When it comes to your health, seeing blood in the toilet after passing a bowel movement can be very concerning. In some cases, this could be a symptom of internal hemorrhoids, also known as piles. But in other cases, rectal bleeding could be a sign of cancer. In fact, while this 36-year-old marathon runner dismissed blood in his stool as a sign of hemorrhoids, he actually had stage 2 colorectal cancer! As such, determining the cause of blood in the toilet could be critical to your long-term health. This post will help you determine whether your rectal bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids or cancer.

Blood in Toilet: Color Matters

When you notice blood in the toilet when wiping or after passing a bowel movement, taking careful note of the coloring could help determine the cause of this symptom. As this viral TikTok video recently helped clarify, the color of the blood could help you determine the cause of the bleeding.

If your rectal bleeding is the result of hemorrhoids symptoms, the blood will be bright red in color, much like pizza sauce fresh out of the jar. In contrast, blood related to colorectal cancer may be darker in color.

In addition to rectal bleeding, both hemorrhoids and anal or colorectal cancer can cause protrusions in the anus, as well as changes to your bowel habits. While closely monitoring the color of the blood you see in the toilet, the best way to get an accurate diagnosis is to see a trusted healthcare provider. After, you can begin seeking appropriate treatment.

Hemorrhoid Relief in Houston and Dallas

If internal hemorrhoids are determined to be the cause of blood in the toilet, topical products may help temporarily. However, once you have bleeding, your hemorrhoids are likely severe enough that only a medical procedure will provide lasting relief. In such cases, we encourage you to visit us at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute by requesting a consultation [/tx-appt-link.] In one of our Houston or Dallas area offices, we can review minimally-invasive treatment options such as HAE (hemorrhoid artery embolization) to help you find symptom relief without undergoing invasive surgery.

Why would you choose hemorrhoid embolization (also known as the emborrhoid technique) over other treatments for internal hemorrhoids? And are there other treatment options you should consider? This post breaks down all the important details.

Understanding Hemorrhoids

These are swollen veins in your anus or lower rectum, and they can take two forms: internal (developing inside your rectum) or external (developing outside the anal opening). While external hemorrhoids typically cause more pain, internal hemorrhoids may lead to itchiness, discomfort and/or bleeding.

In fact, chronic bleeding is the most common complaint associated with internal hemorrhoids. And that's why we see many patients coming into our Texas Hemorrhoid Institute who have noticed blood in their stool.

Hemorrhoid Treatment Options in Texas

There are several minimally invasive treatment options for internal hemorrhoids. Some involve changes in lifestyle including modifying your diet; others involve medication or injections; while still others include procedures like a rubber band ligation or sclerotherapy. However, these treatments fail to offer relief to at least 10% of internal hemorrhoid patients.

In the past, that meant your only remaining option was to schedule hemorrhoidectomy surgery.  However, that procedure came with a higher risk for complications. Luckily, there's a newer, better option available: hemorrhoid embolization.

What is Hemorrhoid Embolization?

For approximately 10 years, hemorrhoid embolization has offered minimally-invasive treatment for stage 1 through stage 3 internal hemorrhoids. Unlike other treatment options, hemorrhoid embolization preserves anal tone, so it won’t lead to anal incontinence and won't lead to rectal wounds. Plus, you don't lose the tissue surrounding those hemorrhoids, and you don't need to undergo general anesthesia or stay overnight in the hospital to undergo this procedure. And, within three days of HAE, most patients can resume all normal activities.

While these are all clear benefits, you may wonder, how long does hemorrhoid embolization last? Here again, the news is promising. Because the reported success rate for hemorrhoid embolization is about 90%, whereas many other treatment options come with 49% recurrence rates.

Looking for lasting relief from the discomfort, itchiness and bleeding of internal hemorrhoids, but hoping to avoid invasive surgery, major lifestyle changes or even the high likelihood of recurrence after treatment? Contact the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute Contact the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute Contact the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute to connect with our interventional radiologists. We'll schedule you for a consultation and determine whether you're a good candidate for hemorrhoid embolization.

Several factors can increase your risk for hemorrhoids, including straining to pass a bowel movement, sitting on the toilet for too long, constipation and pregnancy. But what do all these risk factors have in common? They put extra pressure on your lower pelvic region, causing varicose veins to form in and around your rectum.

Now pregnancy hemorrhoids could form due to multiple sources of pressure—from the weight of your growing fetus, to the tendency towards constipation due to increased progesterone levels and, ultimately, the force of labor and delivery.

Of course, when you’re pregnant, you’ll have to focus on treatments that won’t harm your fetus. However, after delivery, if symptoms persist, you’ll be able to explore additional treatment options. So, in today’s post, we’ll focus on managing hemorrhoids during pregnancy and resolving them effectively after you’ve delivered your baby.

How Can I Treat Pregnancy Hemorrhoids?

Whether or not you’re pregnant, lifestyle modifications can help relieve mild hemorrhoids. Diet in particular can help you avoid constipation, limiting pressure on your rectum and reducing your risk for varicose veins in the area.

