Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins located in the lower part of the rectum and the anus. They become swollen because of the increased pressure within them, usually due to straining at stools and during pregnancy because of the pressure of the enlarged uterus. Internal hemorrhoids are located in the inside lining of the rectum and cannot be felt. External hemorrhoids are located underneath the skin that surrounds the anus.
Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation and straining at bowel movements. Pregnancy is also associated with hemorrhoids. These conditions lead to increased pressure within the hemorrhoidal veins causing them to swell. Other conditions, such as chronic liver disease, may cause increased venous pressure and may be associated with hemorrhoid formation. Hemorrhoids are very common and are estimated to occur in up to one-half of the population by age fifty.
The most common symptom and sign from hemorrhoids is painless bleeding. There may be bright red blood on the outside of the stools, on the toilet paper, or dripping into the toilet. Bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should prompt a visit to a doctor. While hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement, there are other reasons to have bleeding including inflammatory bowel disease, infection, and tumors.
Prolapse of an internal hemorrhoid occurs when the internal hemorrhoids swell and extend from the location in the rectum through the anus. A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid can be gently pushed back through the anus, this may resolve the problem of prolapse but does not fix the hemorrhoid itself; may become entrapped, which requires medical attention. Hemorrhoids may also cause pruritus ani or itching around the anus, and a constant feeling of needing to have a bowel movement.
Thrombosed external hemorrhoids are a painful condition. These occurs when a blood clot develops in the hemorrhoid causing swelling and inflammation. When a blood clot occurs in hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid will become even more swollen. This swelling leads to increased pain. The pain may be worse with bowel movements and may increase with sitting.
Bleeding from the rectum or anus is never normal and although hemorrhoids are the most common reason to have blood in the stool, it should be discussed with your primary health care practitioner. Other causes of rectal bleeding exist and can be serious. Inflammatory bowel disease and cancers of the colon can present with rectal bleeding. Medical care should be sought urgently if a person is taking anticoagulation medication such as warfarin, clopidogrel, or prasugrel.
Patients who have associated symptoms such as lightheadedness and weakness may have significant blood loss and may require more urgent care. Hemorrhoids do not cause abdominal pain; should this be present with bleeding, medical care should be accessed immediately. Prolapsed hemorrhoids that can not be pushed back through the anus require medical care. Thrombosed external hemorrhoids may cause significant pain and medical care may need to be sought.
Diagnosis of hemorrhoids is usually made by history and physical examination by the health care practitioner. Depending upon the situation, past medical history, medications and stability of the patient, treatment may follow with no further testing. If there is concern that significant bleeding has occurred, a complete blood count to measure hemoglobin and hematocrit levels is obtained. If the patient is on warfarin, a prothrombin time may be done to measure the blood clotting levels.
Inspection of the anus and a digital rectal examination are often performed. Sometimes anoscopy may be required where a small, lighted scope is introduced into the anus to examine the inner lining of the anus and rectum. The procedure is often performed in the office without sedation. If there is the potential that the bleeding source originated above the rectum from other parts of the colon, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy by a gastroenterologist may be recommended.
Plant medicine is a natural and potent anti-hemorrhoid remedy. This treatment is concentrated with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic naturally occurring compounds which prevent inflammation and shrink enlarged venous tissue. It tonifies and restores venous circulation naturally eliminating hemorrhoids. Pain relief and reduction of hemorrhoids is experienced upon application leading to total reversal of the condition. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.

It sounds scary doesn’t it: internal medicine doctor. Most people hear the phrase, coming from their family doctor’s lips and they panic. It can’t be a good thing to be referred to a medical professional who is known as a doctor’s doctor can it? Actually it’s not as scary as it might sound. An internal medicine doctor is also known as an internist, not to be mixed up with a doctor in training known as an intern.

An internist is highly skilled and trained to diagnosis and treat adult diseases. This is the doctor who specializes in one area of your health and can generally figure out symptoms that can stump your family doctor who does not specialize in one area of the body. Think of Dr. House on the television series and you are on the right page to understand what an internist does.

Your internal medicine doctor will generally not be as vague as Dr. House with a specialty though. Many internists specialize in one subspecialty such as a cardiologist who is a heart doctor or a doctor who only treats infectious disease or geriatrics. There are as many sub specialists as there are diseases and body parts to treat and way too many to list here.

So a referral to an internist shouldn’t be anything to panic you now that you realize that an internal medicine doctor can be someone with the specialty skills and training to treat very specific health issues such as heart disease or infectious disease.

Once you get a referral however you should do your own due diligence to make sure the doctor you have been referred to is the doctor you want to see. A simple check can give you information about your internist’s training, education and skills and help you feel more confident that this is the doctor to help you.

If however you don’t feel the referral is a good match after you have seen the doctor, be sure to contact your family health professional and request the names of a few other doctors as well. You are perfectly within your rights to get a second or even a third opinion if you are unhappy with your diagnose or the treatment options presented to you.

However, you should also remember that an internist is a specialist and they usually know what they are doing and what they are looking at. So if you are getting the same information from your second opinion as you got from your first opinion it may be time to accept a diagnoses and stop looking for a new internist to give you a third or fourth opinion and start working on your treatment plan.

An internal medicine doctor can benefit you by managing your healthcare in a collaborative way with other physicians. To find a good one please see the following: http://www.angieslist.com/.