What Is The Difference Between A Hemorrhoid And An Anal Fissure?

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What's The Difference Between A Hemorrhoid And An Anal Fissure?

An anal fissure is a small tear just inside or outside the anus

A hemorrhoid, also referred to as piles

Is a swollen vein in the lowest part of your rectum and anus.

Hemorrhoids bulge and get irritated

When the walls of the blood vessels in the anus are stretched

This stretching is common during a bowel movement

A key difference is that the bleeding from a hemorrhoid comes about

Because of the swelling in the veins as they get stretched

Whereas bleeding from an anal fissure

Is because of a tear in the anal passage

It's common for people that experience bleeding after a bowel movement

To be confused over whether they have a fissure or a hemorrhoid

The only way to know for certain is to have an examination

From a qualified medical professional, e.g. a Physician or a Surgeon.

If you're too embarrassed to see a Physician you could ask a partner

To take a photograph and then compare this to images in Google

Both conditions are extremely painful

Because the anus has hundreds of nerve endings

There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal and external.

Internal hemorrhoids occur within the rectum

There are fewer nerve endings inside of the rectum

And so they generally don't hurt or cause pain

External hemorrhoids on the other hand can be extremely painful

Because they occur in the skin around the anus

A prolapsed hemorrhoid can bulge outside of the anal sphincter

Hemorrhoids are caused by pressure in the lower rectum

This can occur because of pregnancy, obesity, lifting a heavy object

Or straining during a bowel movement

Each of these factors weakens the tissue around the anus

This in turn causes the skin to blow up, similar to a tiny ballon, as it fills up with blood

Treatments for hemorrhoids are available from a Pharmacy

If you know for certain that you have a fissure then watch the other videos on this channel

If you don’t understand why you experienced a fissure

Or you’re fed up of the pain that your fissure is causing

Help is available inside of our free Facebook group: Heal My Fissure