In this article you'll find out the 5 most common symptoms of hemorrhoids, if you suffer from more than a couple of these symptoms - then it's very likely you have hemorrhoids.

Firstly, for those of you who are unsure, let me explain what hemorrhoids are and then I'll move on to talking about the 5 main symptoms of hemorrhoids.

Put simply, hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in or around the anal canal. They look like lumps of tissue and can vary in color from deep blue or red through to your natural skin color. Hemorrhoids occur in around 4% of the American population and are most common in people aged between 45-65 years.

That covered - let's move on to explaining the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

The first sure-fire hemorrhoid symptom is bright red blood in or on the stool, or blood on the toilet paper. If you notice streaks of blood in or on the stool or on the toilet paper during or after bowel movement then it's fairly likely that you have hemorrhoids. This is one of the first things hemorrhoid sufferers notice, but not everyone who suffers from hemorrhoids will experience this.

The second sure-fire hemorrhoid symptom is when you have a feeling that you can't finish passing a stool. You may have noticed that not matter how hard you try - you just can't pass the stool. In this case you most likely have an internal hemorrhoid inside your anal canal that is giving you the same feeling you would experience when you are passing a stool.

Another hemorrhoid symptom is itching sensation inside or at the entrance to the anal canal. This symptom is noticed by the vast majority of hemorrhoid sufferers with various degrees of pain. Some sufferers may notice a small tickle inside the anal canal (or outside in the case of external hemorrhoids) while others may suffer intolerable itching that can become painful.

The fourth hemorrhoid symptom is relevant for those suffering from external hemorrhoids. Lumps or mounds of flesh will be able to be seen around the anus. These can vary in size from about as big as a pea to bigger than a golf ball. External hemorrhoids can be sensitive to touch in some cases, especially as they become bigger.

Mucus emissions are a slightly less common symptom of hemorrhoids but it is worth mentioning here because it does occur in some people.

This has been a brief overview of hemorrhoid symptoms - to read more about hemorrhoid symptoms you can visit the links below.

The problem of hemorrhoids is quite common and so one needs to initiate immediate action, once the disorder is ascertained. Hemorrhoids symptoms usually vary from one person to another, but the experts can easily diagnose them. However, it is always essential to know the common symptoms of this health hazard so that it can be treated on right time by consulting a doctor. Bleeding hemorrhoids is very common and the person suffering with it usually bears itching, soreness, burning and inflammation feeling in the affected area.

Generally, there are two types of hemorrhoids, external and internal and depending on these two types, the symptoms of this disease vary from one other. If the exterior portion of the anus gets affects and the swelling pokes outside then it the external form of hemorrhoids. It is extremely painful and the common symptoms include rectal area pain. It creates an obstruction in the bowel movement resulting in immense pain. Lumps are also formed in that area and this result in the clotting of blood under the skin. It generally starts with swelling and irritation and if these symptoms are not recognized in the earlier stage, it may worsen the situation and result in bleeding hemorrhoids.

This type of hemorrhoids is formed inside the anus, and they are less painful in comparison to the external ones. Feeling of swelling and irritation is a symptom of internal hemorrhoids, which can even bleed, if it gets worsened. Whenever such kind of symptoms is felt, it is extremely important for you to visit a doctor for hemorrhoids treatment as soon as possible.