Anal fissures and hemorrhoids are literally a pain in the butt that can be severe enough to make you avoid bowel movements and physical activity. If exercise causes discomfort because you have an anal fissure or hemorrhoids, consult with your...
Learning how to care for your hemorrhoids can help you reduce pain and itching and prevent the development of new hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids occur when veins swell in your anus or rectum, due to increased pressure in the veins. Pressure increases...
Hemorrhoids, a more common term for piles, develop in the anus and lower rectum. They occur when the veins in these tissues become swollen or inflamed. Possible causes include straining during bowel movements, pressure from the fetus in pregnancy,...
Hemorrhoid is the medical term for the swelling that occurs in the veins surrounding the anus and the distal part of the rectum. There are two types of hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids occur in the lower rectum, under the lining of the skin....
Psyllium is a type of soluble fiber that is harvested from the seeds of the Plantago ovata plant. This plant produces thousands of small seeds covered in psyllium husk, which is then used to make fiber supplements. Consuming psyllium fiber can...
Constipation, as defined by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, is having less than three bowel movements in a week. The Institute adds that some individuals may not have a bowel movement daily, but that does not...
Though they are often fodder for jokes, hemorrhoids are no laughing matter. They don't pose a danger, but they are painful. For those who love to bike or who count on a bicycle as a means of transportation, hemorrhoids present a significant...
The anus is the last portion of the gastrointestinal system where waste is excreted from the body. The tissue surrounding the anus is filled with blood vessels. Hemorrhoids occur when the blood vessels become enlarged, and can be quite painful. If...
Your intestines are organs shaped like tubes in your abdomen where digested food passes through when it leaves your stomach. Digested food first travels through your small intestine, which absorbs nutrients. The remaining waste continues to your...
Colonics, also called colon hydrotherapy, is a safe and effective method of removing waste that adheres to the walls of the large intestine through the use of warm water, according to the International Association of Colon Hydrotherapy. A colon...
Hemorrhoids are a type of varicose vein that form inside or outside the anus as a result of excessive pressure. External hemorrhoids are a swelling or the veins that occur outside of the anal canal. Straining caused by constipation or additional...
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins inside your rectum. Straining during bowel movements is a common cause. They may or may not cause pain and can lead to anal bleeding. Approximately 75 percent of all people have hemorrhoids at some point...
If you follow a few tips, you may be able to stop hemorrhoids before they get going. First, it's important to maintain healthy bowel habits by using the bathroom as soon as you have the urge. Also, minimize straining while relieving yourself. In...
Blood in the stool is never normal. The symptom is known as hematochezia, which means the stools are red or maroon colored. Hematochezia should always be reported to a doctor, as it can indicate a serious health condition or injury. Blood can come...
Hemorrhoids are bundles of weakened vascular tissue that protrude through the skin of the wall of the rectum and anus, either inside or outside of the anus. Hemorrhoids can be very painful, irritating and embarrassing. They may also mask or mimic...
By age 50, half the population experiences the symptoms of hemorrhoids -- swollen, distended veins in the lower rectum and anus -- according to Harvard Medical School. You might have to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy if your hemorrhoids protrude or...
According to the Merck Manual, hemorrhoids are swollen, twisted veins located in the anorectal area. Hemorrhoids may occur inside the anus (internal) or under the skin around the anus (external). Hemorrhoids are classified according to location,...
You may have heard that you should increase your dietary fiber, but you may not know why a high-fiber diet is so important. Getting enough fiber may help protect you from developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and...
The human digestive system consists of a series of hollow organs that function to break down large particles of food into small molecules. The mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus form the complete digestive...
Dietary fiber includes the parts of the plant food the body cannot digest, according to MayoClinic.com. Dietary fiber has a number of health benefits, including normalizing bowel movements, aiding in weight control and lowering blood cholesterol....
Your digestive system is an efficient factory that takes the raw materials you supply through your diet, breaks those materials down, uses what it can for maintenance and energy, then eliminates the rest through the efficient trash compactor of...
The large intestine is the portion of your gastrointestinal tract that includes your appendix, cecum, colon, rectum and anus. The large intestine is approximately 5 feet long, and it primarily functions to reabsorb water and maintain fluid balance...
Topical hydrocortisone cream is effective in treating swollen, inflamed rectal hemorrhoids, but you may also get good results using hemorrhoid cream to reduce swelling in other places. Makers of hemorrhoid creams do not support alternative uses of...
Glucomannan and psyllium are both bulk-forming laxatives used to treat constipation, according to PubMed Health. Glucomannan and psyllium absorb liquid in the intestines, causing it to swell, and create larger stools, which are easier to pass. The...
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that occur on the inside or outside the opening of your anus. These may be nothing more than a minor, itchy annoyance, or they may feel very painful and bleed. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC,...
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the anus and lower rectum. They may be caused by increased pressure on rectal veins during pregnancy, straining during a bowel movement, chronic constipation or diarrhea, anal intercourse or obesity....
Hemorrhoids, sometimes called piles, are enlarged veins in the rectum or anus that are caused by increased pressure in the veins. Some hemorrhoids are painful and may bleed. The condition can occur at any age, but is more often noted in adults....
Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are inflamed veins in the rectum that can bleed and cause itching and pain, according to MayoClinic.com. Caused by straining during bowel movements or increased pressure in the rectum, they are rarely serious....