Hemorrhoids are a fairly common but very bothersome illness which can be seen frequently among older persons and pregnant women. The most common manifestation of this condition would be difficulty in defecating, swelling and irritation around the area, and of course, a painless or slightly sensitive lump on the anus. Most of the time people would think a hemorrhoid as the same thing or case with other similar bowel lesions but there are actually different types of the disease based on the location or area affected.
The first type would be the external hemorrhoid which are those found outside the opening of the anus. Since the prolapsed veins are located just below the skin of the anus the person would manifest itchiness, a burning sensation in the area, redness on the skin around the anus, and there may be streaks of blood upon straining to defecate. It also causes soreness and discomfort being constantly felt throughout the day, and aggravated with movements such as sitting, defecating, walking or standing.
A common complication that occurs in this type of hemorrhoid would be the clotting of blood in the protruded area. It results from the swelling of the thin veins around the anal region due to increased pressure upon defecation, rubbing or scratching the region. The result of such clots would be to further increase the pressure on the area causing more severe pain. When this happens, professional medical help is needed to drain the blood or remove the hemorrhoid surgically.
On the other hand, internal hemorrhoids are those which occur as a result of increased pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins inside the anal region. Unlike in the former, a hemorrhoid like this does not usually have pain or discomfort, and the uneasiness can only be experienced upon straining or right after having passed stool. Usually, the only sign that this problem exists is the presence of streaks of bright red blood in the bowl or toilet paper.
However, the hemorrhoid may become protruded outside the anal region causing pain, soreness and irritation around the area. Even if some cases can be managed by pushing back the lesion, a doctor is needed most of the time to manage the prolapsed lesion.
The most common complication of this type of hemorrhoid would be development of blood clots around the protruded part, bleeding from the skin lesion and infection due to exposure to feces.
Knowing the different types of hemorrhoids is important not just for merely classifying the condition, but also for determining the most appropriate treatment regimen that addresses the problem.
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