Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or lower rectum. They are either inside the anus or under the skin around the anus. They often result from straining to have a bowel movement. Other factors include pregnancy, aging and chronic constipation or diarrhea.

Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women. About half of all people have hemorrhoids by age 50. The most common symptom of hemorrhoids inside the anus is bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl. Symptoms usually go away within a few days.

If you have rectal bleeding you should see a doctor. You need to make sure bleeding is not from a more serious condition such as colorectal or anal cancer. Treatment may include warm baths and a cream or other medicine. If you have large hemorrhoids, you may need surgery and other treatments.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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* HemorrhoidsFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
* Hemorrhoids: Reducing the Pain and Discomfort(American Academy of Family Physicians)

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* Women

* Overviews
o Hemorrhoids(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
* Diagnosis/Symptoms
o Bleeding in the Digestive TractFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
* Treatment
o Hemorrhoid SurgeryInteractive Tutorial(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player

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* Related Issues
o Fiber: How to Increase the Amount in Your Diet(American Academy of Family Physicians)

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* Tutorials
o Hemorrhoid Surgery(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player

Also available in Spanish

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* Clinical Trials
o ClinicalTrials.gov: HemorrhoidsFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health)
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* Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
o Article: Advanced grades of bleeding hemorrhoids in a young boy.
o Article: Bleeding after stapled haemorrhoidopexy using the PPH 03 stapler device....
o Article: Maimonides: an early but accurate view on the treatment of...
o Hemorrhoids -- see more articles
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* Medical Encyclopedia
o Hemorrhoids
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* Dictionaries/Glossaries
o Digestive Diseases DictionaryEasy-to-ReadFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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* Organizations
o American Gastroenterological Association
o American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
o National Digestive Diseases Information ClearinghouseFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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* Women
o During Your Pregnancy: Hemorrhoids(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)

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source:/www.nlm.nih.gov