Understanding the Dangers of Bleeding Hemorrhoids

When you have internal hemorrhoids, you may experience symptoms such as bleeding with bowel movements. In most cases, that blood is unpleasant, but not a medical emergency. But sometimes, that blood could be a sign of a bigger problem. So, what are the dangers of bleeding hemorrhoids? And how can treatment help? Keep reading to find out.

What Types of Hemorrhoids Bleed

Hemorrhoids can be internal, developing inside your rectum, or external, forming around the opening of your anus. Both can bleed, but bright red blood when you pass stool is a more common symptom of internal hemorrhoids. While the bleeding is not usually dangerous, these internal hemorrhoids can be itchy and painful, causing you to seek treatment.

Why Hemorrhoids Bleed

There are several reasons why hemorrhoids may bleed. Most commonly, straining to pass stool can damage the surface of your enlarged blood vessel, causing bright red blood to appear on your toilet paper. However, in some cases, an overly full hemorrhoid may burst, causing more serious bleeding. Rarely, hemorrhoids can damage the skin surrounding them, causing bleeding or even skin cell death. Ideally, by seeking timely intervention for hemorrhoids, you can avoid this medical complication.

Dangers of Bleeding Hemorrhoids

When is it dangerous to have a bleeding hemorrhoid? The problems can begin if a blood clot forms inside the hemorrhoid, becoming thrombosed. Because thrombosed hemorrhoids can rupture, causing you to bleed heavily, it's important to seek immediate medical attention for this condition. Or, better yet, seek hemorrhoid treatment early enough to prevent thrombosis.

Treatment to Prevent Dangers of Bleeding Hemorrhoids

If you already notice blood in your toilet bowl or on your toilet paper when you pass a bowel movement, now is the time to seek treatment for internal hemorrhoids. At the Texas Hemorrhoid institute, we treat stage two and three internal hemorrhoids with hemorrhoid artery embolization (HAE), a minimally invasive procedure that relieves your condition by limiting blood flow to the troubled veins.

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