Hemorrhoids arise when veins in the anal canal and perianal region become enlarged, stretched out, or swollen, and most of time will be painless, and perhaps, even go unnoticed. About half, to two-thirds of people will actually develop internal or external hemorrhoids during their lifetime.

Internal hemorrhoids are covered by mucosa, a lining that is not very sensitive to touch. Conversely, external hemorrhoids are just covered by skin, which makes for a much more sensitive experience.

Internal hemorrhoids are broken down by grade:

• Grade I‐ are minor, non-prolapsed or protruding, and is treated fairly conservatively, oftentimes with a quick diet tweak and an over-the-counter cream.
• Grade II‐ are prolapsed, but spontaneously return inside the anus without interference. Again nonsurgical, conservative treatment therapies are often taken, which generally cause, at most, minimal discomfort.
• Grade III‐ are prolapsed, but do not go back inside the anus without manual intervention. In some cases, these are still fixed by nonsurgical methods, but depending on the borderline severity of condition, and amount of discomfort and tolerance therof, may need surgical attention.
• require a prompt surgical consultation, as these hemorrhoids remain outside the anus and are quite bothersome.

External hemorrhoids are generally divided into either symptoms of the acute thrombosis type, or the hygiene/skin-tag type. Again, depending on the severity of your issues, a non-invasive dietary shift and topical application are first prescribed, with surgery a bit rarer when compared with that of internal issues. Surgery for external hemorrhoids is often put off because it is painful and requires more recovery time.

The good news is that, many hemorrhoidal symptoms can be treated with simple lifestyle and dietary changes. Of course, over-the-counter topical treatments exist, but if you're averse to any type of "conventional" medication, you can start by soaking the anal area regularly in plain warm water ten to fifteen minutes, two to three times a day. Make sure to keep the anal area clean, gently cleansing the skin around your anus with warm water. No soap, alcohol or perfume-based wipes needed. Gently dry with a hair dryer. Avoid dry toilet paper.

When it comes to your diet, the first change almost unanimously suggested is increasing your fiber and water intake. Drink more water than you think you need. Start with two full glasses in the morning (not at once) before you leave the house, making sure you provide regular intervals throughout the day to consume additional glasses. Concerning food, certain ones are not as affected by our digestive enzymes, and will pass right through us, absorbing a percentage of water many times its weight. This produces a bulky, but soft stool, making it easy to eliminate without straining being a major factor that causes hemorrhoids.

Add these fibrous foods gradually to your diet (or risk excess gas, cramping, or diarrhea):

• Whole Grains (wheat, rice, oatmeal)
• Legumes and beans
• Fruits (apples, oranges, raisins)
• Stringy or green leafy vegetables (carrots, cabbage, green beans)

Fiber Supplements Include:

• Psyllium
• Flaxseeds

Lastly, in addition to fiber, consider these tips to promote a better bowel movement:

• Decrease excess straining during bowel movements, only go when you have to.
• Decrease the time you wait to go.
If your job requires long periods of sitting, take breaks, get up and move around for a brisk walk.
• Even regular exercise can promote bowel function and health.
• Try sitting on a doughnut shaped cushion, taking pressure off your sensitive area.
• Don't scratch hemorrhoid area, and don't over-wipe.
• Wear breathable fabrics that are soft and less irritating than synthetic materials.
• Decrease your weight, placing less strain on your bottom, and, of course, your body overall.
• Reduce the amount of time you spend on the toilet (leave the book, kindle or magazine elsewhere)

There are also these inexpensive natural remedies you can use at home:

1. 1. A soft heated medical dressing: You can use potatoes that have been blended from small chunks until liquefied, moist, and spread over a thin gauze, folded in half and applied to the hemorrhoidal area for five-to-ten minutes to smooth pain. You can also use a warm, wet teabag that contain natural tannins to produce a similar effect. Also rich in tannins, dabbing hemorrhoids with cotton, soaked in undistilled witch hazel will reduce swelling and pain.
2. If fiber isn't making the cut, try a natural laxative in conjunction to it. A diet with just one-to-three prunes a day will help soften stools. These are short-term solutions however. Also, if you're going to try a softener other than prunes, make sure to avoid ones with mineral oil, since it can interfere with the absorption of some essential nutrients, such as Vitamin A.
3. If itching or burning has you down, use apple cider or distilled white vinegar to help provide relief. The astringent properties can facilitate the shrinking of swollen blood vessels. Also, a topical application of chamomile or calendula can help with this as well.
4. Try frequently applying aloe vera gel to the anal area for soothing relief, and the promotion of healing.

If these solutions fail to work, and your hemorrhoids do not disappear on their own, it may mean they've become thrombosed. If this is the case, you may need to explore other options, including surgery. Luckily, there are now minimally invasive procedures to treat the source of hemorrhoidal disease without surgical excision, stapling or banding. A.M.I. has created the (DG) HAL/RAR system, a single system that offers two procedural options, (Doppler Guided) Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation (HAL) and Recto Anal Repair (RAR) (Proctoplasty).

Benefits Include:

• Good control, with rapid identification of troubled site.
• Minimal discomfort, minimally invasive, with only general sedation required.
• High success rate of over 90%, with no complications reported.
• Minimal post-operative pain and fast recovery time

If this is something that is of concern to you, Agency for Medical Innovations, Inc. will pair interested parties with doctors that are licensed to perform the procedure in your area. Contact A.M.I. today to discover these beneficial advancements in hemorrhoid treatment, and feel relief in no time!