Tips To Help Ease Hemorrhoid Pain
Dear Pharmacist: What are the best treatments for hemorrhoids, both the internal sort and the external? I ask because my wife and I suffer with these. Lucky us. S.D., Gainesville
Dear S.D.: Hemorrhoids happen because of weak veins that swell due to pressure. The blood pools and causes veins to engorge this can be caused by many situations, among them obesity, pregnancy, lifting heavy objects, straining on the toilet, coughing, sneezing, standing or sitting for long periods of time. People who eat a high fiber diet and stay well hydrated are less likely to suffer with hemorrhoids, whereas people who eat processed foods will eventually feel it in the end.
The primary difference is pain. With internal hemorrhoids, there is no pain because the swollen veins are higher up in the rectum where there are no nerves. There may be no symptoms at all, or you may have bleeding after a bowel movement. For some, bleeding may be the first and only sign. Others may experience a thin stool and the urge of not being finished yet. External hemorrhoids hurt like crazy and, if untreated, can thrombose, meaning they can turn purplish-blue and bleed. They can itch, burn and irritate.
Here are some ways to help yourself:
Witch hazel. Natural astringent helps with swelling and pain.
Hydrocortisone or calendula cream. Apply externally to ease pain.
Preparation H suppositories. Perfect for internal hemorrhoids.
Ice cube or pack. Wrap it in paper towel before applying to the area.
How Long Should You Ice An Injury
Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York.
One of the most common questions asked in outpatient physical therapy clinics is, âHow long should I ice an injury?â When should ice be applied, and how long should you keep the ice on your injured body part?
Ice should be applied to an acute injury for 10 minutes at a time. Any longer than this could result in tissue damage to the skin by frostbite or lack of blood flow. You can apply ice several times each day.
Is It Safe To Use Ice On Hemorrhoids
Yes, ice can safely be used on hemorrhoids and is often recommended by doctors to their patients as a viable method to manage symptoms.
Ice packs are perfectly safe and a natural remedy for not just hemorrhoid treatments, but for many other injuries that involve swelling and pain. You can use ice packs on your hemorrhoids as needed, throughout the day.
External hemorrhoids are the type of hemorrhoids that induce feelings of burning, pain, itching, and aching. You have more nerves in the area where external hemorrhoids develop, and because of this, external hemorrhoids produce more symptoms.
You might feel:
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What Not To Do Your Hemorrhoid
Frustration, pain, discomfort, and embarrassment may prompt some individuals to take steps to make hemorrhoids go away faster. Even if youre desperate:
- Dont poke at the hemorrhoid.
A hemorrhoid is not a pimple. For some, the discomfort of a hemorrhoid, along with accompanied itching, prompts some to poke at it with a safety pin, a needle, or other sharp object. This is certainly not recommended. Risk of bleeding or infection can lead to more severe complications.
A much more effective home-based remedy to relieve itching and discomfort involves soaking in a warm Epsom salt bath for 15 minutes three times daily. This soothes irritated tissues and may help reduce inflammation.
- Dont place an ice cube directly on the hemorrhoid.
While ice may seem like a good idea and provide immediate relief and aid in decreasing inflammation, it is not advised to apply ice directly to a hemorrhoid. A barrier such as a washcloth between the hemorrhoid and the ice cube is recommended. Contact should be limited to 10 or 15 minutes. Relief will be temporary but appreciated.
Instead, sit in a lukewarm sitz bath for approximately 15 minutes several times a day to provide temporary relief. Follow with a witch hazel compress.
- Dont soak the hemorrhoid in apple cider vinegar.
Before attempting any home remedy for swollen, painful, and irritating hemorrhoids, proceed with caution. Desperation often contributes to ill-advised home remedies that may prove more harmful than beneficial in the long run.
How To Ice Hemorrhoids What You Need To Know
If youve ever applied ice to an injury then youll be familiar with what to do when treating a hemorrhoid with an ice pack. However, because you will need to sit on the ice pack, this treatment will work best if you have a flat cold gel pack versus a plastic sandwich bag with ice. If you only have ice cubes then use crushed cubes so its comfortable on the rectal region.
Next, take your gel pack or crushed ice and wrap it in a thin cloth such as an old t-shirt. Make sure youre wearing light breathable clothing and place the ice pack on a chair, sit down and adjust the ice pack so its making contact with the affected area. Be sure that the excess moisture will not ruin the chairs material and put a towel down if necessary.
Gel packs will be much easier to apply over the long term so consider picking some up from the drug store or online if hemorrhoids are a common occurrence for you. Having more than one gel pack means you can always keep one in the freezer, ready to swap out for your next treatment.
