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Why haemorrhoids are dangerous for men and women: possible consequences and complications

If symptoms of haemorrhoids are detected, it is necessary to undergo comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise, the disease provokes complications that pose a potential threat to health and life. Not knowing why haemorrhoids are dangerous, many make a serious mistake – they refuse qualified medical care and self-medicate. This leads to aggravation of the pathological process, the emergence of more pronounced painful symptoms.

Introduction

To find out what haemorrhoids are and why they are dangerous, it is necessary to determine the mechanism of development of this disease. The presented pathology has a specific nature and multifactorial etiology.

Haemorrhoids are a disease accompanied by pathological dilation of the veins that form haemorrhoids – choroid plexuses that feed the rectal mucosa. The main cause of the pathology is a violation of the outflow of blood in the haemorrhoidal veins, which leads to vasodilation, deterioration of local blood supply and subsequent inflammation.

Provoking factors:

  • sedentary lifestyle;
  • excessive physical activity;
  • bad habits;
  • defecation disorders;
  • pregnancy, childbirth;
  • varicose veins of the legs.

When considering why haemorrhoids are dangerous, it should be noted that the frequency and nature of complications depend on the form of the disease.

Depending on the location of the affected haemorrhoids, there are:

  1. External haemorrhoids. Accompanied by inflammation of the choroid plexuses located below the dentate rectum. This form is characterized by a pronounced symptomatic picture. The most common manifestations are intense pain and local bleeding.
  2. Internal haemorrhoids. Accompanied by damage to nodes located above the dentate pair in the intestinal mucosa. This form is accompanied by less intense symptoms; in the early stages it is latent and appears only when several haemorrhoids are involved in the inflammatory process.

External haemorrhoids are painful. However, it is easier to treat and is less likely to be accompanied by complications. More often they occur against the background of internal haemorrhoids, occurring in acute or chronic form.

The main cause of complications with haemorrhoids is the lack of effective treatment. At an early stage, the disease does not pose a direct threat, but due to the lack of therapeutic intervention, the pathological process worsens. Due to poor blood supply, the walls of the veins become less elastic and durable. The affected vessels become inflamed, sometimes with simultaneous infection. As it progresses, the frequency of node loss increases, which is also fraught with subsequent complications.

If you have symptoms similar to haemorrhoids, you should promptly seek medical help. An examination allows you to clarify the diagnosis, choose treatment and reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences. The risk of complications cannot be completely eliminated; severe pain, significant blood loss or deterioration of health require urgent evaluation.

Consequences of haemorrhoids

The risk of complications directly depends on the stage of the disease. Early forms of haemorrhoids do not have a noticeable effect on the body. Therefore, if you treat the disease at an early stage, the likelihood of complications is eliminated.

The consequences of haemorrhoids can be both local and general. In the early stages, the patient may not realize that he is sick due to the absence of pronounced symptoms. But in the later stages, complications of haemorrhoids develop, affecting the entire body. Some of them are potentially life-threatening and therefore require immediate medical attention.

Consequences of haemorrhoids in men

Due to anatomical features and congenital predisposition, haemorrhoids are more common in men than in women. The increased frequency is also explained by increased stress and a sedentary lifestyle, which causes blood stagnation in the pelvic organs.

Complications are also more common, especially since in men the disease often occurs in a chronic form. It is accompanied by less intense symptoms, but provokes irreversible changes in the affected nodes.

The most common complications of haemorrhoids in men:

  • irreducible prolapse of inflamed haemorrhoids;
  • bleeding and anemia due to constant blood loss;
  • infectious damage to inflamed tissue;
  • prolonged constipation due to impaired peristalsis;
  • swelling of the anus;
  • dysfunction of the anal sphincter.

Having determined why haemorrhoids are dangerous in men, it is important to note that the disease can provoke more serious consequences. With prolonged inflammation with simultaneous stagnation of blood and cell degeneration, tissue necrosis is possible. In rare cases, it spreads to the wall of the rectum and can lead to perforation.

Consequences of haemorrhoids in women

Among women, pathology is less common, but this does not pose any less danger. Without timely treatment, complications of varying severity develop. To eliminate them, auxiliary therapy will be required.

