What are internal hemorrhoids? What are the symptoms of internal hemorrhoids?

Many people are unaware that they have internal hemorrhoids until they become serious. The incidence of internal hemorrhoids is relatively high, but because the symptoms are not very obvious, many patients neglect them. So what are the symptoms of internal hemorrhoids?

1. Blood in the stool Bleeding during or after defecation is bright red in color. Sometimes there is a small amount of blood on the surface of the stool, or the toilet paper is stained red. Sometimes it is dripping or spurting blood. Because feces abrades the mucosa, or because of excessive force during defecation, the pressure in the blood vessels increases, causing varicose veins to rupture, resulting in spurt-like bleeding during defecation. Long-term and repeated bleeding, or multiple heavy bleeding, can also cause anemia.

2. Prolapse: As the volume of hemorrhoids increases, they are squeezed by feces during defecation, causing them to gradually separate from the muscle layer and prolapse out of the anus. Sometimes 1-2 hemorrhoids prolapse at the same time, and sometimes all hemorrhoids and rectal mucosa prolapse together. Initially, it only comes out during defecation and can return to its original position after defecation. For those with more severe symptoms, the prolapse must be pushed back by hand or rest in bed before it can be restored. For those with more severe symptoms, in addition to prolapse during defecation, it may also occur with any exertion, walking, coughing, sneezing, squatting, etc. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are very susceptible to infection and often become incarcerated due to inflammation, edema, and pain, making reduction difficult.

3. Painful simple internal hemorrhoids are generally painless, and sometimes only cause a feeling of heaviness in the anus or difficulty in defecation. If the hemorrhoids are inflamed and swollen, there may be thrombosis or incarceration inside, which will cause pain; if they are prolapsed and not repositioned in time, the pain will worsen; if incarceration occurs, there is ulceration and necrosis, causing inflammation and edema of the anal margin, the pain will be severe and the patient will be restless.

4. Mucus flows out of the rectal mucosa due to long-term stimulation by hemorrhoids, causing increased secretions; in the late stage of internal hemorrhoids, secretions often flow out of the anus due to relaxation of the anal sphincter. In mild cases, it will flow out during bowel movements, and in severe cases, it will flow out naturally even when not having a bowel movement, contaminating the underwear and causing great inconvenience to the patient. When internal hemorrhoids prolapse, the discharge is greater.

5. Itching: Due to the stimulation of secretions or prolapsed hemorrhoids, the area around the anus becomes damp and unclean, causing eczema and itching. The itching is sometimes caused by the reflex action of prolapsed internal hemorrhoids.

6. Internal hemorrhoid attack: The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids are usually mild and without much pain. However, if there is constipation or diarrhea, or if you are too tired, the symptoms will suddenly worsen, which is called an internal hemorrhoid attack. When internal hemorrhoids attack, the hemorrhoids suddenly swell, protrude, burn, and hurt, and feel throbbing and like a foreign object. Due to the squeezing of dry feces, it is easy to rupture, bleed, and cause tenesmus. The attack lasts for 3-5 days. If treated properly, the swelling will gradually dissipate, the blood clots will be absorbed, and the hemorrhoids will soften and shrink. Sometimes the swelling does not go away, and hemorrhoids may become necrotic due to infection, suppuration, ulceration or obstructed blood circulation.