Talk of hemorrhoids make most people laugh or crack wise. And while it’s true that hemroid problems might not be the worst thing that could happen to a person, it can cause itching, anal bleeding and in some more extreme cases a great deal of pain and discomfort.

If you do have itching, discomfort when using the bathroom, blood on the toilet paper or in the fecal material or any pain in the anal area, you may potentially have a hemroid condition, but a medical exam is necessary to rule out any potentially more dangerous conditions. A full picture of your colon health requires a more invasive procedure than just a quick visual exam. Either a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy may be required. With a sigmoidoscopy, an endoscope is used to view the end of the colon, while with a colonoscopy, a tool called a colonoscope is used to see the large intestine.

I know that having a colonoscopy does not sound pleasant, but it is an easy exam and unfortunately necessary. At age fifty, everyone should have an initial colonoscopy. People with the potential to have more serious conditions need be looked at by the age of forty. After the exam, your doctor will recommend follow up exams every fews years just to ensure that your colon remains healthy. Most people think the actual colonoscopy is the worst part, but the bowel cleaning done one day in advance is in fact the worst part. The colon needs to be clear of all material before the procedure, so sometimes laxatives are given to help things along. One thing to keep in mind, your whole colon is being cleaned and you will not stray far from the bathroom. Since the laxative cleansing step is unpleasant, you will be happy to know the exam is pretty tame, you will have a sedative and perhaps some pain medication as well.

Only a doctor can eliminate some other diseases that can have the same effects as hemroids. These can include colon cancer, polyps, rectal cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which are inflammatory bowel diseases. Sometimes you can have other problems such as tears and infections. These diseases can mirror hemorrhoid problems so further examination is required.

Since hemorrhoids are much more common than the other medical conditions, it is more likely than not that your diagnosis will be hemorrhoids, but a doctor’s visit is necessary before you start any hemroid treatment. Working with your doctor is the best way to live a long fit life.  

Tags: hemroid, Health, diagnosing hemroids, hemorrhoids, hemroids, hemroids treatment