Causes And Risk Factors Of Hemorrhoids
Several conditions and habits are thought to cause hemorrhoids.
- Chronic constipation or diarrhea
- Straining too hard during bowel movements
- Sitting on the toilet for a long time
Straining, constipation, and prolonged sitting can all affect the blood flow in the area, causing blood to not move at its expected rate within the vessels, leading to hemorrhoids.
Factors that raise your risk of hemorrhoids:
- Lack of fiber in the diet
- Overweight or obesity can put pressure on the hemorrhoidal tissue.
What Causes Hemorrhoids: A Detailed Explanation
We are leading a life that does not give us the time or chance to look after our own self- problems related to us, physically and mentally. No one can deny this unsaid truth! One such problem, faced commonly by almost everyone is Hemorrhoids. Commonly known as Piles, is a condition or disease that people suffer from. In order to know what causes hemorrhoids to get severe or what causes hemorrhoids to bleed, you first need to recognize the problem, and for that, in turn, you need to know what hemorrhoids actually are.
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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.
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When To Seek Medical Advice
See your GP if you have persistent or severe symptoms of haemorrhoids. You should always get any rectal bleeding checked out, so your doctor can rule out more potentially serious causes.
The symptoms of haemorrhoids often clear up on their own or with simple treatments that can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription . However, speak to your GP if your symptoms don’t get better or if you experience pain or bleeding.
Your GP can often diagnose haemorrhoids using a simple internal examination of your back passage, although they may need to refer you to a colorectal specialist for diagnosis and treatment.
Some people with haemorrhoids are reluctant to see their GP. However, theres no need to be embarrassed, because GPs are very used to diagnosing and treating haemorrhoids.
Read more about diagnosing haemorrhoids.
Research And Statistics: Who Gets Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women, affecting about 1 in 20 Americans. The most common time to get hemorrhoids is between ages 45 and 65. Hemorrhoids are also common in pregnant women.
By age 50, about half of us have experienced hemorrhoid symptoms, such as itching, bleeding, and rectal pain. At any given time, about 10 million Americans roughly 4 percent of adults have hemorrhoids. Its estimated that 75 percent of Americans will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
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Constipation: The Main Culprit Of Hemorrhoids
Every doctor will tell you that if you find yourself straining on the toilet, struggling to go, and in general, experiencing constipation, your hemorrhoids are bound to become inflamed.
This can lead to extreme hemorrhoid pain.
A regular, happy, and healthy colon is the key to preventing flare-ups, among many other potential diseases and lower intestinal conditions.
In the end, the goal is to have softer stools so your body doesnt overexert itself during bowel movements.
Your hemorrhoids will then proceed with their regular functions and avoid becoming inflamed and irritated.
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Hemorrhoid Treatment In A Doctors Office With Or Without Surgery
Medical procedures may be needed for hemorrhoids that dont go away with home treatments.
Painful external hemorrhoids can be excised during an office visit following a shot of local anesthetic to numb the area.
For internal hemorrhoids, a few office procedures may be considered. In rubber band ligation, the most common hemorrhoid procedure performed in the United States, the doctor places a small rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid, cutting off the hemorrhoidâs blood supply. The hemorrhoid typically shrinks and falls off within about a week, though several quick follow-up visits may be required to completely get rid of the hemorrhoid.
Other procedures include sclerotherapy, in which a chemical injected into the hemorrhoid causes scar tissue to form, shrinking the hemorrhoid and infrared coagulation, in which an intense beam of infrared light causes the scar tissue to form, cutting off the blood supply and shrinking the hemorrhoid.
If you have a large external hemorrhoid, both internal and external hemorrhoids, or an internal hemorrhoid thats prolapsed , a surgical operation called a hemorrhoidectomy may be necessary, though few patients require this procedure.
Another option that aims to reduce postoperative pain is a stapled hemorrhoidopexy, in which a device pulls the hemorrhoidal tissue upward and to its normal position, stapling it in place.
Pregnancy Is Also A Common Cause Of Hemorrhoids And Fissure
Pregnant women usually face constipation problems due to hormonal changes. Another reason for constipation in pregnant women can be reduced physical activity and dietary changes. As your baby grows and your uterus stretches, it can also press on your intestines and cause digestive delays or obstructions. Therefore, piles and fissure are common problems during pregnancy.
Do not take medicines on your own to treat constipation. Consult your gynecologist about which ones are suitable for you during pregnancy.
