Which Is The Best Over The Counter Treatment For Hemorrhoids
Phenylephrine OTC treatments for hemorrhoids. The most popular brand of over the counter treatments for hemorrhoids is Preparation H. This product is called by many different names, including Preparation Hem. Drugs.com reports that this kind of hemorrhoid cream is made from phenylephrine or epinephrine.
When Hemorrhoid Surgery May Be Necessary
Very few people fewer than 10 percent of all adults who see a doctor because of symptomatic hemorrhoids will require a surgical operation.
Surgery to remove hemorrhoids is called a hemorrhoidectomy.
Your doctor may recommend a hemorrhoidectomy if:
- You have large external hemorrhoids
- You have both internal and external hemorrhoids
- An internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed
In a hemorrhoidectomy, the doctor makes a small incision to remove the hemorrhoid and surrounding tissue before closing the wound with stitches.
A hemorrhoidectomy is performed in an operating room and can be done under general anesthesia, in which you are unconscious and unable to feel pain.
It can also be done with a spinal anesthetic block while you are awake , or with a combination of relaxing and sedating drugs given intravenously and a local anesthetic injected around the anus.
Hemorrhoidectomy is associated with postoperative pain, but the procedure is successful for 95 percent of cases.
More recently, another option aimed at avoiding the postoperative pain of a hemorrhoidectomy has become available, called a stapled hemorrhoidopexy. A circular stapling device pulls the hemorrhoidal tissue upward and to its normal position, stapling it in place. The staples eventually fall out over time.
There are many options for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Its best to discuss the benefits and risks of each of these with your doctor in order to come up with the treatment plan that is best for your particular case.
What Are The Best Home Remedies For Hemorrhoids
If youd prefer to avoid medication, or youd like to complement your treatment with at-home remedies, here are some ways you can alleviate your hemorrhoids at home:
- Sitz baths: A regular sitz bath can relieve itching and irritation. Fill a tub with three to four inches of warm water and sit in it with your knees bent for about 10 to 15 minutes. Gently pat yourself dry with a towel afterwards. For an extra soothing effect, try adding Epsom salts to the bath.
- Fiber supplements: These reduce hemorrhoid bleeding, inflammation, and enlargement by drawing water into your stool to make it easier to pass. A psyllium husk fiber supplement, such as Metamucil or a generic equivalent, is a good choice, although psyllium may cause gas or bloating. In that case, try a supplement containing wheat dextrin or methylcellulose .
- Cold compress: Applying ice packs to the anus for 10-15 minutes can help reduce swelling and reduce discomfort. To avoid ice burns always place ice in a cloth or paper towel, and never apply it directly to the skin.
- Aloe vera: Aloe vera has been used in many cultures for centuries to treat hemorrhoids due to its believed anti-inflammatory properties. Given the sensitivity of the area, only use pure aloe vera to treat hemorrhoids, and perform a patch test 24-48 hours on your inner wrist prior to application to check there is no allergic reaction.
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Best Pills: Naticura Hem
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Wont shrink bumps
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Wont offer immediate pain relief
Over-the-counter hemorrhoid suppositories wont shrink your bump, but they can help stimulate a bowel movement or lubricate the anal canal so that its easier and less painful to go, Dr. Childs says.
There are a lot of products to help soften your stool, but we love this one because it has both witch hazel powder and psyllium husk, a natural fiber. Other ingredients like ginger root and horse chestnut seed are intended to help lower inflammation and promote healing in the damaged tissue of a hemorrhoid. Plus, psyllium husk is a gentle stool softener, so youll see results without any of the emergency feelings.
This formula is made from entirely natural ingredients with no chemicals and no fillers. That means its not only better in the moment, but also you can use the stool softener regularly if you need to help avoid future straining .
Active Ingredients: Psyllium husks, witch hazel, horse chestnut seed, and ginger root | Dose: 3 capsules once daily with a full glass of water | Uses: Reduces straining due to constipation, regulates bowel movements, support normal stool formation
How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis And Treatments
Most individuals who have hemorrhoids discover them by either
- feeling the lump of an external hemorrhoid when they wipe themselves after a bowel movement,
- noting drops of blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper, or
- feeling a prolapsing hemorrhoid after bowel movements.
With a history of symptoms, a physician can begin diagnosis on the basis of a careful examination of the anus and anal area. Although the physician should try his or her best to identify the hemorrhoids, it is perhaps more important to exclude other causes of hemorrhoid-like symptoms that require different treatment such as
- anal fissures,
This is true whether or not hemorrhoids are found during anoscopy.
