
Juliet Cohen asked:
Gardner’s Syndrome is a genetics condition. Gardner’s syndrome is characterized by the occurrence of many polyps in the colon together with tumors outside the colon. The further colonic tumors may consist of osteomas of the skull, thyroid cancer, epidermoid cysts, fibromas and sebaceous cysts. The numerous polyps in the colon predispose to the growth of colon cancer. The polyps most frequently start to form at teenage years. And colon cancer generally arises 10 to 15 years there after. The standard age of diagnosis of familial polyposis is 25 years of age, with cancers developing at age 20 to 30.
However, cancers may occur anywhere from late infancy to the sixties. The reason of Gardner syndrome is inherited, with autosomal dominant bequest. A gene known as the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) is nearby in over 80% of those with this disease. A person with the disease thus has a 50% chance of passing the gene on to each of their children. Most people who obtain the gene almost always manifest the disease although the expression of the disease can vary markedly from person to person. Gardner’s syndrome has vanished as a separate entity. It has been merged into familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
It is at this time considered basically a phenotypic variant of FAP. There are no specific symptoms. If the polyps become very large, they may cause intestinal bleeding, Intussusception, or Intestinal Blockage. People with this disease also have a superior risk of developing dermoid tumors, abnormalities of the retina, skin tumors, and bone tumors. Polyps are found in the stomach in over half of those affected with this disease. However, stomach polyps usually do not become cancerous. Treatment of the cutaneous manifestations of Gardner syndrome depends on the symptomatic or cosmetic nature and the location of the cysts.
Treatment is related to that employed for ordinary cysts and engages excision or utilize of intralesional steroids if the cysts are inflamed. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is helpful in several cases refractory to more conservative treatment choices. Sigmoidoscopies will be wanted afterward to make sure no cancer develops in remaining parts of the intestine. This will be determined by one’s primary care doctor and the surgeon who performed the surgery. Periodic upper endoscopy is utilized to make sure that cancer does not develop in the stomach or intestine, and will require to be continued even after the colon is removed.
on February 21st 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Aaron Devito asked:
Acid reflux disease is a condition in which the stomach acids abnormally reflux into the esophagus. This phenomenon is irregularly experienced by most people, most especially after eating.
Our body uses gastric and stomach acids to break down the food that we eat. Normally, after the digestion in the stomach, the food is delivered by the digestive muscles to the intestines for extra digestion. But in patients who have acid reflux disease, the acidic stomach contents are moved back to the esophagus, which then causes inflammation. Cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, pregnancy, and fatty foods are some factors which worsens acid reflux conditions.
Our present knowledge about acid reflux based on medical researches tells us that this disease is common in men as it is in women. There is no sexual preference. Moreover, the prevalence of acid reflux is more frequent in people of 40 years of age or more.
Symptoms of acid reflux may be typical or atypical. But based on the diagnosis of acid reflux patients, only 70% of those who have this disease manifest typical symptoms.
Typical or esophageal symptoms concern indicators which are related with the esophagus. Such symptoms include the following:
Heartburn. This is a condition in which the patient feels a painful burning feeling in the esophagus. The pain often develops in the chest and may swell to the neck or throat. This is most probable to occur in relation with these activities: after a heavy meal, lifting, bending over, and lying down. Based on one study, about 75% of acid reflux patients experience this symptom at night. These nigh-time patients also tend to experience more harsh pain than those whose symptom occurs at other times.
Dyspepsia. Researches show that about half of acid reflux patients have dyspepsia. This is a syndrome which consists of pain and distress in the upper abdomen, nausea after a meal, and stomach fullness. It is not a rule however, that those who have dyspepsia have acid reflux.
Regurgitation. This is when the gastric contents back up into the pharynx and sometimes as far as the mouth. In cases where the acids have spilled into the tracheobronchial tree, respiratory complications can be stimulated.
There are many instances, though, that acid reflux patients do not manifest symptoms such as regurgitation and heartburn. Instead, they experience atypical or extraesophageal symptoms which include the following:
Throat Symptoms. Although it does not commonly happen, acid reflux patients suffer from symptoms that occur in the throat. Hoarseness, the feeling of having a lump in the throat, dry cough are undergone by those who have acid laryngitis, a throat symptom. Patients can also have difficulty in swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia. In critical cases, the food may get trapped in the throat or even choke, which can result to a severe chest pain. Other throat symptoms are chronic sore throat and persistent hiccups.
