Hemorrhoids Specialist

What are hemorrhoids?

A hemorrhoid is a dilated blood vessel that appears in the anus. The two main types of hemorrhoids are:

Internal hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids grow inside the anus, so they’re usually undetectable unless they start causing symptoms. 

External hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids appear in the skin around your anus. They can feel like small bumps or lumps.

Hemorrhoids aren't cancerous, but they can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms, including bleeding during bowel movements. 

What causes hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids typically develop with pressure in your lower rectum.

The pressure can happen because of:

• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Regular heavy lifting
• Straining when you have bowel movements
• Spending too much time on the toilet
• Chronic constipation or diarrhea

Having a family history of hemorrhoids can increase your risk for them, and you're more likely to develop hemorrhoids as you age.  

What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoid symptoms can include:

• Red or black blood on toilet tissue or in the toilet bowl
• Pain or soreness during bowel movements
• Anal itching
• A distinct bulge in the skin around the anal opening
• Feeling a lump that come out during bowel movements

A few drops of blood can discolor all the toilet water, so it may not be as scary as it may look. But, it's also important to know that you need not live with hemorrhoids. Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida offers effective hemorrhoid treatments. 

How do you treat hemorrhoids?

Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida performs a couple of different hemorrhoid treatments in the office: 

Rubber band ligation

In rubber band ligation, your doctor uses small bands to close off the hemorrhoid blood supply. The hemorrhoid shrinks and falls off in a few days. This treatment is most suitable for Grade III hemorrhoids where hemrrhoids protrude after a bowel movement and able to be manually pushed back in. 

Infrared ablation (IRC)

In IRC,  your doctor uses infrared heat to destroy and dessicate the hemorrhoid. This treatment is often helpful for grade I or II (mlid to moderate) hemorrhoids. But, it might not be right for the most severe hemorrhoids. 

If your hemorrhoids don’t get better with minimally invasive treatments like rubber band ligation or laser ablation, or if you have severe external hemorrhoids, you may need surgery. In hemorrhoid surgery, your doctor removes the dilated vein completely. 

Gastroenterology & Nutrition of Central Florida offers hemorrhoid solutions to end the discomfort, bleeding, itchiness, and other frustrating symptoms quickly. Call the office or book through the online scheduling tool now.