Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are pockets of tissue in the lower rectum that are made up of muscle, blood vessels, and elastic fibers. Hemorrhoids help the body in controlling the expulsion of stools. They exist in every body and are usually unnoticed, but can cause problems when they swell or become inflamed. This can happen when the connective tissue in a hemorrhoid weakens, which allows it to fall down into the anal canal.
There are two main types of hemorrhoids: internal hemorrhoids, which can develop inside the rectum, and external hemorrhoids, which are under the skin around the anus.
Hemorrhoids are very common – almost three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time. Many people get hemorrhoids in older adulthood, though people of any age can experience this problem.
Hemorrhoids are common in both men and women and affect about 1 in 20 Americans. About half of adults older than age 50 have hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids have a few causes, the main one being too much pressure in the rectum. This can include eating a low fiber diet, constipation, chronic diarrhea, poor hydration, pregnancy and childbirth, obesity, regular heavy lifting of weights or heavy objects, and longer time on the toilet. If left untreated, hemorrhoids can worsen over time, to the point where they can require surgery to remove.
It’s also important to note that as you age, your risk of hemorrhoids increases, as the tissues that support the veins in your rectum and anus weaken over time.
Most common symptom of hemorrhoids is bleeding. You may see bright red blood on toilet paper or blood in your stool. Rectal pain, burning, and itching are other symptoms. You may feel swollen area around anal canal and bulge coming out, requiring hemorrhoids to be pushed back in.
You should talk to your doctor if you suspect you have inflamed hemorrhoids, so treatment can begin. If you see bleeding during bowel movements, or have hemorrhoids that don’t improve even after a week of at-home care, you should talk to your doctor.
Complications from hemorrhoids are rare, but they can happen. It’s possible that anemia could arise through chronic blood loss due to hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids in particular can be “strangulated,” or have their blood supply cut off, which can cause pain. And finally, a hemorrhoid can become thrombosed if a blood clot is formed. While this isn’t life-threatening, it’s certainly painful and may need to be drained.
There are many preventative measures you can take to prevent hemorrhoids from developing. The most important part of hemorrhoid prevention is keeping your stools soft so they can pass easily.
Rubber band ligation is a very common procedure to treat hemorrhoids. During the procedure, your doctor will use a ligator (in our case, the Snyder HemBand) to place a gentle, medical-grade rubber band around the base of your hemorrhoid. The band will cut off blood supply or circulation to your hemorrhoid. This will cause your hemorrhoid to shrink and eventually fall off with a bowel movement in 1-3 days following your procedure, usually without you noticing it. Best of all, the procedure takes less than a minute!
A small rubber band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid using Snyder Hemband by your doctor.
The blood supply to the hemorrhoid is reduced by the generation of compression, causing it to shrink and eventually fall off. This forms a small scar at the base of the hemorrhoid which will heal in just a few days.
The banding is done above the dentate line, a section of rectum with a very low number of pain-sensitive nerves. This is why the procedure is painless.
For most patients, the process is painless. The banding is done above the dentate line, a section of the rectum with a very low number of pain-sensitive nerves.
It takes less than a minute to place a band around the Hemorrhoid.
Most major health insurance plans cover the procedure, though we recommend calling your insurance company prior to having the procedure done to verify eligibility and coverage.
No, the banding does not require any bowel cleansing preparation. The method is done in a doctor’s office and does not require anesthesia.
Follow your doctor’s instructions. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for 2-3 days. Avoid staying seated for a long period of time. Increase high-fiber diet. Drink plenty of water. Follow the dietary guidelines provided to you by your doctor.