What are hemorrhoids?

Everyone has hemorrhoids! The anatomical term "hemorrhoids" actually refers to vascular cushions filled with blood vessels at the junction of the rectum and anus. The medical indication "hemorrhoids" means enlarged or inflamed blood vessels in the rectum and anus.

Medicine refers to the disease "hemorrhoids" when blood accumulates in these vascular cushions. The small arterial blood vessels of the structure expand and form knobbly protrusions in the mucous membrane. These cause pain during defecation.

If you suffer from hemorrhoids, treatment is advised.

The medical treatment of hemorrhoids depends on the stage of the disease. Hemorrhoids are divided into four degrees. In the initial stage or 1^st degree, medication can be sufficient or band ligation is used, whereas in the advanced stage the disease is treated with surgery.

2^nd degree hemorrhoids

In the 2^nd stage, the occasional prolapse of the hemorrhoids results in disruption of fine continence, i.e. bodily excretions can no longer be retained properly. This causes increased mucus secretion. This secretion results in moistening and irritation of the skin around the anus, triggering itching. Anal eczema causes this and it is therefore an indirect consequence of hemorrhoidal disease

3^rd - 4^th degree hemorrhoids

Third degree hemorrhoids are often filled with a lot of blood and greatly swollen. They are forced out during defecation and can no longer return to the rectum by themselves.

When hemorrhoids reach the 4th stage they remain outside the anal canal and cause severe discomfort. The swollen vascular structures exert pressure on the anal canal. The sufferer then thinks he or she has to defecate even when the bowels are not full.

Hard straining during the rectoanal reflex triggers further pain.