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Where Do External Hemorrhoids Come From
External hemorrhoids are caused by swelling in the anal or rectal veins. They become susceptible to irritation and display symptoms that cause discomfort. There are many causes of hemorrhoids in general. However, there are specific causes of external hemorrhoids as well. These include:
- Pregnancy
- Eating habits
What Are The Worst Foods For Hemorrhoids
If there’s one thing that we are trying to get across is that there are many components that can be good or bad for hemorrhoids, but everybody is different.
If you suspect that you have hemorrhoids, you can try the things that we have suggested, a few at a time.
The one thing that I would really like to be understood is, do not self-diagnose.
There are other conditions more serious than hemorrhoids that could be causing the symptoms which might be mistaken for a hemorrhoid problem.
So even though you think you are experiencing hemorrhoids, get a doctor’s opinion.
If it is hemorrhoids, some of the foods that we’ve mentioned here could help you to control your symptoms.
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What Color Are External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids look like flesh-colored sacs that form around the anal opening.
Sometimes external hemorrhoids have a darker color than the rest of surrounding skin, and this is because the blood vessels underneath the surface of the skin are inflamed and irritated.
The skin becomes tight in some areas that are highly aggravated, and looser in the outer region of the external hemorrhoid.
In the case of a thrombosed hemorrhoid, the color is usually purplish or blue-hued due to the blood clot beneath the surface of the skin.
When and if the blood clot bursts, the thrombosed hemorrhoid is red in color, from bursting or bleeding.
What Are The Best Hemorrhoid Suppositories To Use
Every sufferer will have treatments that they use that they will say has helped them better than any of the others they have tried, the problem is that this best treatment can be different from one individual to the next.What works for one person will not always work for the next.
With that being the case I will provide below a quick rundown of some of the best suppositories you can get your hands on.
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Analgesia Ointments & Suppositories
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist about appropriate pain relieving medication.
Avoid taking oral codeine-based analgesics where possible as these can cause constipation and straining.
Immediate relief can often be obtained by using hemorrhoid ointments/suppositories.
Some ointments contain local anaesthetic and/or hydrocortisone which can alleviate pain and itching. Glycerine suppositories can help lubricate the anal canal and relieve internal hemorrhoids.
External Hemorrhoid Itch Relief
External hemorrhoids can become extremely itchy. The itching may even affect your quality of life.
There are ways to relieve and soothe the symptoms of itching. One way is to have a sitz bath.
A sitz bath involves sitting in a few inches of warm water for 15 minutes several times a day.
This reduces swelling that causes itching.
Witch hazel for hemorrhoids and over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams can be used to reduce the symptoms of itching, as well.
Additionally, applying a cold pack or ice pack like hemorrwedge can numb the area and bring down swelling that causes itching.
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What Are The Treatments For Hemorrhoids
If at-home treatments for hemorrhoids don’t help you, you may need a medical procedure. There are several different procedures that your provider can do in the office. These procedures use different techniques to cause scar tissue to form in the hemorrhoids. This cuts off the blood supply, which usually shrinks the hemorrhoids. In severe cases, you may need surgery.
Hemorrhoid Suppositories Vs Hemorrhoidal Cream
Suppositories are known to be more effective for treating internal hemorrhoids compared to topical creams. This is because they directly treat the anal and lower rectal area through medication insertion and topical creams and ointments such as Glycerin with Witch Hazel and Medicone only provide relief on the external region of the affected area.
Comparing the two treatments to find out which is better is not really a worthwhile exercise because in most cases the active ingredients in both forms of medication are similar if not identical. The only difference being that one is designed to be applied to external hemorrhoids in the form of a cream or ointment and the other for insertion into the anus.
So no, one is not better than the other, they are just different ways of taking the same medication.
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When Should You Worry About Hemorrhoids
Know When to See Your Doctor If youre experiencing any type of rectal bleeding. If the hemorrhoids are causing you pain or discomfort. If the problems persist despite trying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams or other remedies. If youre passing stools that look maroon in color or tarry in color, a sign of bleeding.
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Are There Natural Treatments For Hemorrhoids
First, some very good news: Neither type of hemorrhoid is dangerous, and severe complications that require medical care are rare. Symptoms often can be relieved by trying a few natural and self-care treatments.
- Draw a sitz bath. To relieve itching and irritation, fill a tub with three to four inches of warm water and sit in it with your knees bent for about 10 to 15 minutes. Gently pat yourself dry with a towel, but dont rub the area.
- Take fiber supplements.These draw water into your stool and make it easier to pass, helping to reduce hemorrhoid bleeding and inflammation. A psyllium husk fiber supplement, like Metamucil or a generic version, is a good choice. If psyllium causes gas or bloating, try a supplement with wheat dextrin or methylcellulose .
- Ease discomfort. Apply over-the-counter products that shrink the inflamed tissue and relieve itching. Try pads infused with witch hazel , or soothing creams that contain lidocaine, hydrocortisone, or phenylephrine .
