Internal Hemorrhoids: Causes, Symptoms, and What Actually Helps

When you hear internal hemorrhoids, swollen veins inside the lower rectum that often cause bleeding but little to no pain. Also known as rectal varicose veins, they’re one of the most common digestive complaints—but also one of the most misunderstood. Unlike external hemorrhoids, which sit under the skin around the anus and can be painfully swollen, internal hemorrhoids live inside the rectum. That’s why you might not feel them until you see bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the bowl. It’s not cancer. It’s not an emergency. But ignoring it won’t make it go away.

What causes these swollen veins? Sitting too long on the toilet, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, pregnancy, or even just genetics. Your body isn’t broken—it’s overworked. Straining during bowel movements puts pressure on the veins in your rectum, and over time, they stretch, bulge, and sometimes bleed. You don’t need to be old or unhealthy to get them. Even active people with good diets can develop them if they’re pushing too hard or sitting too long. And yes, stress and dehydration play a role too. The real problem isn’t the hemorrhoids themselves—it’s what’s behind them: poor bowel habits.

Most people panic when they see blood. But internal hemorrhoids rarely cause pain unless they prolapse (push out of the anus). That’s a different story. When they do, you might feel a soft lump, discomfort when sitting, or a feeling of fullness. The good news? Most cases improve with simple changes: more fiber, more water, avoiding straining, and using over-the-counter creams or suppositories designed for internal use. Sitz baths, cold compresses, and even stool softeners can help more than you think. You don’t need surgery unless it’s advanced.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of miracle cures. It’s real talk from people who’ve been there and from medical sources that cut through the noise. You’ll see how rectal bleeding, a common sign of internal hemorrhoids but also a red flag for other conditions gets misinterpreted. You’ll learn why some treatments work better than others—and which ones are just expensive placebos. There’s advice on when to see a doctor, how to tell if it’s something worse, and what lifestyle tweaks actually make a difference. No hype. No fear. Just what works.