What are hemmroids?

Hemmroids (also called piles) are lumps of tissue that exists in the anal canal. These lumps are embedded in elastic fibres and muscles and they contain blood vessels.

It is often heard that hemmroids would be a type of anus abnormalities while in fact hemmroids are found in all people, independent of their age or sex. Haemmoroids are simply a part of the normal construction and anatomy of the anal canal itself.

Sometimes though, the hemmroidal pockets grow larger and haemmorroids can then start to cause symptoms like pain, bleeding or itching. This is the disease form of hemoroidal activity, which is not normal. The level of hemmorroidal abnormality varies between different individuals. 

A note from the authors: In this summary we frequently use the term hemmroids and if not otherwise indicated, we thereby refer to the abnormal state of hemmroids (the diseased state), as normal hemmroid tissue is always present in a normal and healthy person.

Hemmroids (which should be pronounced hemm-o'-royd) are known since the beginning of time. The earliest notions we know of are in old medical writings from many cultures such as the Hindu, Babylonians and the Egyptians. The word itself stems from the Greek word for blood (haema) and from the Greek word for flowing (rhos). The word was first used by Hioppocrates when he explained the bloodflow in the anal veins.

The hemmroidal tissue in a healthy person will work like a one-way valve, preventing any leaking from anus in between bowel movements. If you ever felt that you had to strain your butt musculature to keep it in (because no toilet in sight), they you have actually used your hemmroidal tissue to do the job. These tissues also prevent leaking during transient strains like a sneeze or a cough. It is only in its diseased form the hemmroidal tissue will become so enlarged that its normal functions are set aside and it becomes more of a discomfort to the patient.

Hemroids - how common is it?

Although hemorrhoids have been around since the dawn of time, the frequency of the abnormal (diseased) version of hemmroids is on the increase due to our changed diets and lifestyle. Around 50% have now had these hemmroids before their 50th birthday. It means that this is now a large problem, affecting more than ten million people in the US alone. 

The frequency of hemmroids is approximately the sane in men and women and it reaches a peak for the demographic group of 45-65 year olds. The causes of diseased hemmroidal tissue can be things like chronic constipation, long term diarrhea, pregnancy, diet in general etcetera. 

Since hemmroids are considered an embarrasing condition, there is a large grey area in statistics. There is probably a fairly high threshold for reporting hemmroid problems or seeking proper medical assistance.

Hemmroids - diagnose and treatment 

If you think you may have a hemmroid condition, it is wise to start with the collection of information on the disease so you can spot the symptoms. Remember though that if rectal bleeding is among the symptoms you have, it is very important that you get a proper medical diagnose as soon as possible as there are some more dangerous conditions with this symptom as well.

If it is a case of hemroids, then you can always start with the simple but effective things like exercising more, avoid sitting for long hours without a break, change your diet to one with more fiber content and drink a lot of water. There are also some non-prescription medicines and natural herbal remedies available that are known to have good effect.

Note: Hemmroids are sometimes spelled haemorrhoids, hemroids or hemmorroids but even more exotic mis-spellings like hemoroids or hemmorrhoids show up sometimes. The correct name for the condition is hemorrhoids.

Common symptoms of hemmeroids (haemmoroids) are

• Rectal (anal) pain during bowel movements
• Anal itching from haemmroids
  
• Mucus discharge in the anal area from haemmoroids
  
• Anal bleeding, often bright red blood visible on toilet tissue
• Presence of lumps just outside anus from haemmorroids
  
• General feeling of not being emptied even after a bowel movement