Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. This common problem can be painful, but it’s usually not serious.

Veins can swell inside the anal canal to form internal hemorrhoids. Or they can swell near the opening of the anus to form external hemorrhoids. You can have both types at the same time. The symptoms and treatment depend on which type you have.

There are millions of Americans who suffer from hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins in the rectum or around the anus.  Internal hemorrhoids are generally painless but can cause bleeding.  Colorectal cancer may also cause rectal bleeding, so it is advisable that you see your doctor to rule out cancer or other serious causes of rectal bleeding.

Many people have hemorrhoids at some time. So what causes hemorrhoids? Too much pressure on the veins in the pelvic and rectal area causes hemorrhoids. Usually, the tissue inside the anus fills with blood to help control bowel movements. If you strain a lot to move stool, the increased pressure will cause the veins in this tissue to swell and stretch. This can cause hemorrhoids.

Internal hemorrhoids however, may bleed when irritated. Untreated internal hemorrhoids can lead to two severe forms of hemorrhoids: namely prolapsed and strangulated hemorrhoids. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids and are so distended that they are pushed outside of the anus. If the anal sphincter muscle goes into a spasm and traps a prolapsed hemorrhoid outside the anal opening, the supply of blood is cut off, and thereby the hemorrhoid becomes a strangulated hemorrhoid.

The most commonly seen symptoms of both internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids include bleeding during bowel movements. You may see streaks of bright red blood on toilet paper after you strain to have a bowel movement.

With internal hemorrhoids, you may see bright red streaks of blood on toilet paper or bright red blood in the toilet bowl after you have a normal bowel movement. You may see blood on the surface of the stool.

Often Internal hemorrhoids are seen as small, swollen veins in the wall of the anal canal. But they can be large, sagging veins that bulge out of the anus all the time. They can be painful if they bulge out and are squeezed by the anal muscles. They may be very painful if the blood supply to the hemorrhoid is cut off. If the hemorrhoids bulge out, you may also see mucus on the toilet paper or stool.