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By Mayo Clinic staffHemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and lower rectum. Hemorrhoids may result from straining during a bowel movement or from the increased pressure on these veins during pregnancy, among other causes.
A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are one of the most common ailments. By age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the itching, discomfort and bleeding that can signal the presence of hemorrhoids.
Fortunately, many effective options are available to treat hemorrhoids. Most people can get relief from symptoms using home treatments and lifestyle changes.
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