Vomiting and Nausea. When a patient suffers from nausea which persists for weeks, he may have acid reflux. There are few instances where vomiting can occur as often as once a day.
Respiratory Symptoms. Coughing and wheezing are counted as respiratory symptoms. These result from the overrunning of the stomach acids into the tracheobronchial tree creating bronchoconstriction.
Acid reflux disease can last for several months if not given proper medical attention. Drug treatment may only be required for a short time. But when the symptoms tend to repetitively occur, the drug treatment may have to be reapplied.
on February 21st 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Juliet Cohen asked:
Aplastic anaemia are a condition where leg of the marrow produces no sufficiently new warrants to top up blood warrants. Anemia is the condition of having fewer red blood cells than normal, or fewer than needed to function properly. One known cause is an autoimmune disorder, where the white blood cells attack the bone marrow. In many cases, the etiology is impossible to determine, but aplastic anemia is sometimes associated with exposure to substances such as benzene, radiation, or to the use of certain drugs, including chloramphenicol, carbamazepine, felbamate, phenytoin, quinine, and phenylbutazone. Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as some used in pesticides and insecticides, may cause secondary aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia may also be caused by high doses of radiation or certain chemicals or viruses. Some medications, such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics, can cause secondary aplastic anemia.
A rare and serious condition, aplastic can develop anaemia on any time. In nonplastic anaemia, your body ceases producing enough new cells of blood. This means you’re fatigued and at higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Many drugs are associated with aplasia mainly in the base of case reports but at a very low probability. The term ‘aplastic’ means the marrow suffers from an aplasia that renders it unable to function properly. Typically, anemia refers to low red blood cell counts, but aplastic anemia patients have lower counts of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There is evidence that in many people aplastic anemia is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system is reacting against itself. The immune system attacks the bone marrow and stops it from making enough blood cells.
Some evidence prove in many occupies to the hypoplasia anemia is one kind of active immunity disease. This meant, the bodily immunity system gets up the response to oppose itself. Symptoms of aplastic anemia are caused by low numbers of blood cells. The severity of a person’s symptoms depends on the number of blood cells. Aplastic anemia can come on suddenly or develop slowly over weeks or months. Symptoms of aplastic anemia include fatigue, bruising, bleeding, shortness of breath, fever, chills, and less frequently, bone pain. The illness may be brief, or it may become chronic. Low numbers of red blood cells can cause a person to feel tired or weak, be short of breath and look pale. Low numbers of platelets can lead to easy bleeding or bruising and tiny red spots under the petechiae, or bleeding that is hard to stop. Without treatment, it may progress and become fatal.
Diagnosis can be only made on leg of the marrow research. Treating aplastic anaemia involves abolition of the immune system, an impact reaches by daily medicine prerecording, or, a procedure hazardous in stricter cases, a leg of the marrow transplantation, a potential cure but a risky procedure. Treatment for aplastic anemia may include medications, blood transfusions or a bone marrow transplant. Once considered nearly always fatal, aplastic anemia has a much better prognosis today, thanks to advances in treatment. Medical therapy of aplastic anemia often includes a short course of anti-thymocyte globulin and several months of treatment with cyclosporin to modulate the immune system. Mild chemotherapy with agents such as cyclophosphamide and vincristine may also be effective. Untreated aplastic anemia is an illness that leads to rapid death, typically within six months.
on February 21st 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Juana Cruz asked:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be traced or detected with signs. What are the symptoms of IBS? There are many of them. Aside from their differences, not all these so-called symptoms are present in all patients. Meaning, there are patients who have constipation, while others have diarrhea, then others are bloated frequently, and so forth.
This disorder does not develop into any form of cancer and is not fatal. It is known as functional bowel syndrome, spastic bowel, spastic colon and irritable colon. However, it is not categorized under Inflammatory Bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis.
Here are the most common symptoms of IBS:
1. Bloating and gas,
2. Presence of mucus in the stool,
3. Constipation,
4. Frequent diarrhea in the morning,
5. Feeling that you have not fully completed a bowel movement after you have one,
6. Strong feeling or urge to defecate
7. Abdominal pain
8. Cramping that often go away after a bowel movement
As mentioned above, IBS has different symptoms, among them is straining or cramping. It is felt by patients who have the inability to completely eliminate their bowels, which leads them to much discomfort and pain.