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Don’t Make Things Worse
Bump up the fiber. It softens your stools and makes them move through your body more easily. You’ll find it in beans, whole-grain breads and cereals, and fresh fruits and veggies. You may also want to try a supplement if you can’t get enough from foods. Add fiber slowly to help avoid gas and bloating.
Drink lots of fluids. Stay well hydrated to keep stools soft so they’re easier to pass. Water is the best choice. Drink plenty throughout the day. Prune juice is a natural laxative and can help you go.
Exercise regularly. Even brisk walking 20-30 minutes every day can help keep you from getting stopped up.
Breathe! Keep the air moving in and out when you’re working hard. It’s common to hold your breath as you’re pushing, pulling, or making an effort — and that can lead to hemorrhoid pain and bleeding.
Use a pillow. Sit on a cushion instead of a hard surface. It will ease swelling for any hemorrhoids you have. It may also help prevent new ones from forming.
Take breaks. If you must sit for a long time, get up every hour and move around for at least 5 minutes.
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Using Ice Packs On Your Hemorrhoids
Many specialists suggest using ice packs for hemorrhoids to lessen expansion, irritation, and pain. Outside heaps lie under the skin on the butt-centric area which causes a great deal of distress while sitting as it is a physical issue to delicate tissues.
So ice packs are a moment home solution for getting help from heaps. It will lessen expansion and irritation by decreasing the indications of heaps.
You have ice at home. Take spotless cotton and put a few cubes of ice on it. Make a pocket of ice with it. This turns into your very own brief hemorrhoid relief from the ice pack. Quick usage of a cold pack gives moment help from the pain related to hemorrhoids and it can even help you shrink your hemorrhoids.
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Some Causes Of The Occurrence Of Hemorrhoids:
As you now know about the symptoms, you will be eager to know the reasons why this throbbing problem occurs. Below the reasons are given in brief:
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Can Ice Make Hemorrhoids Worse
How do you treat a burn from a hemorrhoid?
What is better for hemorrhoids heat or ice?
At-Home Treatments The best way may be to relieve the symptoms and prevent the hemorrhoids from becoming problematic. This is best done by: Taking a warm tub or sitz bath several times a day in plain, warm water for about 10 minutes. Using ice packs to reduce swelling.
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Homemade Ice Pack For Hemorrhoids
You have ice at home of course and you can try to make your own homemade ice packs for your hemorrhoids. Take a fresh cotton ball fabric and put a few blocks of ice on it. Make a pocket of ice with it.
This turns into your very own transitory hemorrhoid relief from the discomfort pack. Quick utilization of cold packs gives moment help from heaps of torment. And using ice packs can be considered Cryotherapy which is a strategy to cool down hemorrhoids.
It helps get rid of rectal irritation in addition to consuming by desensitizing the nerve-rich and very vascular cells of the rear end. Ice packs additionally stop your bleeding from hemorrhoids and briefly contract enlarged veins and tissues.
Diminishing outside hemorrhoid enlarging by the quick usage of ice, for the most part, brings helps hemorrhoid pain almost instantly.
Testimonials: Warnings About The Side Effects From Using Apple Cider Vinegar To Treat Hemorrhoids
As with any home remedy, its a good idea to approach the use of ACV to treat your hemorrhoids with caution. Youre likely already experiencing considerable discomfort from the hemorrhoids themselves, and want to ensure the remedy you use relieves your symptoms, rather than making them worse.
Learning about the experience others have had with ACV can help you determine if its the right option for you. Below are some descriptions of the outcomes others have encountered after using ACV.
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Is Heat Or Ice Better For External Hemorrhoids
Many gel packs have the option to be frozen or microwaved in order to be used for cold or hot therapy. In the case of a hemorrhoid, youll most likely want to first opt for cold therapy, though heat can be useful in many situations. Ill explain the benefits of both and when to use heat or ice for hemorrhoids.
What Are The Side Effects Of Ice Pack
Ice pack treatment for hemorrhoids has no side effects. But, you must be careful while using this method to get relief.
You may also insert ice chips wrapped in a thin cloth into rectum to get to the affected area, but dont overdo it. The last thing you would want to do is injure yourself further!
Dont use ice directly on the skin. You can prepare your pack by putting a few ice chips in a thin towel.
Alternating sitz baths with ice packs is an effective external hemorrhoid treatment. It can help in alleviating hemorrhoids symptoms and providing instant relief.
But, this is not enough. This can only provide some temporary relief from the pain and swelling.
You must include fiber rich foods in your diet, exercise daily, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid the reoccurrence of this condition.
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Headaches: Ice Or Heat
The right treatment depends on the type of headache you have. Headaches caused from tension can benefit from heat therapy, which helps relax tight muscles throughout the neck and jaw, says Jeffrey Yellin, DPT, CSCS, at Professional Physical Therapy. Sinus headaches can also benefit from the use of heat therapy to help warm nasal passages and loosen some of the built-up secretions. Migraines, or other vascular induced headaches, tend to respond better with the use of cold therapy.
