What are hemorrhoids? Well, if you have had them, than you certainly know what we are talking about. Hemorrhoids are painful abnormally swollen veins in the rectum and anus. They are very similar to varicose veins but in a different area, obviously. Bulging hemorrhoid veins will swell, burn and itch. They can bleed and are very painful and uncomfortable.

What causes hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are caused by too much pressure in the rectum which forces blood to stretch the walls of the veins. Some common causes of hemorrhoids are:

?Constant sitting

?Straining with bowel movements (from constipation or hard stools)

?Diarrhea

?Sitting on the toilet for a long time

?Severe coughing

?Childbirth

?Heavy Lifting

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Hemorrhoids are difficult to get rid of completely and tend to recur with less straining than it took to cause them in the first place. Good habits and simple medical treatment usually control hemorrhoids well. Surgery is only recommended in very severe cases.

Getting Treatment

You can try to avoid the things that cause hemorrhoids but if they do occur, you have different options for treatment. There are several over the counter treatment options that may help you. If your OTC treatment doesn't work or if your symptoms get worse, you should contact your doctor for more advice and treatment. There are also some things you can try to do to avoid hemorrhoids such as use care when lifting heavy objects. You should avoid holding your breath and always exhale as you lift. If you have a job that requires you to site all day, you can try to stand and walk around about 5 minutes every hour or so.

Doing what you can to avoid hemorrhoids will prevent you form having to find treatment later on.