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The Main Consequences Of Hemorrhoids Are:
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The formation of polyps in the colon. On the walls of the intestine, polyps appear completely imperceptibly and painlessly, they are found only with a complete examination. Such growths are quite dangerous, because they can cause cancer.
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Rectal cancer. The older a person is, the more likely they are to develop colon cancer. The highest probability of such a disease in women who are in the preclimatic age. It is for this reason that preventive examinations by a proctologist should be carried out regularly.
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Constipation is one of the many reasons why hemorrhoids appear. Difficulties in the process of defecation begin at the 2nd or 3rd stage of the disease. To avoid constipation, it is very important to follow the right diet, give up unhealthy foods, consume more fiber and sour-milk products.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy greatly affect the bearing of the fetus, especially in the third trimester. The discomfort experienced by the expectant mother will be much stronger than that of a healthy woman. The postpartum period may be longer and more painful due to hemorrhoids.
This is a list of only the most common complications that can occur if hemorrhoids are left untreated. Therefore, before deciding that such a disease can go away on its own, it is worth considering what the consequences could be.
Tips On Adding Fiber To Your Diet
- Add more fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet.
- Eat prunes, theyre a natural and mild laxative .
- Take a fiber supplement, such as psyllium husk. This adds bulk and softens bowel movements, so you dont have to strain.
- Add fiber to your daily diet slowly to help avoid gassiness.
- Staying hydrated is especially important if youre adding more fiber to your diet.
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Ideas To Make Bowel Movements Easier
Add a tablespoon of mineral oil to your food. Mineral oil helps to ease constipation.
Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water and other hydrating fluids throughout the day. It helps to prevent worsening constipation.
Change your toilet habits. Dont delay going to the bathroom. Putting off a bowel movement can make you more constipated and worsen symptoms. Use a small stepping stool to prop your feet up when you sit on the toilet. This angles your body into a squatting position, making it easier to have a bowel movement.
If you have hemorrhoid symptoms, several options can help soothe flare-ups:
- avoid dry toilet paper, use a damp wipe or water to wash
- avoid perfumed or alcohol wipes
- avoid sprays, deodorants, or douches in the groin area
- avoid strenuous exercise and other activities that cause friction
- avoid tight clothing and rough fabrics
- keep the area clean
- take pain medication as needed, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- sit on a reclining or rocking chair rather than sitting upright
- sit on a soft pillow or donut cushion
- soak in a warm water bath
- try topical treatments, such as creams, ointments, sprays and suppositories with hydrocortisone
- use ice packs or cold compresses
- Apply witch hazel with a cotton pad
How Are Hemorrhoids Treated
Your healthcare provider will create a care plan for you based on:
- Your age, overall health, and past health
- How serious your case is
- Whether you have internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, or both
- How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies
- If your condition is expected to get worse
- What you would like to do
The main goal of treatment is to reduce your symptoms. This may be done by:
- Sitting in plain, warm water in a bathtub several times a day
- Using ice packs to reduce swelling
- Using hemorrhoid creams or medicines inserted into your rectum
Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you add more fiber and fluids to your diet to help soften your stools. Having softer stools means you don’t have to strain during bowel movements. This reduces the pressure on your hemorrhoids.
Adding more fiber to your diet means eating more:
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
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When Should You See Your Doctor
We spoke with Dr. Lauren R. Wilson, a specialist in colorectal surgery and assistant professor of surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for her input.
“If you’re having any kind of issue with your bottom, go see your primary care doctor and ask them to take a look. Rectal exams used to be part of an annual physical, but a lot of doctors just don’t do them anymore. You need to be open to having an exam and ask them about it.”
Hemorrhoids: Signs Symptoms And Complications
For most people, the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoidsitchiness, swelling, discomfortwill be mild and respond to home remedies. In a minority of cases, however, hemorrhoid signs and symptoms will be severe enough that they require treatment from a physician. Rarely, hemorrhoids that cause significant blood loss or a blood clot can be life-threatening. It’s important to note that one of the chief calling cards of hemorrhoids, blood in or on the stool or on toilet paper, should never be considered normal. While the cause could indeed be hemorrhoids, a more serious condition could be afoot.
Hemorrhoids can come with external and/or internal symptoms, depending on how they form.
External Hemorrhoids
If the hemorrhoid becomes inflamed and engorged with blood it may look bluish-purple and be painful, not only during a bowel movement but even when walking or sitting.
The symptoms of external hemorrhoids can include:
- Tenderness when wiping
Internal Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids on the inside of the rectum, called internal hemorrhoids, might not cause symptoms and might only be discovered or diagnosed when they cause bleeding.