Some amounts of mucus are present in their stool. On the other hand, individuals with diarrhea defecate many times in a day, and their stools are watery, unlike those from constipated sufferers, which are compact, hard and lack fluid content.
An IBS diagnosis is the first important step to treating IBS. This means that you will undergo some tests conducted by a physician to really ensure that you have IBS. Among the tests that will be handled are x-rays, stool sampling and blood testing. Also, he will conduct colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is done, which involves a flexible tube with a camera, which is then inserted in the anus to give the doctor a better view of your colon. There are also physical examination needed to check and ensure you have IBS.
These so-called tests are not really specifically designed for potential IBS patients. There are no tests designed for that. What these tests do is to look at your symptoms and determine the particular condition you have.
on February 20th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Alvin Hopkinson asked:
Acid Reflux and indigestion is often mistaken as one and the same. Both disorder stem from too much acid production but differ in several ways. The main difference lies in the manner by which acid was prompted to cause disorder. Indigestion and its acid irregularity may lead to acid reflux but the latter will not develop any further into indigestion.
Acid reflux and digestion can be further differentiated by simply defining the inherent characteristics of the two disorders. Acid reflux or also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the result of eating too much and not providing the stomach enough gravitational pull to hold the food down. Hence, the acid in the stomach regurgitates upward and gets trapped in the esophagus.
Indigestion on the other hand is a result of eating too many and too fast. The rapidity by which the stomach is filled with food promotes the production of too much acid which can cause the heartburn or chest pain.
The chest pain is a result of being unable to pass air through the mouth or what we commonly know as belching. Once we are able to pass air by belching, the chest pain discomfort of indigestion becomes relieved. If not, we can then resort to taking in antacids.
Symptomatic Differences Between Acid Reflux and Indigestion
In acid reflux, the trapped acid in the esophagus causes the burning sensation in the mid-chest, at the back of the breast bone and in the middle of the abdomen. One may even experience dry cough, difficulty swallowing and symptoms of asthma. Smoking, having hernia, being overweight and other intestinal problems may cause acid reflux or heartburn.
Furthermore, acid reflux if it often occurs and improperly treated may lead to cancer of the esophagus. The cancer disorder is life threatening hence, the need for proper medication should be addressed.
On the other hand, indigestion or medically known as dyspepsia which is mainly caused by over-eating at a rapid pace causes the digestive system to work double-time. Hence, too much acid is produced but remains in the stomach as it tries hard to dissolve all the food stored. .
Discomforts will come in the form of chest pains, gassy episodes and shoulder pains due to the trapped gasses which you couldn’t manage to release by simply burping. These conditions in indigestion can lead to acid reflux heartburn.
Acid Reflux and Indigestion – Differences in Treatment
Acid reflux as a form of a disorder is medically declared as incurable. Intakes of antacid merely provide temporary relief but the persistence of your poor diet and improper lifestyle promotes recurrence. If bouts of heartburn or chest pains persist despite the intake of antacids, chances are the sufferer is on the verge of a heart attack. Immediate medical attention is therefore a must.
If acid reflux becomes a constant occurrence during and after every meal, the esophagus is highly threatened of being eroded by the constant presence of acid in its lining. The treatment therefore now requires a more intent and complex form of medication with the possibility of surgery as a last resort.
Indigestion on the other hand can be cured by simple antacids. If no immediate relief is achieved, the doctor may prescribe an antacid that has stronger dosage or composition. However, if both of these remedies do not provide relief from chest pains, your indigestion or dyspepsia may have already developed into an acid reflux disorder.
In which case, proper medical attention is now called for as the chest pains may also indicate more than just an acid reflux disorder. Persistence in chest pains despite intakes of antacid may indicate the onset of a heart attack.
The efficiency of the treatments in both acid reflux and indigestion can only be achieved if the foremost requirement of changing your diet and your lifestyle takes place.
Alvin Hopkinson is a leading health researcher in the area of natural remedies and acid reflux treatment. Discover how you can get rid of your heartburn for good using proven and effective acid reflux natural remedies, all without using harmful medications or drugs. Visit his site now at http://www.refluxremoval.com
on February 19th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Charles Browwn asked:
Hair restoration is the surgical procedure aimed at permanently correcting male pattern baldness. It is a generic term to define a number of methods used to restore hair to balding areas. Hair restoration methods involve topical, oral and surgical treatments.
