Now we don’t mean to ‘butt’ in on your day, but we really wanted to share this helpful advice from Dr. Marjorie Dixon on the subject of hemorrhoids and other issues that can arise in your posterior.

Hemorrhoids:

Did you know that 50% of women and men will have a hemorrhoid issue by the age of 50? Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins of the rectum and anus. They can be internal — up and inside the rectum — or they can be external — at the anus just along the outside. You may feel swollen areas, and a common complaint is that they’re very itchy.

One telltale symptom of a hemorrhoid is bleeding with defecation. If it’s painless bleeding, it’s most likely an internal hemorrhoid. If you have an internal hemorrhoid, don’t strain when going to the bathroom as the hemorrhoid can pop out and bleed. External hemorrhoids tend to be more painful, not to mention itchy and swollen. Sometimes the pain can be so severe that it feels as though someone is stabbing you — that could be caused by a clot that occurs in a hemorrhoid, called a thrombus.

If there is ever blood in your stool, you need to mention it to your medical professional — do not self-diagnose.

Anal fissure:

An anal fissure is a cut that occurs in the skin around your anus, so every time you go to have a bowel movement, it feels like you are being cut. When people have this they tend to not want to go to the bathroom because it is painful, but that will likely only make things worse. The colon serves as an absorption tool, so the longer your stool sits in it, the harder it gets. If this happens, the next time it’s time to go to the bathroom, it could be even more painful and your anal fissure may become chronic.

Prevention:

Avoid straining with bowel movements. Do not hold your bowel movement in until you get home from work, because then when the time comes to go may you may end up straining yourself to go or you may become constipated, which can exacerbate the problem.

Always remember to take care of your body and eat healthy foods containing fiber, because, as Dr. Marjorie Dixon says, “if you love your gut, you’ll have a friend in your butt.”

But all jokes aside, this is a very serious topic and if you think you have a problem down there, be sure to visit your physician.