Question: What are hemorrhoids?
Answer: Hemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins around your anus or in your lower rectum.

The two types of hemorrhoids are

external hemorrhoids, which form under the skin around the anus
internal hemorrhoids, which form in the lining of the anus and lower rectum
Question: How common are hemorrhoids?
Answer: Hemorrhoids are common in both men and women1 and affect about 1 in 20 Americans.2 About half of adults older than age 50 have hemorrhoids.2
Question: Who is more likely to get hemorrhoids?
Answer: You are more likely to get hemorrhoids if you

strain duringbowel movements
sit on the toilet for long periods of time
havechronicconstipationordiarrhea
eat foods that are low infiber
are older than age 50
are pregnant
often lift heavy objects
Question: What are the complications of hemorrhoids?
Answer: Complications of hemorrhoids can include the following:

blood clots in an external hemorrhoid
skin tags—extra skin left behind when a blood clot in an external hemorrhoid dissolves
infection of a sore on an external hemorrhoid
strangulated hemorrhoid—when the muscles around your anus cut off the blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid that has fallen through your anal opening
anemia