Various methods of hair restoration surgery
There are various methods of hair restoration surgery for you to choose from. The two chief methods that you can opt for are – a.) Scalp Flap Surgery and b.) Scalp Reduction Surgery.
A. Scalp flap surgery – It entails moving a flap of skin and underlying tissues from one scalp area to the other. The surgeon first cuts out a section of the scalp where there is no hair growth He then replaces it by a flap of hair-bearing scalp. The size and placement of the flap will depend on your requirements. You do not need to worry about the scar. It will be covered by the relocated hair.
The objective of this hair restoration method is used to rectify a non-traumatic cosmetic defect. It is also used to repair a traumatic injury site and restore its functionality and cosmetic appearance. Another use of scalp flap surgery is repairing a skin defect caused by congenital malformation. The advantages of this hair restoration surgery procedure include natural frontal hairline, proper hair placement in temporal areas, hair pattern distortion avoidance, etc. However, it runs the risk of certain side effects. They include permanent hair loss at donor sites, scarring at donor or recipient sites, blood supply failure to the flap, etc.
Scalp Reduction Surgery – Scalp reduction surgery is the hair restoration procedure usually meant for people with posterior baldn
B. ess. It is into removing bald scalp and bringing the half-bearing scalp closer to it to fill in the bald area in the scalp. In this hair restoration surgery the surgeon reduces the baldness by cutting out a segment of the bald scalp skin. The hair restoration process in scalp reduction surgery has two parts. The first part includes the surgical removal of the bald portion of the scalp. The other part entails hair-bearing scalp being upwardly stretched to replace the bald scalp that has been removed. You many need the scalp reduction surgery to be conducted in combination with the surgical procedure called brow lifting. This procedure removes the frown lines from the forehead and crow’s feet from around the eyes. In your case this surgical procedure can be carried out through scalp extension or scalp expansion device. In this technique the hair-bearing scalp skin is stretched causing better coverage to bald areas of the scalp. This hair restoration surgery is often combined with hair transplantation. What’s the objective? Well, one possible objective is to “fine tune” hair restoration in your anesthetically sensitive areas. One example of such an area is your frontal hairline.
The scalp reduction surgery can be conducted before, during or after hair transplantation. The appropriate time will be identified mainly on the basis of your need. How to decide which scalp reduction technique is correct for you? That depends on various factors like your hair loss degree, laxity of the scalp, donor hair amount, etc. The possible complications and side effects that you may face include scarring at the suture lines, scalp skin “stretch back” at the excised bald area and central midline scar called slot deformity.
Recent advances in hair transplantation – The emergence of some relatively recent advances in hair transplantation techniques offer better surgery outcomes for pattern baldness. These new hair restoration techniques are less complicated and painful.
Follicular Unit Transplantation – At present it is considered to be the most reliable hair transplant technique. Its success rate is almost 10 per cent. A follicular unit is a physiological unit that needs to be extracted and transplanted as an intact unit. Its advantages include natural looking hair, more effective surgery due to the use of stereoscopic microscopes for dissection, avoidance of damage to the follicular unit, etc. However, it is a time consuming procedure.
Direct Hair Implant (DHI) – The minimally invasive hair transplant procedure for follicular hair transplant, DHI is free from the use of scalpel, stitches and a donor strip. The technique is based on the transportation technique named Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). FUE exemplifies the latest extraction procedure for follicular unit transplants procedure. FUE includes the use of custom-made, precise micro-surgical tools. There is direct extraction of follicular units one by one, instead of dissection. One main advantage of FUE is possibility of quality control during the transplantation procedure. Besides, it is a simple and painless procedure.
Choosing the right clinic
Be very careful while choosing your hair restoration clinic. A standard clinic will successfully help you realize your hair restoration dream. On the other hand the selection of a wrong clinic will lead to a faulty service. The various factors that determine the credibility of a clinic include the feedback of former patients, legal status (i.e. whether any lawsuits are pending against the clinic), the professional kills of the surgeon, etc.
on February 18th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Jo Mark asked:
Are you looking for a cure for migraine headache pain? Do You Suffer from excruciating migraine headaches, painful sinus headaches, or throbbing cluster headaches? Do you get headaches more often than once a week? Do your headaches bring on any of the following symptoms?
