Termed as a lifestyle related disease in most cases, hemorrhoids can be cured with appropriate medication or treatment. Hemorrhoids develop when the veins or blood vessels in the rectal region swell and bulge out. When the hemorrhoids occur inside the anal opening, they are internal hemorrhoids and when they are placed outside the anal opening, they are external hemorrhoids. Low fiber diet, physical inactivity, constipation, continuous diarrhea, pregnancy and in many cases heredity are considered to be the factors that contribute to hemorrhoids. In the initial stages, hemorrhoids are not painful but as they bulge out the pain becomes unbearable. The most common hemorrhoids symptoms are rectal bleeding, sharp pain in the anal region, itching and irritation. Home remedies can definitely cure hemorrhoids and alleviate the pain/swelling/irritation caused by it. If the symptoms continue for a long period of time, you must visit a physician.

Symptoms overlap

Hemorrhoids are definitely not a fatal disease but if you presume that you suffer from hemorrhoids without any authorized investigation, then you must be cautious. What you presume as hemorrhoids might be some other grave condition which has to be treated in its initial stages.

The symptoms of hemorrhoids can be sometimes the symptoms of other diseases and vice-versa. Most of the times, people diagnosed with hemorrhoids might be suffering from some other serious problem like cancer. This confusion occurs since the symptoms of cancer, many other diseases and hemorrhoids overlap and seem similar. A close examination will reveal that there are ways to identify if one is suffering from hemorrhoids or other similar diseases.

Other conditions with similar symptoms

If a person suffers from medical conditions like anal fissures, colon polyps, inflammatory bowel diseases, bowel disorders and rectal prolapse, his/her body will manifest symptoms which are similar to hemorrhoids symptoms. All these medical conditions are serious than hemorrhoids, so detecting them earlier can help you in curing them right away.

Misleading symptoms

Rectal bleeding is concluded as the commonest symptom of hemorrhoids. Finding blood in your toilet tissue, toilet seat and stool is considered to be an indication of piles or hemorrhoids but it can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, ulcer and rectal injury.

Searing pain can be indicative of hemorrhoids. The tenderness, persistent pain during bowel movement and spasm pains are common when you have hemorrhoids but we should not overlook the fact that they are signs of fissures, abscess, fistula and trapping of foreign object in the anal region.

Sometimes, we experience change in stooling pattern or bowel habit and relate it to hemorrhoids. Alteration in bowel habits like constipation, diarrhea and constant urge to defecate are signs of poor diet, colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, many digestive diseases and stress.

The Discharge that is leaked from the anal opening which looks like white or blood discharge is not a symptom of hemorrhoids but also of fistula, cancer, parasite infection, sexually transmitted diseases and Abscess.

Swelling, another classic symptom of hemorrhoids can be a symptom of Abscess and Fistula. Itching around the anal region can be a nagging sign of hemorrhoids but it is also a symptom of allergy, diabetes, stress, infection and skin disease. Normally, bulging in the anal area is related to Piles but it also indicates instances of fistula, skin conditions, cancer and abscess.

How to recognize the difference?

Fissures are tears in the skin near the anal region and have symptoms similar to that of hemorrhoids. Unlike hemorrhoids that require natural or surgical treatment, fissures heal by themselves. Only when they do not heal, a surgery is recommended.

Abscess can be detected easily upon a physician's examination since it is a collection of pus. Despite having symptoms like hemorrhoids, a visit to the doctor will reveal the truth. In some occasions, abscess develops into fistulas but they can be confirmed by a doctor.

The inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by inflamed digestive tissue and weight loss, which are not signs of hemorrhoids.

Sexually transmitted diseases can be detected by a few laboratory tests and Colon polyps are detected through colonoscopies.

Colorectal cancer is the common disease that has symptoms like hemorrhoids. You can recognize the difference between the two by examining the blood discharge. The bleeding caused by colorectal cancer is dark and hardened while rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids is fresh and bright. Colorectal cancer is a serious condition that cannot be completely cured in its advanced stages.

Irrespective of the symptoms and your presumptions, it is always better to seek the advice of an authorized doctor. If you notice bleeding or other symptoms, fix an appointment with your physician and undergo all the investigations, to rule out the possibility of suffering from serious medical conditions. If the doctor confirms that you have hemorrhoids or piles, then you can start your home remedies or medical treatment immediately.