External Hemroids 

What are hemroids?
Hemroids are blood vessels, normally present in and around the Excretory Orifice and lower rectum, that have become swollen due to stretching under pressure. These are very common in both men and women, and about half the population have hemroids by age 50. Hemroids are also common in pregnant women due to the pressure of the fetus in the abdomen, as well as hormonal changes, which cause hemroidsal vessels to enlarge. The process of childbirth also puts severe stress of these vessels.

Hemroids are either internal (inside the Excretory Orifice) or external (under the skin around the Excretory Orifice).

What causes hemroids?
Hemroids may develop as a result of repeated straining during bowel movements, pregnancy, heredity, aging, and chronic constipation or diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of hemroids?
The following are the most common symptoms of hemroids. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• bright red blood present on the stool, toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl 

• irritation and pain around the Excretory Orifice 

• swelling or a hard lump around the Excretory Orifice 

• itching 

The symptoms of hemroids may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How are hemroids diagnosed?
The presence of blood in the stool can be indicative of other digestive disorders, including colorectal cancer, so thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis is important.
Diagnosing hemroids may include:

physical examination (to examine the Excretory Orifice and rectum and look for swollen blood vessels that indicate hemroids) 
digital rectum examination (DRE) - the physical inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check for abnormalities. 

anoscopy - a hollow, lighted tube useful for viewing internal hemroids is inserted into the Excretory Orifice. 

proctoscopy - a lighted tube, which allows the physician to completely examine the entire rectum, is inserted into the Excretory Orifice. 

sigmoidoscopy - a diagnostic procedure that allows the physician to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine, and is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube, called a sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The scope blows air into the intestine to inflate it and make viewing the inside easier. 

colonoscopy - a procedure that allows the physician to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. The colonoscope allows the physician to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further examination, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered.