Hemorrhoids can be a major nuisance
Hemorrhoids are dilations of blood vessels and mucous membrane/skin just inside the rectal opening or in the rectal canal. It can cause symptoms such as itching, burning, pain, oozing of a small amount of fluid or fresh blood and, in some cases, spotting, where blood appears in large areas of the toilet during bowel movements.
In mild cases, hemorrhoids can be neither seen nor felt, while larger hemorrhoids can be pushed out of the rectum during bowel movements. In severe cases, there may be a constant prolapse of hemorrhoids through the rectal opening. A prolapsed hemorrhoid can become trapped and cause severe pain and swelling. Hemorrhoids can also cause problems cleaning yourself after using the toilet.
Causes and prevention of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can occur for many different reasons and it's not always possible to point to a specific cause. Prolonged constipation, pregnancy and prolonged standing and heavy work can be triggers. In some cases, diarrhea can also cause hemorrhoids due to frequent trips to the toilet.
It's important to keep your bowel movements light to prevent constipation in the future. One way to do this is by drinking 2-3 liters of fluids a day, and over-the-counter products such as Magnesia can be beneficial if you periodically experience problems with hard stools.