Focus on increasing your fluid intake, avoiding caffeinated beverages and adding foods that are high in fiber. These efforts can help you keep stool soft, and make it easier to pass bowel movements regularly.

You can also engage in regular exercise, as long as your doctor has cleared you for working out during pregnancy. Look for low-impact activities such as walking or swimming that can boost your blood flow to reduce your hemorrhoid risk without overtaxing your rapidly changing body.

Finally, avoid long periods of sitting, whether on the toilet, a chair or even in your bed. Getting up and moving around regularly will reduce pressure on your pelvic region. And, if you do develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, you can find safe symptom relief by soaking in a warm—not hot—bath, or by applying witch hazel pads to the area of discomfort.

Do Hemorrhoids Go Away After Pregnancy?

Many cases of pregnancy hemorrhoids will resolve after delivery—but that will take time. And that’s especially true since many women experience constipation in the days and weeks after delivering their babies.

But what can you do if you’re still experiencing persistent hemorrhoid symptoms months after delivering your baby? If lifestyle changes and topical treatment options have not relieved your discomfort, it may be time to seek out a medical procedure. And, if you wish to find relief without surgery, we encourage you to request a consultation request a consultation request a consultation with the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute to learn more about Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization (HAE), a minimally invasive treatment for grade 2-3 internal hemorrhoids.

Sitting on the toilet for too long can take a major toll on your health. But why is that the case? Here's what you need to know.

Sitting on the Toilet for Too Long: What's the Problem?

While there’s no specific period of time that’s safe or unsafe when you’re hanging out in the bathroom, experts suggest spending no more than 10-15 minutes doing your business to reduce your hemorrhoid risk. (Ideally, however, you’d avoid distractions like scrolling on your phone, since it can lead to a condition known as ‘TikTok tush’ and finish passing your bowel movement in five minutes or less.) Why is that shorter time-frame so important?

When you sit on the toilet for an extended time period, you compress some of the nerves in your perineum. (The portion of skin between the anus and scrotum for men, or the anus and vulva for women.) So, right off the bat, you may experience numbness in the area. And, your feet and legs could even start tingling once you stand up after finishing your business.

Moreover, when you're sitting too long on the toilet, you put a lot of pressure on your anus and rectum because remaining in this position causes blood to pool in your anal veins. That's true whenever you sit for too long, but perching on the toilet adds extra pressure to the area because the cut-out center of the seat allows the rectum to sit lower than your buttocks. And, with all that pressure, you're more likely to develop hemorrhoids

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are simply veins in your rectum that become enlarged. But why does the pressure of sitting too long on the toilet increase your risk for these enlarged veins? Well, when you're sitting down, the force of gravity allows blood to pool in your rectal veins. That puts pressure on the veins, impeding blood flow and allowing them to bulge. Soon, you may experience symptoms such as pain, itching or bleeding when you pass a bowel movement. (That last symptom is associated with internal hemorrhoids, which form inside your rectum.) At that point, it's time to seek relief with hemorrhoid treatment.

Internal Hemorrhoid Relief in Houston and Dallas

Been sitting on the toilet too long and now you're experiencing unpleasant internal hemorrhoid symptoms? We're here to help! Click here to request an appointment Click here to request an appointment Click here to request an appointment with our interventional radiologists at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute. When you come in, we'll review your minimally invasive treatment options!

After months of indulgence over the holidays, many people are ringing in the new year with new hemorrhoid symptoms. These are caused by bulging blood vessels that form lumps in or outside the anus. Unfortunately many start a new year with this problem because of the changes in their routine throughout the holiday season. So, to help you avoid such issues, we're taking a deep dive into the world of hemorrhoids and holiday triggers. Let's dive in!

Why Do You Get Hemorrhoids?

Risk factors for hemorrhoids include constipation; straining to pass bowel movements; spending too long sitting on the toilet or on an airplane; lifting heavy items, and carrying a pregnancy. And, while these risk factors can pose a threat at any time of year, they are more pressing during the holidays.

Why? From Thanksgiving until New Years, people are prone to overeating, indulging in hard-to-digest treats like alcohol, meat, cheese, and sweets. Unfortunately, that leaves less room for fiber filled favorites like vegetables and fruits, increasing our likelihood for constipation. Add in hours spent sitting in a plane or car while traveling for the holidays, and your hemorrhoid risk will skyrocket. In fact, cases of new hemorrhoid diagnoses rise by about 30% in the initial weeks of any New Year. Could you be about to join those ranks? Here's what you should be on the lookout for as the December 31st approaches.

Hemorrhoid Symptoms That Indicate a Problem

Common hemmorhoid symptoms include pain, itching or lumps in or around the anus. Internal hemorrhoids may bleed, so you might notice blood in the toilet after passing a bowel movement.  Mucus may also be present, on your toilet paper or in your underwear. And you could still feel the need to go to the bathroom after passing a bowel movemement.

