This can be somewhat of a difficult question to answer, mainly because hemorrhoids can frequently be a life-long condition or a short-lived problem. This depends entirely upon the nature of the hemorrhoids, the severity of the condition and the available treatment options for them. A simple recap as to what hemorrhoids are will go a long way in helping to understand the condition and determine how long they might last.
Hemorrhoids are actually varicose veins. They are varicose veins of the rectal area and can develop as a result of a wide variety of causes. These varicosities are not unlike varicose veins of the legs, and they can behave very similarly.
Because hemorrhoids are in fact veins, they are subject to the same physical forces from the body as other veins. Their location in the rectum and internal anal area makes them especially vulnerable to pressure from gravity and body weight. Other factors contributing to hemorrhoid development are genetics, body weight, bowel habits, straining during bowel movements, fiber content in meals and proper hydration to name but a few.
Hemorrhoids develop slowly and, over time, increase in size. They begin to cause symptoms when they become large enough to get inflamed and can cause itching and burning. If these veins reach a large enough size, they can prolapse, or protrude, out of the anus. When this occurs, they can become extremely uncomfortable, swollen and painful secondary to restricted blood flow because of the protrusion.
On occasion, these protruding hemorrhoids will develop blood clots and will plug the vein. This is an extremely painful time, but ultimately this can be resolved. Either the body will dissolve the clot, or it can be removed by a doctor. Often times the vein will scar down and close off permanently on its own.
People can have hemorrhoids and not even know they do. Some hemorrhoids will flare up occasionally, while others prove to be perpetually bothersome. Diet, weight management, exercise and sometimes even surgery are all ways to treat hemorrhoids. Mild hemorrhoids can often be managed conservatively and people can go through an entire lifetime without trouble. Pregnancy-induced hemorrhoids, which are not all that uncommon, usually go away after delivery and may never resurface. Hemorrhoids exacerbated by obesity may well disappear with sufficient weight loss, and diet related hemorrhoid flare ups may well dissipate with improved hydration and increased fiber intake.
Hemorrhoids can be temporary, or a lifetime addition, depending on many factors. Only the one suffering from them can determine what, if anything, would need to be done about them if they become persistent and uncomfortable.
How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last?
Jul 16, 2009 | By