Nausea or vomiting
Throbbing pain
Sensitivity to light, noise, or odors
Blurred vision
Upset stomach
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Feeling very warm or cold
Fatigue Dizziness
Bright flashing dots, lights, or zig-zag lines
Unfortunately, you are not alone if you answered yes to any of the questions above. Worldwide, about 90% of the world’s population suffers from headaches. Many people use traditional over-the counter remedies like aspirin and ibuprofen to alleviate headache pain. But these painkillers have a downside. If taken on a regular basis over long periods of time, they can result in serious health conditions, including internal bleeding and serious kidney disease. So, what is the cure for migraine headache symptoms?
The first line of defense in seeking a cure for migraine headache pain is to drink plenty of water. This will not completely get rid of your headache, but it will reduce the severity of the symptoms. If you suffer from even mild dehydration, it can worsen your migraine symptoms and prolong the duration.
Many people have found a cure for migraine headache pain by taking a simple warm bath. If possible, lower the lights in your bathroom or use soft candle light. This will also reduce some of the negative visual effects that you may be experiencing. Another cure for migraine headache pain is to use a cool wet compress on your head where the pain is most severe. This technique is best applied in a quiet darkened room. This will reduce light or noise sensitivity and may alleviate the nausea too. As the compress warms, re-wet it to cool it off, then re-apply it.
Many people claim that a gentle face massage is a good cure for migraine headache pain. Using a circular motion, gently massage the area just below your cheek bones. This relieves sinus pain and stimulates blood circulation (which is an important factor in any cure for migraine headache pain).
Another massage cure for migraine headache pain focuses on your temples. To apply this technique, sit in a quiet room and make the lighting very dim. Close your eyes and try to relax. If possible, get your partner to perform the massage. Using a circular motion, gently massage the area surrounding your temples.
Visit my website and get more information on treatment remedies that offer a Cure for Migraine Headache Pain.
on February 14th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Juliet Cohen asked:
Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to a disease in which the lining of the colon (the large intestine) becomes inflamed. It occurs at any age. The disease may involve the entire colon (pancolitis), only the rectum (ulcerative proctitis) or, more commonly, somewhere between the two. The amount of the colon affected usually predicts the severity of the disease. The disease usually begins in the rectum or the rectum and the sigmoid colon (the lower end of the large intestine) but may eventually spread along part or all of the large intestine. In patients with ulcerative colitis, ulcers and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon lead to symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Like Crohn’s disease, another common IBD, ulcerative colitis can be painful and debilitating and sometimes can lead to life-threatening complications. Ulcerative colitis is a rare disease, with an incidence of about one person per 10,000 in North America. The disease tends to be more common in northern areas.
Ulcerative colitis is defined as mild, moderate or severe, according to the frequency of diarrhoea, the presence of blood and how generally unwell the person is. Ulcerative proctitis, which is confined to the rectum, is a very common and relatively benign form of ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is more common than Crohn’s disease. The disease may involve the entire colon (pancolitis), only the rectum (ulcerative proctitis) or, more commonly, somewhere between the two. It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders and to another type of IBD called Crohn’s disease. Blood tests and stool samples help diagnosis, but the key test is internal examination of the bowel, and biopsy. It most commonly begin during adolescence and early adulthood, but they also can begin during childhood and later in life. Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free.
Causes of Ulcerative colitis
The common causes and risk factor’s of Ulcerative colitis include the following:
The exect cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown.
Abnormal activation of the immune system in the intestines.
A family history of Ulcerative colitis.
Smoking.
Generalized enhanced reactivity against intestinal bacterial antigens.
Environmental factors such as nutrition and exposure to various infections.
Symptoms of Ulcerative colitis
Some sign and symptoms related to Ulcerative colitis are as follows:
Loss of body fluids and nutrients.
Weight loss.
Nausea.
Abdominal cramps and pain.
Night sweats.
Fatigue.
Loss of appetite.
Fever.
Extreme tiredness.
Treatment of Ulcerative colitis
Here is list of the methods for treating Ulcerative colitis:
Aminosalicylates, drugs that contain 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA), help control inflammation.
Drugs such as azathioprine and mercaptopurine have been used to maintain remissions in people with ulcerative colitis who would otherwise need long-term corticosteroid therapy.
Taking nutritional supplements to restore normal growth and development in children and teens.
