External Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids are swollen veins at the opening of the anus. Symptoms vary but the most common ones include:

• Bleeding at the anus opening

• Bright red blood on the stool

• Visual signs such as a mound of skin (sometimes deep blue or bright red in color)

• Pain while going to the toilet

• Discomfort between your legs while walking or sitting

Common contributing factors that lead to hemorrhoids include constipation, pregnancy, prolonged sitting, anal intercourse, prolonged cases of diarrhea, heavy lifting, and obesity. Deterioration and weakening of skin which comes with old age can also lead to hemorrhoids however hemorrhoids are most common in people aged between 45 - 65 years.

Constipation is probably the most common cause of hemorrhoids. Hard stools which are formed during constipation can easily damage the anal canal wall linings, put extra pressure on the veins, and cause excessive straining to pass the stool. Stools can be softened naturally in a couple of ways. The easiest and most practical ways are to eat more foods high in fiber such as cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Drinking more water will also help to soften the stool.

During pregnancy women's raised blood pressure causes their veins to swell, this coupled with any of the other contributing factors mentioned above puts them in high risk of having hemorrhoids. The need to strain excessively while giving birth can often put too much pressure on the veins and cause a hemorrhoid.

Prolonged sitting, especially while on a toilet seat can also put a lot of unnatural pressure on the anus and anal canal. Again this can lead to hemorrhoids.

There is debate around anal intercourse and its relationship with external hemorrhoids. Some believe that hard friction on the anal canal walls can cause tears (fissures) and hemorrhoids. Anal intercourse should always be performed with plenty of lubrication to avoid this happening.

Extended cases of diarrhea are another factor which can lead to hemorrhoids. If you notice you are starting to get diarrhea, seek medical treatment immediately to avoid any chance of hemorrhoids developing.

Heavy lifting places immense pressure on the veins causing them to swell - if they swell too much then hemorrhoids can develop. It is important that if you are lifting heavy weights to exhale during the lift and inhale during the lowering of the weight.

Finally I mentioned that obesity is a contributing factor. Overweight people are more prone to constipation and generally have a slow metabolism. Both of these factors contribute to hard stools which can cause hemorrhoids. You can improve your metabolism through doing exercise. Vigorous exercise is not necessary; simply walking 20 minutes per day can have a positive effect on your metabolism.

External hemorrhoids are usually more painful than internal hemorrhoids. Pain relief can be achieved through softening the stool, improving metabolism, and by reducing the swelling. Reducing the swelling can give very quick relief of pain. Ways to do this include sitting in a warm bath several times a day and applying ice to the affected area. Both are effective, some find is useful to use these two techniques one after the other.

Hemorrhoid treatment (as opposed to pain relief) should be sought as soon a hemorrhoid is identified. Hemorrhoids are always easier to treat in their early stages and can usually be treated reasonably quickly using natural cures. Although natural cures can be very effective, the wrong remedy used at the wrong time can give poor results. For in depth information about how to cure hemorrhoids please visit www.hemorrhoid-cures.com.