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Hemorrhoids are a disease of intellectuals
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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Hemorrhoid statistics
Proctologists claim that hemorrhoids are registered in more than 70% of people worldwide – either chronic or temporary, which can be quickly eliminated. These 70% of people include those who at least once in their life suffered from hemorrhoid symptoms – pain in the anus, hemorrhoidal cones, general discomfort during defecation.
Hemorrhoids are treated at different stages, but it is better to start treating them early, because at a late stage of hemorrhoid development, surgery may be required, and this is not very good for the body.
Statistics of visits to doctors
According to medical data, many more people suffer from hemorrhoids than those who seek medical attention for examination and treatment. About 80% of the world's population suffering from hemorrhoids do not always seek medical attention, so not all cases are registered. This means that there are no accurate statistics on hemorrhoid incidence. It is only known that 120 people out of 1,000 are susceptible to this disease and have sought medical attention for this reason.
The stronger sex is much more susceptible to hemorrhoids than women – 4 times. Those at risk are those who smoke, those who suffer from chronic constipation and those who often sit in the toilet for a long time, defecating incorrectly – delaying the process and reading at the same time, and even smoking. From this, the thin walls of the anal veins expand, collapse, become thinner and the risk of developing hemorrhoids increases significantly.
Anatomy of hemorrhoids
The rectum is a very important organ of human digestion. It is surrounded by the hemorrhoidal plexus - but not a simple one, but a double one. This is a plexus of veins, internal and external. When a person develops hemorrhoids, these veins fill with blood, which stagnates in them. Then the veins swell, as with thrombophlebitis on the legs, and form as if lumps - hemorrhoidal nodes or cushions.
At the initial stage of the disease, a person feels discomfort during bowel movements and general discomfort, pain in the anus. Then, as the veins of the anus fill with blood and this blood stagnates, the pain can become stronger and stronger, sometimes it can be unbearable. The pain can be cutting, stabbing, accompanied by heaviness and intensifies when a person tries to defecate.
Veins that swell under the weight of stagnant blood gradually collapse. Their walls become thinner and can no longer withstand the pressure of blood. And now, during defecation, a person notices blood in the toilet, on the paper he wipes himself with - this is bleeding, which is also considered a sign of hemorrhoids.
Manifestations of hemorrhoids
These include manifestations of destruction and changes in hemorrhoidal nodes - that is, prolapse of these nodes, bleeding, thrombosis, swelling of hemorrhoidal nodes.
These nodes are external and internal. Those that are internal are formed in the rectum in the form of clusters. And also single hemorrhoidal cones. Those that are external are located 2.5 higher than the anus. Hemorrhoid nodes located externally are localized in the anal canal. Sometimes thrombi appear in them - blood clots that can pass on their own, but may require only medical intervention.
What were hemorrhoids called in the Middle Ages?
In the Middle Ages, hemorrhoids were called the curse of Saint Fiacre, the patron saint of all gardeners. There is even a stone with the same name - the stone of Saint Fiacre, people still come to it in the hope of being cured of this unpleasant disease. There is a legend about this. Once upon a time, a spirit appeared to Saint Fiacre and told him that he could get a lot of land - as much as he wanted. But only the land that he could cultivate from dawn to dusk.
Saint Fiacre (he was not yet a saint at that time) tried very hard and eventually worked so hard that hemorrhoids appeared from his anus - what today are called hemorrhoidal cones - an indispensable sign of external hemorrhoids.
He was very upset, feeling pain and weakness, sat down on a nearby stone and offered a prayer to God. In this prayer, he asked him to relieve him of his illness. And then a miracle happened: Saint Fiacre instantly got rid of the knots, which fell off by themselves. Even today, their traces are visible on the stone.
The sick from all over the world come to the stone now, those who want to get rid of their unpleasant disease - hemorrhoids. And they say that it helps. Although doctors do not recommend sitting on cold stones and asphalt for those who suffer from hemorrhoids.
Did our ancestors know about hemorrhoids?
Yes, we did. The history of hemorrhoids goes back several thousand years – it is a very ancient disease. Hippocrates mentioned it in his works and the ancient Egyptians wrote about hemorrhoids in their manuscripts. It is a well-known fact that Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo precisely because he had an acute attack of hemorrhoids.
People began to suffer from hemorrhoids as soon as they began to lift the first heavy things (stones, hoes) and work hard. And with the development of civilization, this disease began to progress even more. Hemorrhoids are also caused by a sedentary lifestyle and products that are depleted of nutrients, that is, refined products processed by humans. Hemorrhoids are also called a disease of the lazy, since sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for this disease to occur.
Since you can get rid of hemorrhoids in the early stages simply by changing your lifestyle, it is advisable to do so because health is a much more valuable investment than money.
Interesting facts about hemorrhoids
- About half of the population has hemorrhoids before the age of 50
- Hemorrhoids are usually not life-threatening until the lumps become swollen and painful.
- Hemorrhoids are more common in people with white skin, in people with higher socio-economic education, and in people who live in rural areas.