The symptoms of internal hemorrhoids can include:
- Bleeding during bowel movements
- Pain in the case of prolapse
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When Should I See My Doctor
Hemorrhoids are typically easy to treat and clear up on their own. In very rare cases, a hemorrhoid can cause complications.
Chronic blood loss from a hemorrhoid can cause anemia, a shortage of red blood cells. Internal hemorrhoids can also have their blood supply cut off, resulting in strangulated hemorrhoids that can cause extreme pain.
See a doctor if home treatments havent been effective after more than 2 weeks. Your primary care physician can diagnose and treat hemorrhoids. They can write prescriptions for medicated creams, ointments, and suppositories.
If these treatments dont work, a doctor may recommend treatments like rubber band ligation or surgery to remove the hemorrhoids.
Make an appointment to see a doctor right away if you notice rectal bleeding for the first time or if your rectal bleeding increases.
Increasing Your Fibre Intake
You can gradually increase the amount of fibre in your diet by eating foods including:
- fresh fruit and vegetables
Commercial fibre supplements are also available and can be useful if you think you are not getting enough of the above foods in your diet.
Make sure you increase your fibre gradually so your digestive system has time to adapt.
Its also important to increase your fluid intake at the same time. This is because fibre in the stools acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture from the body. Try to drink lots of water. Cutting down on sugary drinks will also help you to cut down on calories that cause weight gain.
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Dietary Changes And Self Care
If constipation is thought to be the cause of your haemorrhoids, you need to keep your stools soft and regular, so that you don’t strain when passing stools.
You can do this by increasing the amount of fibre in your diet. Good sources of fibre include wholegrain bread, cereal, fruit and vegetables.
You should also drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine .
When going to the toilet, you should:
- avoid straining to pass stools, because it may make your haemorrhoids worse
- use moist toilet paper, rather than dry toilet paper, or baby wipes to clean your bottom after passing a stool
- pat the area around your bottom, rather than rubbing it
Read more about preventing constipation.
When Do I Need To See A Health Care Provider For Hemorrhoids
You should see your health care provider if you:
- Still have symptoms after 1 week of at-home treatment
- Have bleeding from your rectum. Hemorrhoids are a common cause of bleeding, but other conditions can also cause bleeding. They include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and . So it’s important to see your provider to find the cause of the bleeding.
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If Your Symptoms Continue Worsening
While many home remedies may provide temporary relief of inflammation, pain, or discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, they dont necessarily cure the issue. Thats why its important to seek medical care for hemorrhoids, especially if your symptoms get worse. On top of treating your hemorrhoids, your doctor can help you reduce the chances of another hemorrhoid flare-up by discussing things like your diet, staying hydrated, and changing your bathroom habits.
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When To Call A Doctor
Common symptoms of hemorrhoids may be a sign of other serious health problems. Colon or rectal cancer and other conditions have many of the same symptoms as hemorrhoids. Call your doctor if you have symptoms like these:
- Stools are black or tarry or change size and shape.
- Rectal bleeding becomes heavy or changes color .
If you have hemorrhoids, call your doctor if:
- Moderate rectal pain lasts longer than 1 week after home treatment.
- Pain or swelling is severe.
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Consequences Of Hemorrhoids In Women
Many patients put off going to the proctologist in the far box, believing that the disease can go away on its own. This is a serious misconception that can cause severe harm to the body.
The consequences of hemorrhoids are mainly complications that have developed due to the lack of proper treatment.
Ways To Treat Hemorrhoids At Home
Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.
Hemorrhoids are a very common condition especially in America where half the population will experience them by the time they turn 50. So exactly what are hemorrhoids? They are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum, and while they affect men and women, men have an increased risk of developing them.
Hemorrhoids are painful and irritating, and they can make everyday life quite uncomfortable. How long a hemorrhoid takes to heal on its own depends on a few different factors.Thankfully, there are a number of hemorrhoids home remedies you can use to treat them naturally.
Your healthcare provider will create a care plan for you based on:
- Your age, overall health, and past health
- How serious your case is
- Whether you have internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, or both
- How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies
- If your condition is expected to get worse
- What you would like to do
The main goal of treatment is to reduce your symptoms. This may be done by:
- Sitting in plain, warm water in a bathtub several times a day
- Using ice packs to reduce swelling
- Using hemorrhoid creams or medicines inserted into your rectum
Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you add more fiber and fluids to your diet to help soften your stools. Having softer stools means you dont have to strain during bowel movements. This reduces the pressure on your hemorrhoids.
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