Steroids can help reduce inflammation, but they have numerous side effects, including a puffy face, excessive facial hair, night sweats, insomnia and hyperactivity. Long-term use of these drugs in children can lead to stunted growth.
Laxatives and antidiarrhoeals medicines.
Surgery is used in people who have severe symptoms that are not controlled by medicines, who have unacceptable side effects from medicines, or who have a very high risk of colon cancer because of extensive inflammation in the whole colon.
on February 13th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Juliet Cohen asked:
Aortic valve regurgitation or aortic regurgitation is a condition that occurs when your heart’s aortic valve doesn’t close tightly. From the aorta, oxygen-rich blood flows into the branching arteries and through the body to feed the cells. The body doesn’t receive enough blood, so the heart must work harder to make up for it (compensation) Regurgitation means the valve doesn’t close properly, and blood can leak backward through it. See an illustration of aortic valve regurgitation. This usually doesn’t cause any symptoms or problems. This topic focuses on the more serious cases of aortic valve regurgitation where large amounts of blood flow back across the aortic valve into the left ventricle. Aortic regurgitation can range from mild to severe. Some people may have no symptoms for years. But as the condition worsens, symptoms will appear. Eventually, despite this compensation, the heart may be unable to meet the body’s need for blood, leading to heart failure, with fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Causes of Aortic Regurgitation
The common Causes of Aortic Regurgitation :
Hypertension
Congenital bicuspid aortic valve (person is born with only two aortic valve leaflets, instead of the normal three)
Aortic Dissection
Syphilis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Aortic Dissection
Marfan’s Syndrome
Rheumatic heart disease (caused by untreated “strep throat” in childhood)
Symptoms of Aortic Regurgitation
Some Symptoms of Aortic Regurgitation :
Chest pain .
Fatigue.
Shortness of breath while resting prone.
Usually none until age 40-50.
Swollen ankles and feet.
Shortness of breath on exertion.
Lightheadedness.
Fainting .
Rapid or irregular pulse.
Treatment of Aortic Regurgitation
Beta-blocker medications may slow progression in those with Marfan’s Syndrome .
Vasodilator medications such as ACE inhibitors, hydralazine, and nifedipine can decrease the severity of the regurgitation.
Surgical valve replacement in those with symptoms or significant left ventricular dysfunction.
on February 12th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions

Wael Serag asked:
Hemroids are defined as swollen and inflamed veins of the anorectal area because of increased pressure inside the veins or weakness of the venous walls. They are similar to varicose veins of the lower limb and both share the same pathogenesis and the causes are similar.
According to their location, hemroids are classified into 2 types, external hemroids located outside the anus and internal hemroids located inside the anus.
External hemroids are more common than internal hemroids and are caused by inflammation of the external hemorrhoidal veins.
What causes hemroids?
One or both of 2 main factors contribute to the development of hemroids; 1) Increased pressure inside the veins, and 2) Weakness of the walls of the veins.
Increased pressure inside the veins is usually caused by excessive straining e.g. chronic constipation, chronic coughing, lifting heavy weights, or prolonged sitting or standing.
Weakness of the venous walls is usually genetically determined causing genetic predisposition for hemroids and this explains why hemroids are more common in some families than others.
Other causes of weakness of the venous walls are obesity and pregnancy. Pregnancy actually acts by a double mechanism, as it is associated by increased pressure in the pelvic veins by the pregnant uterus and chronic constipation which is common during pregnancy and the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy lead to weakening of the venous walls.
Symptoms of external hemroids include anal pain with defecation which is the main presenting complaint. Also, some degree of pain or discomfort may be present in the anal region all the time.
Anal bleeding is uncommon and when occurs is usually mild and is usually caused by rupture of the hemorrhoidal veins especially in long lasting cases.
Anal irritation and itching is also present. The hemroidal tissue is felt as a hard mass near the anus. This mass may be painful and tender.
The hemroids may undergo thrombosis which is more common with neglected cases, in which, blood clotting or thrombosis occurs in the blood inside the enlarged veins. When this occurs in a case of external hemroids, they are called thrombosed external hemroids.
When the external hemroids are thrombosed, they turn into bluish discoloration and become severely painful and may ooze blood contributing to anal bleeding.
Diagnosis of external hemroids is very easy, depending on typical symptoms mentioned above and medical examination, where the hemroids mass can bee seen and felt easily as a hard mass near the anus.
on February 10th 2010 in Diseases & Conditions