Hemorrhoids, North Carolina

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If you’re searching for relief from painful hemorrhoids, North Carolina residents find help from the compassionate team of doctors at Caroline Digestive Health Associates. Discomfort in the rectal area can lead to distracting pain and a significant loss of your quality of life. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, you may wonder what your options are for treatment. Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, develop in the anus and lower rectum and can be difficult to get rid of without medical intervention by a North Carolina doctor. If you believe you are suffering from hemorrhoids, contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates.

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins located in the rectum and anus similar to varicose veins. They can be internal, in the lowest part of the rectum and anus, or external, which develop underneath the skin near the anus. All humans have clusters of veins in the lower rectum. When these veins become swollen, this painful condition develops.

Internal hemorrhoids do not typically cause pain, but they do cause bleeding. Many North Carolina patients may not realize that they have internal hemorrhoids until they prolapse, bleed, or extend beyond the anus. External hemorrhoids are more painful, since the skin around the anus becomes severely irritated. Blood clots, itchy lumps, and irritation can lead to additional complications for North Carolina patients with the external condition.

Common Causes of Hemorrhoids

Doctors are unable to pinpoint the exact cause of hemorrhoids, but numerous activities and risk factors can increase their presence in North Carolina patients. Common causes of hemorrhoids include:

• Straining during bowel movements
• Increased pressure due to pregnancy
• Chronic diarrhea and/or constipation
• Increased pressure due to obesity
• Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
• Eating a low-fiber diet

As we age, hemorrhoids become more common. By age 50, half of older adults experience one or more common symptoms of hemorrhoids. While this condition is not usually dangerous, hemorrhoids can be a significant and painful intrusion in daily life.

Common Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

The symptoms of hemorrhoids typically depend on where they are located. As stated before, many people in North Carolina do not realize they have internal hemorrhoids until they experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Bleeding during bowel movements
• Protrusion through the anal cavity
• The presence of bright red blood on toilet paper or in the stool

External hemorrhoids are more painful and North Carolina patients may experience the following symptoms:

• Itching or irritation around the anus
• Pain and discomfort
• Bleeding
• Swelling around the anus
• Painful, sensitive lump near the anus

Sometimes, a blood clot can form in an external hemorrhoid leading to severe pain, inflammation, swelling, and a hard lump near the anus. The term for this condition is thrombosed hemorrhoid.

How Do You Treat Hemorrhoids?

Simple preventive measures can reduce your risk of hemorrhoids in North Carolina. Simple home remedies include the following:

• Exercise regularly. Obesity is a significant risk factor when it comes to hemorrhoid development, and regular exercise can help you stimulate your bowels. Aim to get at least 20 minutes of moderate exercise each day.

• Seek topical treatments. Many drugstores in North Carolina sell hemorrhoid creams that can help soothe pain in the anal area while hemorrhoids heal. Placing an ice pack on the affected area can also reduce swelling in the area.

• Sit on cushions. Sitting on a soft surface rather than a hard surface can help reduce swelling and reduce the pressure.

• Facilitate regular bowel movements. Holding stool in can lead to increased pressure and straining during bowel movements. Scheduling time to go to the bathroom or going to the bathroom immediately can reduce hemorrhoid risk.

Potential Hemorrhoid Complications

Hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous for North Carolina patients. However, untreated and severe hemorrhoids can lead to complications such as anemia, if an internal hemorrhoid does not receive adequate blood supply, you can develop a “strangulated” hemorrhoid which can lead to severe pain.

Contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates Today

Are you suffering from hemorrhoids in North Carolina? Seeking treatment can help alleviate your symptoms and avoid additional complications. Contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates by calling (704) 486-5194 to discuss your treatment options and connect with a doctor near you.

Carolina Digestive Health Associates

Carolina Digestive Health Associates is a group of gastroenterologists serving the residents of North Carolina. We have fourteen highly rated GI doctors who provide service at eight offices and five endoscopy centers. Our doctors work in all major hospitals in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

Our physicians, together with our highly trained physician assistants and nurse practitioners, cover a wide range of specialties and are skilled in diagnosis and treatment. Whether you have chronic problems with your digestive tract, a recent, acute attack or simply want a checkup, our team is here in North Carolina to help you reach your healthcare goals.

What We Do

Our team of gastroenterologists in North Carolina is trained to diagnose gastric conditions involving the esophagus, the stomach, the liver, the colon and the rectum. Once we make a diagnosis, we can form a treatment plan tailored to the specific patient and their needs. Some of the common conditions we treat include:

• Constipation
• Bloating and gas
• Celiac disease
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Colorectal cancer
• Diarrhea
• Esophageal cancer
• Fatty liver
• Gallstone
• Gastritis
• GERD
• Hemorrhoids
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Lactose intolerance
• Obesity
• Ulcers

Our team has experience diagnosing and treating these conditions and many more. North Carolina residents in the Charlotte area have come to trust our expertise and our friendly customer service.

Procedures

Our specialists cover a wide variety of fields within gastroenterology and can perform an array of procedures once they have made a diagnosis. Some of the more common procedures are:

• Rectal manometry. This test determines if the rectum is functioning properly and helps to diagnose fecal incontinence and chronic constipation.
• Breath test. A GI doctor can diagnose certain digestive conditions by measuring the gases which a patient exhales.
• Colonoscopy. By means of a camera inserted into the body, doctors can view the intestine and look for polyps, ulcers, bleeding, inflammation and even cancer.
• Polypectomy. If doctors discover polyps during an endoscopy, they will use this procedure to remove them.
• Upper endoscopy. Similar to a colonoscopy, this procedure views the esophagus, stomach and upper duodenum for inflammation, ulcers and abnormal growths.
• Esophageal manometry. This test is to determine the strength of the muscles that you use to swallow, which can affect conditions like heartburn.
• Feeding tubes. A GI doctor can insert a feeding tube when necessary if a patient is not able to feed him or herself.
• ORBERA Gastric Balloon. The FDA has approved our non-surgical program to help patients lose weight and form healthy habits to maintain a stable, healthy weight in the long term.

Research

At Carolina Digestive Health Associates in North Carolina, we participate in many clinical research trials. Medicine is a field that constantly advances, and we encourage and participate in this process to discover new and better ways to diagnose and treat digestive disorders. Sometimes, these trials provide treatment options to our patients in North Carolina that they would not be able to get anywhere else.

When Should You Come to See Us?

Persistent or severe symptoms are reasons to schedule a consultation with us in North Carolina. We also recommend regular screenings starting at age 45 for colon cancer. You may need to see a general practitioner first to get a referral. Come see us if you experience any of the following:

• Constipation. Fewer than three bowel movements a week means constipation. If it persists, contact us.
• Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem, but if it doesn't go away it could be a sign of something more serious.
• Heartburn. A burning your stomach and chest could be your stomach acid inflaming the lining of your esophagus.
• Stomach pain. Severe stomach pain could mean you have a gallstone. More persistent, burning pain could be an ulcer.
• Bloating. If you bloat after a meal, your body might be reacting to something you ate. A gastroenterologist can diagnose the cause.
• Hemorrhoids. If the veins in your rectum are swollen or feel irritated, you may have hemorrhoids, which a GI doctor can treat.
• Blood in your stool. If your stool is black and tarry, or if there is red in the water after a bowel movement, you may have a severe problem that requires immediate attention.

For any of the above symptoms or a cancer screening in North Carolina, contact Carolina Digestive Health Associates for a consultation. Call us at (704) 486-5194 and let one of our highly skilled gastroenterologists assist you.