Common complications of haemorrhoids in women:

  • anal fissures;
  • bleeding;
  • strangulation of haemorrhoids;
  • prolapse of nodes from the rectum;
  • vein thrombosis;
  • infectious lesion.

When considering why haemorrhoids in women are dangerous, you need to take into account that for many, the pathology develops during pregnancy due to increased pressure on the intestines and decreased motor activity. Haemorrhoids that occur in acute form in the later stages and during childbirth pose a threat not only to the mother, but also to the child.

Due to damage to vascular nodes, the likelihood of birth injuries, severe forms of anemia and other pathological phenomena increases. Therefore, active prevention should be carried out during pregnancy to reduce the risk of negative consequences.

The most common complications that occur in both women and men are described below. They pose a serious threat and, as a rule, have an extremely negative impact on the general condition of patients.

Bleeding

Blood stagnation leads to degeneration of the cells that form the walls of blood vessels. As a result, they become brittle and are damaged even with minor impacts. Therefore, patients with complicated forms of haemorrhoids regularly experience bleeding.

Bloody discharge also occurs in the early stages. Most often they appear after bowel movements or physical activity. In complicated forms of haemorrhoids, bleeding may occur even after low-intensity body movements.

Due to the constant loss of blood loss, patients develop anemia. Against the background of this disorder, the number of red blood cells – blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen to cells – decreases. In severe cases, anemia leads to oxygen starvation of the brain, which can lead to seizures, stroke and other serious pathologies.

Anal swelling

Pathology occurs due to infringement of the affected choroid plexuses. When a haemorrhoid prolapses, it does not return back due to spasm of the anal sphincter and subsequently begins to swell.

This complication is accompanied by severe pain. The patient experiences a sensation of a foreign body in the anus. Due to stagnation of blood, the swollen haemorrhoid dies, which is accompanied by an unpleasant odor and bleeding.

Purulent paraproctitis

Due to impaired blood circulation, local inflammation develops. Often the process is accompanied by the addition of a bacterial infection. Inflammation spreads to healthy tissue and affects subcutaneous fatty tissue, causing paraproctitis.

Purulent inflammation of the fiber is accompanied by the accumulation of exudate in the tissues surrounding the intestines. If left untreated, sepsis develops – a condition that, without medical intervention, leads to death.

Necrosis (death) of haemorrhoidal tissue

Due to prolonged stagnation of blood, cells in the affected area do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. Because of this, they die and necrosis develops. The dead node becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which is fraught with the formation of paraproctitis and sepsis.

Consultation at the clinic

The high likelihood of complications indicates the need for high-quality diagnosis and treatment. Attempts to get rid of the disease on your own only lead to negative consequences, so you should seek professional help.

The services of highly qualified proctologists are available at the Haemorrhoid Treatment Center, an advanced clinic that uses innovative methods of therapy. Sign up for a consultation (check the cost when making an appointment) to receive detailed information about diagnostics and treatment at the clinic.

Questions and answers

Are haemorrhoids dangerous?

Complications arise if the disease is not treated in a timely manner. The pathological process involves the vessels located around the rectum. Constant blood stagnation, varicose veins and tissue inflammation lead to the development of complications, including potentially life-threatening ones.

What are the dangers of haemorrhoids during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, it is important to tell your doctor about pain, blood, and changes in stool, and to follow agreed upon recommendations. Haemorrhoids by themselves usually do not prevent vaginal birth. Significant or repeated bleeding can lead to anemia and requires investigation, but placental abruption should not be presented as a common direct complication of haemorrhoids. If you experience weakness, dizziness, excessive blood loss, or a sharp deterioration in your condition, you should urgently get medical help.

Are haemorrhoids contagious?

The disease is caused by pathological changes in the venous nodes that are not associated with the activity of any specific pathogenic microorganisms. Simply put, haemorrhoids are not an infectious disease. Therefore, they cannot become infected through airborne droplets or through contact with a sick patient.

Sources and clarifications

Identified medical inaccuracies are clarified in the material. Methods, contraindications and recovery depend on the individual situation; information helps you prepare for the consultation.

ASCRS Haemorrhoids Guidelines 2024 · NIDDK: Haemorrhoidal Disease

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