I noticed today that i have what appears to be a hemorrhoid. i've been sick lately including coughing, is this a cause and what can i do about it?

Yes and stop cough: Hemorrhoids are little outpouchings of blood vessels in the anus that occur when there is high pressure against blood return from that area. Such a situation occurs with pregnancy, straining at stool and with any other cause of raised intra abdominal pressure ouch as a protracted cough. Treatment is to stop the pressure / cough, use warm sitz baths, topical low potency steroids ( prep h ), time.

Need to see your MD: Yes at your age it could be hemorrhoid , anal polyp , condyloma etc , but you have to see your doctor for other symptoms .. In older group it could be anal carcinoma ( squamous cell ) which is very aggressive . Gay HIV patients are prone also for this type of cancer.