Can piles or hemorrhoids burst? What happens if they burst?

Piles or hemorrhoids are enlarged veins that are found in and around your rectum and anus. Hemorrhoids occur when too much pressure is exerted over the veins present in your anal region. Some people with piles do not experience any symptoms while others might experience itching, burning, bleeding and discomfort while sitting down. The two different types of hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are the type of piles which develop within the rectum. External piles, on the other hand, develop around the anal opening.

Can piles or hemorrhoids burst?

Regardless of the type of hemorrhoid, both internal and external hemorrhoids can get thrombosed. A thrombosed hemorrhoid means a blood clot is formed with an enlarged vein. Although thrombosed hemorrhoids are not dangerous, they definitely can cause severe pain and inflammation. If hemorrhoid gets too full of blood, it can burst.

What happens when a hemorrhoid bursts?

As mentioned above, a thrombosed hemorrhoid can burst if it is filled with too much blood. If a thrombosed hemorrhoid burst, there will be a brief period of bleeding at that site. Usually, thrombosed hemorrhoids are painful before they actually burst. Once it bursts, you will feel a sudden sense of relief due to the release of excess pressure that has build-up due to the buildup of excess blood. Most people panic after seeing a bout of bleeding from the bottom. The bleeding is mostly not dangerous if it is within control.

If the hemorrhoid bursts, how long will the bleeding last?

For a normal individual, the bleeding from a burst hemorrhoid can last from a few seconds to several minutes. The burst site should not bleed for more than 10 minutes. The site might start to bleed occasionally when you poop. However, we recommend you to consult a piles specialist immediately just to be safe and avoid infections if the bleeding persists.

What should you do if your hemorrhoids burst?

You don’t require any special treatment for a burst hemorrhoid. A sitz bath can help to soothe and keep the area clean while it heals. Sitz baths can also help in improving the blood flow to the area which can aid in the healing process.