In addition to hemorrhoids, many of Dr. Herraka’s patients ask him questions about other anorectal conditions that include anal fissures, colon cancer, rectal bleeding, irritatable bowl syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation. While hemorrhoids can be very bothersome, they are typically easily treated by Dr. Herraka using the CRH O’Regan System. You will however, want to be informed about other conditions that can affect your anorectal or gastrointestinal health. Dr. Herraka does not recommend self diagnoses based on this information. It is best to set up an initial, confidential consultation so that your medical history can be reviewed and an examination can be performed to help you better understand why you are experiencing discomfort and set you on the path to recovery.

Anal Fissures

Everyone from children to adults can get anal fissures, and they can be very painful. While usually harmless and treatable, an anal fissure can also be a sign of other health issues. If you have – or think you have – an anal fissure, you should understand the symptoms and causes, and talk with Dr. Herraka about your concerns.

Common symptoms include:

• Slight tinge of blood blood in your stool.

• Razor sharp pain while attempting a bowel movement.

• Moderate to intense itching that can be quite irritating.

If you think you have hemorrhoids, but are also experiencing pain, it is possible that you also have a fissure. If you have noticed prolonged symptoms like these you should contact us to determine the best course of treatment.

Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Colon cancer progresses very slowly and may go undetected for several years. Many symptoms of colon cancer are often interpreted as other conditions, making colon cancer screening critical for accurate diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer typically develops within polyps that form in the colon and rectum. If left unchecked, these cancerous polyps can become quite large before they can be detected, and which may spread to lymph nodes, the liver, and to other structures. Since the symptoms early on in the disease are minimal, many patients don’t know they are affected until the disease has progressed substantially. A screening colonoscopy can often find these lesions at an early stage, increasing the likelihood of a successful treatment, or find suspicious polyps before they have developed into cancer. The removal of these polyps can then effectively prevent the development of cancer.

You can increase your chances of early detection by watching for these important warning signs:

• Blood in stool.

• Constipation or changes in bowel activity.

• Narrowing of the stool.

• Anemia (Frequently the result of a tumor that is bleeding into the intestinal tract.)

If you age 50 or older, you are at an increased risk. You should have a colonoscopy at least once every 10 years, with examinations more frequently in certain circumstances.

Sometimes patients mistake the signs of colon cancer for hemorrhoids, or vice-versa. That’s why an accurate diagnosis with Dr. Herraka is essential.

Rectal Bleeding

Blood in the stool is a common problem experienced by hundreds of patients that Dr. Herraka sees routinely. Hemorrhoids or Anal fissures are most often the cause blood in stool. You would easily notice that the blood is typically bright red in color. After you have a bowel movement, you might see blood on your toilet paper, in the toilet bowl or on the stool itself.

Although blood in stool is a common health issue, it can also indicate the presence of a more serious medical condition. If you have rectal bleeding, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Please watch for.

• Profuse bright red blood

• Excess blood in your stool, can be a sign of a very serious condition.

Common cause of profuse blood in the stool include:

• Colitis

• Diverticulitis

• Colon cancer

• Polyp or tumor inside the digestive tract

• Irritation of the intestinal lining

Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease

IBS and IBD are two similar yet different gastrointestinal disorders that can cause major problems for sufferers.

IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)

IBS may be a sign that there is an underlying health condition. Women most frequently experience IBS, but men can also be affected by this condition.

Symptoms include:

• Intense gas pain

• Bowel movement disruption

• Change in stool’s appearance

There are many secondary symptoms of IBS that may include

• Heart palpitations

• Fatigue

• Unpleasant taste in the mouth

• Headache or backache.

IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease)

Crohn’s Disease, one of the disorders that make up IBD, is an autoimmune disorder, which means your body’s immune system attacks healthy body tissue. It results in chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, causing the intestinal wall to become thick.

Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, affects the lining of the rectum and can also expand to affect the colon’s lining as well. Its cause is unknown, but may also be related to an immune disorder.

Common symptoms of IBD include:

• Aching, sore joints

• Skin and mouth sores

• Red, inflamed eyes

• Rectal bleeding, weight loss and fever

• Abdominal pain, often in the lower-right part of the abdomen

• Diarrhea

• Poor growth in children

Chronic Constipation

Constipation causes frequent problems for millions of people, yet many never realize their body is having a problem. The most obvious side effect of constipation is the inability to have a regular bowel movement. If this condition persists for more than three days, it is important to determine what may be causing the problem. Ignoring constipation will not make it go away, and can lead to a more serious bowel obstruction.

Symptoms of Constipation

• Dry bowel movements

• Vomiting and nausea

• Abdominal swelling

Constipation can have lots of underlying causes, many of them minor. However, in some cases, chronic constipation may point to a more serious health problem, such as colon cancer. Frequent colon cancer screenings are the best way to detect this cancer in its early stages, while it is still easy to treat.