If you're having symptoms, and you aren't sure if they could be an indicator of whether or not they are hemorrhoids, you should talk to your physician immediately. While hemorrhoid symptoms are primarily just annoying and uncomfortable, sometimes they can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition- and sometimes hemorrhoids have to actually be repaired using surgery.

The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids are itchiness in the rectal area, pain in the rectal area, and also bleeding during bowel movements. There is the danger of bleeding during bowel movements indicating another, more serious issue- please notify your doctor immediately of any bleeding, especially if it's accompanied by severe pain or unusual bowel movements.

There are some slight differences in external hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids and the symptoms may be different as well- this is where knowing what's normal for your body and being aware of what's going on with you is a good thing to make sure of. Especially if you've never been diagnosed with having hemorrhoids in the past, it can be extremely disconcerting to have pain, bleeding or itching in your rectal area.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids can include rectal pain and streaks of blood on toilet paper after having a bowel movement. This is because blood collects under the skin and causes a hard "knot" or "lump" to form, this is due to a hemorrhoid clotting.

Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids can include bleeding in the rectal area, streaks of blood on toilet paper after a bowel movement, and even bright red blood in the toilet following a bowel movement. Internal hemorrhoids can cause itching because of the fact that hemorrhoids seep mucus, which causes irritation and discomfort- in turn, causing itching.

General discomfort and pain are present in both types of hemorrhoids- although the more severe the pain, the more likely there is to be a serious health condition involved. If internal hemorrhoids are causing extreme rectal pain, this could be an indicator that the hemorrhoid has become strangulated- in this situation, emergency treatment is necessary. Overly large hemorrhoids may actually bulge from the rectum and cause pain and discomfort, the bigger the hemorrhoid is, the more pain and discomfort- and the more of a risk that strangulation could occur.

Hemorrhoids are extremely common in pregnant women, those with an insufficient amount of fiber in their diets, those with bowel movement issues (either persistent diarrhea or or constipation), and those who are overweight.

If you have never had hemorrhoids before, and suddenly begin having symptoms, consult your physician immediately, there are several different types of colon cancers and rectal cancers that cause symptoms similar to hemorrhoids and other bowel movement changes as well- especially in those over the age of 50. The bottom line is, if you have sudden changes in bowel movements and pain or bleeding symptoms, it's important to consult your physician immediately.

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