressure that is exerted
on the anal veins the more likely it is that you will require
treatment hemorrhoids in the near future.
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by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2010
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