I have hemorrhoids that bleed when I move my bowels. Other
than that, they don’t really bother me. Should I just leave them alone or can
they develop into something more serious?
Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels near the anus and lower
rectum (lower part of the large intestine). These blood vessels are found in
spongy cushions of tissue just under the lining of the anal canal. Hemorrhoids
bleed when the blood vessels rupture, such as from straining during a bowel
movement. Because bleeding can be a sign of colon cancer or colon polyps, you
should consult with your doctor whenever you have bleeding from the rectum,
blood on your stools, or blood in the toilet after a bowel movement. Your doctor
might recommend a visual examination of the lower colon (sigmoidoscopy) or entire
colon (colonoscopy).