Hemorrhoids aren’t life threatening, but they’re an affliction of biblical proportions. A line in the book of Deuteronomy reads, “The Lord will strike you with the Egyptian inflammation, with hemorrhoids, boil scars and itch, from which you shall never recover.” It’s a fearsome threat, as the condition is embarrassing and painful.

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Also known as piles, hemorrhoids are a condition in which the veins around the anus and lower rectum become swollen and inflamed. Hemorrhoids can occur in either the internal or external anal membranes; although both kinds cause bloody stools, only the external kind causes severe pain and itching.

This condition is common among adults: By age 50, nearly half of people will have suffered a bout of hemorrhoids. They are usually caused by an increase in pressure in the rectum due to constipation, diarrhea, obesity, sitting for long periods of time, or pregnancy. In the majority of cases, hemorrhoids disappear on their own after a few days. To soothe the pain in the meanwhile, experts recommend using an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or witch hazel pads to numb the area. Applying cold compresses or sitting in a sitz bath may also provide relief.

A doctor may need to intervene if blood pools in external hemorrhoids, causing a clot. For persistent and painful cases, other treatments are also available, such as surgical removal, sclerotherapy (in which a chemical is injected to shrink the hemorrhoid), and rubber band ligation (in which a tiny rubber band is placed around a hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply).

ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. A high-fiber diet that promotes regular bowel movements may help fend off hemorrhoids.
  2. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 377 BC) wrote of a treatment similar to the rubber band ligation procedure. He recommended tying off hemorrhoids with thick woolen thread until they dropped off.