About 5% of Americans have hemorrhoids today, and they’re prevalent after age 50. If you have burning, itching, or other hemorrhoid symptoms, the board-certified gastroenterologists at Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates, LLC can help at the Florence, Massachusetts, office. They provide many treatment options, including in-office banding, to help you escape the discomfort quickly. Call the office to schedule your appointment now.
Hemorrhoids are anus and rectum veins that fill with too much blood. The vein enlargement is usually painless — but when hemorrhoids become irritated, they can cause considerable discomfort.
There are a few types of hemorrhoids, each causing different issues and symptoms.
Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum. They rarely cause discomfort, but often cause bleeding, particularly if you strain during bowel movements. Internal hemorrhoids can swell and bulge out of your anus (prolapse). At that point, they may cause symptoms similar to external hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids are on the skin outside the anus. They can cause itching and soreness, and sitting may cause discomfort. External hemorrhoids may also bleed.
Thrombosed hemorrhoids are those with blood clots. The clots cut off blood flow and cause additional swelling. External hemorrhoids are more likely to thrombose, but internal hemorrhoids may do so as well.
The main cause of hemorrhoids is extra pressure within your abdomen, rectum, and anus. Some of the main causes of this pressure include:
Hemorrhoid risk increases with age, and they’re most common after the age of 50. Certain other factors may increase your risk of hemorrhoids, including carrying extra weight, eating too little fiber, lack of physical activity, and dehydration.
Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates, LLC offers the full range of hemorrhoid treatments, from conservative lifestyle management to surgery. Some lifestyle changes that can help with hemorrhoid symptoms include eating more fiber, drinking more water, more frequent exercise, and weight management.
Banding is an effective solution if you have painful or itchy external hemorrhoids. That in-office treatment involves applying tiny bands to the hemorrhoids, cutting off their blood supply. The hemorrhoids wither in response, eventually falling off.
Other treatment options may include coagulation techniques, like radiofrequency ablation or laser energy, to cause internal hemorrhoids to wither or injections that shrink the hemorrhoid from within.
If you’re not a good candidate for more conservative treatments, your provider may recommend a surgical procedure to remove troublesome hemorrhoids.
Call Hampshire Gastroenterology Associates, LLC to get expert treatment for hemorrhoids.