## What are the risk factors? Hemorrhoids are a vascular disease in which the veins of the rectum are dilated. Nodes form in some areas, which cause painful sensations and may bleed. The main cause is a disturbance of blood flow and outflow in the cavernous corpora of the rectum. Hemorrhoids very rarely occur on their own, and they typically appear with===: - Too little movement: sedentary work or laziness disrupts venous blood flow throughout the body, and the rectum is no exception - Lifting heavy weights: sudden straining of pelvic floor muscles causes a surge of blood and distension of the veins in the rectum - Suffering from chronic constipation: difficulties with defecation lead to overstretching of the rectum and blood stasis in the nodes - Having chronic diarrhea: [diarrhea](https://ul.orna.me/KOge/librarydisease?id=197) causes dilatation of blood vessels and can even lead to a rupture, and the penetration of feces into the wounds causes inflammation ## Overweight overloads pelvic veins Pregnancy and childbirth are additional risk factors for women, as weight gain, weakening of connective tissues, changes in blood flow in the body of the future mother, constipation, and physical strain during labor play a role. It is worth noting that in some cases the situation normalizes itself after the birth of the child, but if this does not happen within a month after delivery, the mother needs to consult with her doctor. ## What are the first signs? In the initial stage, a person has pain, itching, and discomfort in the rectal area. This most often occurs during defecation, but sometimes the discomfort persists when sitting. If nothing is done, there can be bleeding from the rectum, a hemorrhoidal node falling out and a serious inflammatory process in the rectal area. ## What can I do? In the first stage of hemorrhoids, as soon as you feel symptoms of the disease, you should switch to a gentle diet: eat more fiber, vegetables, and fruits, and avoid spicy, fried, and salty foods. Doing so will alleviate the condition, because such food is digested more easily, and the intestines are easier to empty. If constipation is the cause of hemorrhoids, you can take over-the-counter herbal laxatives. Ointments or rectal suppositories can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort. If the condition does not improve, you should be examined by a doctor to understand what pathological processes lead to the formation of hemorrhoidal nodes, and possibly undergo a ligation procedure. This procedure takes only a few minutes and is done in a regular outpatient clinic. A latex ring is put on the node with the help of an anoscope, which squeezes the base of the node and deprives it of blood supply. After a while, the node dies off and falls off with the ring. The procedure is absolutely painless and highly effective.