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Facts about Diagnosis of Hemorrhoids
If you are experiencing the symptoms below, you must get a confirmed diagnosis of hemorrhoids because some of the symptoms can be disguised as other underlying health problems.Symptoms of HemorrhoidsIf you have been experiencing symptoms in the anal area that include bleeding, pain, itching, and discomfort and think it may be a hemorrhoid condition, you may consider consulting your physician to obtain an evaluation of the hemorrhoid symptoms.Diagnosis of hemorrhoids can be confirmed based on a series of physical exams and your past medical history and it can provide you with the peace of mind that there are no other health problems that exhibit symptoms that are similar to hemorrhoids. In addition to that your physician can provide you with a diagnosis of exactly what type of hemorrhoid condition you have so you can decide on a proper treatment. Digital Rectal ExamYour physician may recommend a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check for growths on the prostate gland or any problems in female reproductive organs. Some of these health problems can cause rectal bleeding which is also a symptom of hemorrhoids. A physical rectal exam involves the insertion of a lubricated digital finger into your rectum and is used to diagnose tumors or any other problems that may be the cause of rectal bleeding. It is also used as a means for checking for hemorrhoid growth on the anal wall.AnoscopyAn anoscopy is also known as a proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and allows your physician to examine the lining of the anal wall and the lower part of the intestine. The purpose of the test is to identify any growths such as polyps and hemorrhoids.An anoscopy is conducted by inserting a hollow tube with a light on the end called a proctoscope or an anoscope inside the anal canal and into the colon. The image of the inside of the anal wall and colon is projected on a screen so your physician can look for any abnormal growth and for hemorrhoids. Barium EnemaA barium enema exam is used to identify problems that may be occurring in the large intestine which can cause symptoms that are similar to hemorrhoids. The exam involves inserting a fluid into the anal area which fills up the colon with a contrasting colored mixture which allows your colon to be displayed in an x-ray. The barium helps to outline the intestine so that any abnormal growths can be visible in the x-ray.ColonoscopyA colonoscopy exam is used to examine the inner lining of the colon for any abnormal growth or polyps that can cause rectal bleeding which is also a symptom of hemorrhoids. During a colonoscopy exam a long thin tube called a colonoscope is inserted into the rectal area and extended into the colon to check for tumors, bleeding, and inflammation.If an abnormal growth is discovered the colonoscope will take a sample for the purpose of conducting a biopsy. The biopsy results will determine whether the growth is cancerous or it should be removed through surgical procedure. As a general rule a physician will usually start by conducting a digital rectal exam and an anoscopy. If you are middle aged or under it may not be necessary to pursue further testing and your doctor will make a confirmed diagnosis of hemorrhoids. If you are older you may need further tests to rule out more serious health conditions such as colon or prostate cancer.
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