Do I Have Hemorrhoids?

Do you feel itching or irritation in your anal region?

Do you feel pain or discomfort in your anal region?

Do you have swelling around your anus like palpable soft lump/lumps near the anus?

Do you have (palpate) soft, grape-like mass protruding from the anus resulting in pain and irritation?

Do you have to strain during bowel movements?

During bowel movements, have you noticed small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet paper, dripping into the toilet or covering the surface of the stool, especially if the stool was very hard or very large?

Do you have painful bowel movements?

Do you sit for long period of time on the toilet trying to pass stool?

Do you sit for long periods of time during the day?

Do you have chronic diarrhea or constipation?

Do you have fecal leakage (you are unable to control bowel movements, so your stool leak unexpectedly from the rectum)?

Are you overweight?

Does your workout include regular heavy lifting?

Do you have a family history of hemorrhoids?

It is unlikely that you have hemorrhoids. If your symptoms persist for some time now, contact your doctor to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

There is a good chance that you are suffering from hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are not a life-treating condition and in many cases they can go away on their own without any treatment. If your hemorrhoids don't cause you much trouble, then you just need to practice anal hygiene on a daily basis and make some life style changes. However, if your hemorrhoids are painful and you cannot sit down or they interfere with your daily activities, be sure to contact your doctor. Depending on the type and characteristics of the hemorrhoids, they can be treated in different ways.