You can also take steps to prevent flare-ups.
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What Correlation Diet Constipation And Hemorrhoids
Food is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids which are often unrecognized by sufferers. In fact, there are some foods that can cause hemorrhoids flare-up. So hemorrhoids and diet have a very close correlation.
And as a result of diet and foods that can lead to hemorrhoids is constipation. There are types of foods that can easily lead to constipation. Constipation is the main cause of hemorrhoids you should be aware of.
Constipation can cause a person to have to push harder during bowel movements, and it resulted in the enlargement of blood vessels in the rectum. If it continues over time, the hemorrhoids can be formed easily. So you should avoid constipating foods to prevent hemorrhoids worse, swollen or inflamed.
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Additional reporting to this story by Marlene Lenthang
As a health writer, knows just how important it is to find the right product for your body and mind. Over the years she has written about health crises, vaccines and product guides. She takes careful note of doctor recommendations, medical research and customer reviews in every product review to assure readers can choose quality products and understand the science behind them.
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Eat Too Many Refined Grains
Refined grains are grains that have been milled, a process that is performed to remove the bran. Foods that aggravate hemorrhoids are doughnuts, pies, candy, puff pastry, muffins, cakes, biscuits, and other processed foods.
Some kinds of white bread are also included. These foods can promote constipation. Constipation is one of the main causes that lead to strain as well as hemorrhoids flare-ups.
So, if you like to consume one of those foods, you may need to stop while you are on the treatment to cure it. If not, then it will be getting worse. Just ensure you will avoid those foods.
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- Help for hemorrhoids
What causes hemorrhoids?Any increase in abdominal pressure may produce hemorrhoids however, some people can get hemorrhoids for no apparent reason. Typically, the problem is associated with chronic constipation or diarrhea, accompanied by straining during bowel movements and prolonged sitting on the toiletall of which interfere with blood flow to and from the rectum and the anus. Under these circumstances, blood starts to pool and enlarge the vessels of the hemorrhoidal plexus. We discuss symptoms and treatments for constipation in depth later in this report.
There are some factors associated with the development of hemorrhoids you cannot control, while others you can.
SymptomsSome people with hemorrhoids never have any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, you may experience one or several of them, and their severity may vary. The most common symptoms include the following:
Severe pain is not a typical symptom, except in the case of a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.
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Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis And Treatment Options
TIMOTHY MOTT, MD, Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida
KELLY LATIMER, MD, MPH, U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, Catania, Italy
CHAD EDWARDS, MD, Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, Georgia
Am Fam Physician. 2018 Feb 1 97:172-179.
Patient information: A handout on hemorrhoids is available.
Hemorrhoids develop when the venous drainage of the anus is altered, causing the venous plexus and connecting tissue to dilate, creating an outgrowth of anal mucosa from the rectal wall. However, the exact pathophysiology is unknown. Hemorrhoids occur above or below the dentate line where the proximal columnar transitions to the distal squamous epithelium . The anus is approximately 4 cm long in adults, with the dentate line located roughly at the midpoint.2 Hemorrhoids developing above the dentate line are internal. They are painless because they are viscerally innervated. External hemorrhoids develop below the dentate line and can become painful when swollen. The extent of prolapse of internal hemorrhoids can be graded on a scale from I to IV, which guides effective treatment . This grading system is incomplete, however, because it focuses exclusively on the extent of prolapse and does not consider other clinical factors, such as size and number of hemorrhoids, amount of pain and bleeding, and patient comorbidities and preferences.3
SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE
Increasing fiber intake is an effective first-line, non-surgical treatment for hemorrhoids.
FIGURE 1.
How Long Does It Take For Hemorrhoids To Shrink
There is no set duration for hemorrhoids. Small hemorrhoids may clear up without any treatment within a few days. Large, external hemorrhoids may take longer to heal and can cause significant pain and discomfort. If hemorrhoids have not resolved within a few days, it is best to see a doctor for treatment.
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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 Metamucil , or a stool softener, such as Citrucel , can help prevent constipation.
Avoid laxatives, which can lead to diarrhea and worsen hemorrhoid symptoms.
Whom Do Hemorrhoids Affect
Although most people think hemorrhoids are abnormal, almost everyone has them. Hemorrhoids help control bowel movements. Hemorrhoids cause problems and can be considered abnormal or a disease only when the hemorrhoidal clumps of vessels enlarge.
Hemorrhoids occur in almost everyone, and an estimated 75% of people will experience enlarged hemorrhoids at some point. However only about 4% will go to a doctor because of hemorrhoid problems. Hemorrhoids that cause problems are found equally in men and women, and their prevalence peaks between 45 and 65 years of age.
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