What Are Hemorrhoids and How Are They Treated?

Two myths follow hemorrhoids around: that they're rare, and that fixing them always means surgery. Neither holds up. The short video above, "What are Hemorrhoids," runs for about two minutes and starts from the plain definition — hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, much like varicose veins elsewhere in the body. They're common, they're usually manageable without an operation, and understanding which kind you have matters more than most people expect.

Inside or outside: the distinction that drives treatment

As the anchor video explains, these veins sit in two places. Internal hemorrhoids form inside the lower rectum; because that area has few pain-sensing nerves, they often announce themselves through bright-red bleeding after a bowel movement rather than pain, and larger ones can push outward, or prolapse, during straining. External hemorrhoids form under the skin around the anus, where nerves are plentiful — they're the kind that itch, ache, and make sitting uncomfortable, especially if a clot forms inside one. Same name, quite different experience, and not always the same treatment.

Why they flare up

The video is honest that the exact cause is often unknown. What is clear is the role of pressure: veins in the lower rectum stretch when pressure rises there, and everyday habits feed that pressure — straining, sitting for long stretches (on the toilet included), chronic constipation or diarrhoea, and pregnancy among them. That pressure story is quietly hopeful, because habits can change even when a cause can't be named. Softer stools, less straining, and not lingering on the toilet take strain off the veins whether or not you ever learn which factor started things.

Myth: surgery is the treatment. Fact: it's the last step

Most hemorrhoids are treated in steps, and surgery sits at the end of the staircase, not the start. First come the home measures aimed at the pressure itself — more fibre and fluids, gentle hygiene, and warm sitz baths for comfort. If symptoms persist, a clinician may suggest an office procedure. One of the best known is shown in the site's video "Rubber Band Ligation of Internal Hemorrhoids": a small rubber band is placed around the base of an internal hemorrhoid, cutting off its blood flow so the tissue shrinks away — a treatment, as that video notes, for internal hemorrhoids only. Surgery to remove hemorrhoids (hemorrhoidectomy) is generally reserved for large, prolapsed, or repeatedly troublesome cases that haven't settled with simpler steps.

When bleeding shouldn't be blamed on piles

Here's the limit of self-diagnosis: bleeding from the back passage has other causes, and hemorrhoids get blamed for some of them. If bleeding is new, persistent, mixed with a change in bowel habit, or paired with abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss, it needs an in-person assessment rather than an assumption. Sometimes that assessment includes looking at the colon itself — our explainer on what a colonoscopy is and how it is done shows what that involves. Treating piles is straightforward; being sure it's only piles comes first.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician-scientist.

Educational only — this article is general information about hemorrhoids, not medical advice and not a diagnosis. Bleeding from the back passage, severe anal pain, or a painful lump should be assessed promptly in person by your clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are hemorrhoids and piles the same thing?
Yes — piles is simply the everyday name for hemorrhoids: swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins, as the anchor video defines them.

Do all hemorrhoids need surgery?
No. Treatment usually starts with home measures that reduce pressure and straining, then office procedures such as rubber band ligation for internal hemorrhoids that persist. Surgery is generally the last step, for large, prolapsed, or repeatedly troublesome cases.

How long is the anchor video?
About two minutes (2 minutes 5 seconds by the video file itself). It defines hemorrhoids as swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum and notes that they have a number of causes, although often the cause is unknown.