Hemorrhoid Types

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids can be a source of discomfort and concern for many. At N.A. Hemorrhoids Centre-Calgary, we prioritize your well-being and offer expert insights as well as personalized treatments for rapid and effective relief.

Hemorrhoids are also known as piles and present as swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus. They are similar to varicose veins that you might develop on your legs. Many people ignore the discomfort until it becomes unbearable pain.

Types Of Hemorrhoids

Generally, hemorrhoids are classified into two main types – Internal and External.

Some also add other categories, such as mixed or combined hemorrhoids, which form above and beneath the dentate line. In the Guoyi Proctology Therapy system, an even segment division is used based on size and location.

Internal Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are found within your rectum and above the dentate. They commonly go unnoticed as the rectum has no nerves that can detect pain. Over time, the hemorrhoids will start to push outside the anus and may prolapse. Internal hemorrhoids may not cause pain unless they become prolapsed. They can range in severity from Grade I to Grade IV. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, anal pain, itching, and irritation.

Prolapsed internal hemorrhoids

This is usually an advanced stage of internal hemorrhoid where the hemorrhoids prolapse below the anal cavity. This happens as the hemorrhoidal tissues become weak. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, anal pain, itching, and irritation.

Thrombosed Hemorrhoids

External hemorrhoids are characterized by blood clots. The clots form when veins become inflamed and the blood supply is cut off. When this occurs, the hemorrhoids cause clot formation under the skin. This type can be extremely painful. Symptoms include palpable blood clots, rectal bleeding, anal pain, as well as itching.

External Hemorrhoids

Inflamed and swollen veins below the dentate line or skin growth at the anus region. The most common symptoms include difficulty cleaning the anus region after bowel movements as well as pain from the inflammation or blood clots in veins. Symptoms include pain in the anus, enlarged hemorrhoidal nodes, rectal bleeding, and thrombosis.

Circumferential External Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are more commonly described in terms of their size, severity, and number. Circumferential External Hemorrhoids surround the entire circumference of the anal opening, which commonly require surgical removal.

Mixed Hemorrhoids

Mixed hemorrhoids describe inflamed and swollen veins above and below the dentate line. Major symptoms are typically a combination of both internal and external hemorrhoids and can include bright red blood-covered stools, prolapsed hemorrhoids, difficulty in cleaning the anus region after a bowel movement, itchiness, and mucous discharge.

Circumferential Mixed Hemorrhoids

This type of hemorrhoid is a Grade 4 internal hemorrhoid. They are described as circumferential hemorrhoidal prolapse combined with an external component. It is the most challenging type of hemorrhoid for both patients and their healthcare professionals.

Grade of the Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are usually stratified by the grade of prolapse of the internal components.. N.A. Hemorrhoids Center adopts the Guoyi Proctology therapy system for assessing and treating also external and mixed hemorrhoids as part of our treatment protocol.

Grade 1

Grade 1

  • Some bleeding with bowel movements
  • Some itchiness & discharge
  • No prolapse
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Grade 2

Grade 2

  • Some bleeding with bowel movements
  • Some itchiness & discharge
  • Extends outside of the anus but resolves spontaneously
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Grade 3

Grade 3

  • Enlarging hemorrhoid
  • Prolapses upon defecation and will not retract spontaneously
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Grade 4

Grade 4

  • Persistent pain
  • Fully prolapsed
  • Cannot be pushed back inside the anus
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Cause of Hemorrhoids and Risk Factors

Hemorrhoids can be caused by increased pressure in the lower rectum.

Common factors include:

  • Straining during bowel movements
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • A sedentary lifestyle

When to seek a professional physician?

Hemorrhoids are generally not considered a serious medical condition. However, persistent symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out other potential issues.

Symptoms & Signs

The most common signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids regardless of their grade include:

  • Itching or irritation
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Bleeding during bowel movements (e.g., bright red blood)
  • Lump or swelling around the anus
Our Anorectal Treatment- Guoyi Proctology Therapy

Guoyi Proctology therapy— a unique naturopathic modality that combines both minor-surgical and non-surgical procedures with BZS (Ba Zhi San) series ointment, aiming to resolve anal diseases at their root.

The main benefits of Guoyi Proctology Therapy are:

Minor Surgical Treatment

Minor surgical techniques use local anesthesia to perform the incision and excision in a pain-free manner. After that, the full therapeutic effects of the Ba Zhi San ointment are leveraged to ensure the sphincters remain intact. This non-invasive procedure is reserved for addressing specific symptoms. The procedure spans 10 to 40 minutes and is carried out in an outpatient setting.

It is suitable in the following situations:
Some basics about minor surgical treatment include:

Non-Surgical anorectal Treatment

Our exclusive BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments medicine can detoxify and relieve anal bleeding, perianal pain, and itching. The pharmacological effect dissolves decay and promotes muscle growth, drying of hemorrhoid roots, and wound healing. This helps to resolve hemorrhoids.

Non-Surgical Anorectal Treatment is suitable for:
The benefits of this treatment include:

Post-treatment phase of anorectal disease

Since we understand the importance of post-treatment care, we take a very unique approach to this phase. During the hemorrhoid post-treatment, we focus on stage one, which is a mandatory stage for daily care. This is important since our technique removes the hemorrhoids partially and progressively. Differently put, we do not remove all the hemorrhoids at once.

Stage one of post-treatment care involves applying the Ba Zhi San Ointment to dry off the hemorrhoids. For this reason, patients can have normal bowel movements from the second day of the surgery. The minimal trauma and application of the Ba Zhi San Ointment eliminate the need for patients to be admitted to the clinic. In most cases, they can simply drive to the clinic to receive post-treatment care.

BZS (Ba Zhi San) Series Ointment 

General Function

BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments are cream-based medicines infused with a unique botanical formula that relieves pain, stops bleeding, reduces inflammation and swelling, combat infections, detoxifies the nearby tissues, eliminates slough, and promotes wound healing granulation. Each ointment serves a specific function at a specific location in the anal canal. In other words, your doctor will choose the best BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments for you based on your symptoms, the location of the lesions, and previous responses to other types.

The BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments restore proper muscle function and connective tissue, which resolves anal conditions. The pharmacological mechanism of these ointments includes the blockage of venous blood supply and the elimination of moisture from the body.

Personalized Therapy

The application of BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments achieves an ideal treatment effect that addresses both symptoms and underlying causes, which reduces the treatment duration and prevents recurrence. Tailored formulations of BZS (Ba Zhi San) ointments are created based on diagnosis and symptoms, ensuring effective treatment for specific conditions. Personalized dosages maximize optimal results for each patient.

We can help you

We specialize in anorectal diseases and offer therapies for the treatment and prevention of hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, anal fissures, anal abscesses and anal itching caused by anal eczemas.

Fill up the form below and our friendly staff members will get back you you shortly to arrange an appointment that works best for you.

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