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Easy Ways To Add Fiber
The tips below offer some simple ways to add more high-fiber foods to your meals.
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Start your day with a high-fiber breakfast. Eat a wheat bran cereal along with a sliced banana. Or, try peanut butter on whole-wheat toast.
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Eat carrot sticks for snacks. Theyre easy to prepare, taste great, and are low in calories.
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Use whole-grain breads instead of white bread for sandwiches.
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Eat fruits for treats. Try an apple and some raisins instead of a candy bar.
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What Exactly Is A Hemorrhoid
- Straining to have a bowel movement
Increased pressure when defecating causes some hemorrhoids to bleed. Straining to produce a bowel movement increases blood pressure, which may prompt the hemorrhoid to burst. Some are painless, only suspected by bloody toilet tissue or some blood in toilet water. Blood may also be found in the stool itself.
A number of over-the-counter treatments are available for hemorrhoids. However, some cases may require in-office medical treatment such as sclerotherapy or rubber band ligation.
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Why Do I Keep Getting Hemorrhoids
The most common cause of hemorrhoids is repeated straining while having a bowel movement. This is often caused by severe cases of constipation or diarrhea. Straining gets in the way of blood flow into and out of the area. This results in the pooling of blood and enlargement of the vessels in that area.
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Hemorrhoid Medication: When Why And Which Ones To Use
A number of OTC creams, ointments, and pads that contain hydrocortisone or witch hazel are available to help relieve pain, swelling, and itching caused by hemorrhoids. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, doctors recommend using over-the-counter products for a week. If symptoms persist beyond a week, follow up with your doctor.
Creams and suppositories containing hydrocortisone can cause the skin to weaken and thin, so they should not be used for more than a week. If any of these creams cause a rash or dry skin around the area, contact your healthcare provider.
A fiber supplement, such as psyllium , or a stool softener, such as methylcellulose , can help prevent constipation.
Avoid laxatives, which can lead to diarrhea and worsen hemorrhoid symptoms.
When To Stop Icing
The 10 minute ice time is really just a general guideline. What if you just canât tolerate 10 minutes of icing on an injured body part? Is there another way to know when to stop icing?
There is. You can use the CBAN method of icing. CBAN is an acronym that stands for cold, burn, ache, numb. Those are the sensations you should feel when applying ice to your injured body part.
When you first put ice on, it should feel cold. After keeping ice in place on your injured body part for a few minutes, you should feel a slight burning sensation. This should only last for a few minutes, and then it will be replaced by an ache.
After the aching, you will notice that the ice is making your skin feel numb. When you get to the numb feeling, it is time to remove the ice, regardless of the amount of time you have placed the ice on your body. The CBAN acronym simply uses your own bodyâs sensations to tell you when to remove the ice.
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How Does It Work
Icing tends to slow the blood flow to hemorrhoids which are swollen blood vessels present in the rectal area, so icing will decrease and then gradually make the swelling go down. Regular icing for one to three days can significantly decrease the resultant swelling. That depends upon the severity of the situation too.
Add Fiber To Your Diet
Adding fiber to your diet can help relieve constipation by making stools softer and easier to pass. To increase your fiber intake, your healthcare provider may recommend a bulking agent, such as psyllium. This is a high-fiber supplement available at most grocery stores and drugstores. Eating more fiber-rich foods will also help. There are two types of fiber:
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Insoluble fiber is the main ingredient in bulking agents. Its also found in foods such as wheat bran, whole-grain breads, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
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Soluble fiber is found in foods such as oat bran. Although soluble fiber is good for you, it may not ease constipation as much as foods high in insoluble fiber.
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Use Simple Toilet Paper
Scented and coloured toilet paper contain extra chemicals that could irritate sensitive areas. Dampen plain, white, unscented toilet paper or use a moist towelette when you need to wipe. Follow up by applying an unscented moisturizer with a facial tissue.
Here are seven tips for healthy bowel movements.
What Is A Cold Or Warm Compress
A cold compress is typically an ice pack or frozen gel pack. However, some people use a cold, damp cloth instead, depending on the application. With ice packs, the intensity of the cold can be too much to handle. Its best to wrap a cloth or paper towel around the ice pack until its comfortable enough to hold against your skin. Never apply ice directly to the skin, as this can cause ice burns.
A warm compress is heated slightly. Common examples include a wheat pack or a heated gel pack. However, there is the potential for burns when you use these. If the heat pack is too hot to touch, dont use it until it has cooled down.
Both types of compresses have varying effects and benefits.
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