Finding Relief with Hemorrhoid Treatment

Mild hemmorhoid symptoms can be relieved with topical creams and by making lifestyle changes like drinking more water, eating more fiber, and reducing the time you spend sitting, especially in the bathroom.

But when symtoms are persistent and moderate to severe, medical treatment will provide a pathway to relief. So, if you want to stop the itching, bleeding and pain of internal hemorrhoids, click here to request an appointment[/tx-app-link]at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute, so you can start exploring minimally invasive treatment options like Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization.

Because they can cause frightening symptoms such as bleeding from the anus, many people wonder, “Are hemorrhoids dangerous?” These inflamed blood vessels that form in or around the rectum and anus typically do not pose a serious health risk. Rather, most hemorrhoid symptoms are merely intrusive and interfere with your quality of life.

You can develop hemorrhoids from lifting weights if you lift too heavy or use incorrect form. If you already have them and are lifting weights, you might make your condition worse.

In this blog post, we cover how lifting weights leads to hemorrhoids, how to prevent them, and treatment options.

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that form in and around your rectum or anus due to pressure. While they are common and typically harmless, the symptoms sometimes overlap with those of colorectal cancer and anal cancer.

This post will help clarify the differences and answer the question, “Can hemorrhoids cause cancer?”

When an internal or external hemorrhoid is too filled with blood, it may burst, causing discomfort and bleeding. This post explains what causes them to pop, how to treat a burst hemorrhoid, and when to seek medical attention.

If you struggle with hemorrhoids for over a year, you might have chronic hemorrhoids. Typically, these swollen vessels in or around the rectum resolve quickly. However, if you have chronic internal hemorrhoids or long-term symptoms, medical intervention may be necessary. This post provides an understanding of chronic hemorrhoids, including causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

What Are Chronic Hemorrhoids?

Small hemorrhoids will often resolve within a few days. However, persistent symptoms can last for over a year or more, becoming a chronic concern and impacting quality of life until you seek hemorrhoid treatment.

Symptoms of Chronic Hemorrhoids

Chronic hemorrhoids, the result of ongoing swelling in the blood vessels of your rectum or anus, most commonly lead to persistent symptoms such as itching, discomfort and bleeding. Other symptoms may include

• Irritation and pain in the area surrounding the anus 
• The formation of a hard lump or swelling around your anus 
• Bleeding or pain with bowel movements
• Noticing bright red blood in your stool, in the toilet bowl or on your toilet paper
• Aching pain in the anus, particularly when sitting down
• Prolapsing from the anus (when an internal hemorrhoid pops out of your anal opening. In some cases, a prolapsed hemorrhoid can be repositioned manually. But if you have grade 4 hemorrhoids, indicating the most severe symptom burden, prolapsing may not be resolved without medical intervention.)

Chronic hemorrhoids can also become thrombosed—that means a blood clot has formed inside the swollen vessels. In turn, they may burst, resulting in temporary discomfort and bleeding or, in some cases, prolonged bleeding that requires medical attention.

Treatment Options for Chronic Hemorrhoids

While chronic hemorrhoids can last for over a year without intervention, even the most persistent should respond to treatment. And the treatment option you select will likely be based on the severity of your symptoms. For expert care and personalized solutions, consult Hemorrhoid Doctors in Texas to address your condition effectively.

How to Get Rid of Chronic Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are graded on a scale of 1-4, based on the severity of prolapse. If you have grade 1, you may be able to relieve symptoms and resolve swelling in the blood vessels by changing your lifestyle and using over-the-counter products, even if you have had them for over a year.

Start by drinking more fluids and eating more foods that are rich in fiber. This can help soften your stool, making it easier to pass bowel movements and helping reduce pressure on your lower rectum.

At the same time, while you’re dealing with persistent symptoms, you can relieve itching and discomfort with products such as hemorrhoid creams or soothing witch hazel wipes. Try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting on the toilet, and cleanse yourself gently after passing a bowel movement to reduce irritation in the area.

Once hemorrhoids have been classified as grade 2 or 3, lifestyle measures alone may not provide sufficient symptom relief. In such cases, a medical procedure such as Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization (HAE) can shrink them by cutting off their blood supply. Performed as an outpatient procedure, without large incisions, general anesthesia or overnight hospital stays, this minimally invasive procedure can provide lasting hemorrhoid relief with less downtime and a reduced risk for complications.

Once you have grade 4 hemorrhoids, you are unlikely to be a candidate for HAE. Instead, you may need to surgically remove them order to resolve symptoms and find lasting relief.

When to See a Doctor for Chronic Hemorrhoids

When hemorrhoid symptoms last longer than a few weeks, or when you experience any type of bleeding from the anus, it’s time to see your healthcare provider and discuss treatment options.

Allowing hemorrhoids to persist without intervention could allow symptoms to progress, leaving you with fewer treatment options. We invite you to request a consultationrequest a consultationrequest a consultation at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute to explore your candidacy for minimally invasive HAE.