Dr Kane Performs Infrared Treatment Of Hemorrhoids And Band Ligation Of Hemorrhoids
The Basics
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins. Each of us has veins around the anus that tend to stretch under pressure. One set of veins is inside the rectum and another is under the skin around the anus . Hemorrhoidal tissue is thought to be helpful in holding back stool at rest and in cushioning the sphincter muscles when we empty our bowels.When these veins swell and bulge, they are called hemorrhoids or piles. Swelling can be caused by straining to move your bowels, from sitting too long on the toilet, or from other factors such as pregnancy, obesity or liver disease.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bright red blood covering the stool, on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl. Bleeding starts when the swollen veins are scratched or broken by straining or rubbing. This can be aggravated by medicines that thin the blood. An internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is known as a protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoid.
Symptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid.
How Common Are Problems with Hemorrhoids?
Diagnosing Hemorrhoids
Treatment
Your doctor might also recommend cold packs, tub bath, warm soaks or bed rest.
Procedural Treatments
Prevention
Modified and reprinted from the American Gastroenterological Association.
Are Bleeding Hemorrhoids Dangerous
For the most part, hemorrhoids are not dangerous. You may not even know you have them unless you see blood or feel a lump or stiffness around your anus.
However, do not take your hemorrhoids for granted, particularly if you have bleeding hemorrhoids. Not everything that causes blood in your stool is harmless, for example, colorectal cancer. You should see a hemorrhoid doctor or general practitioner as soon as possible.
Hemorrhoids do not cause cancer. However, cancer can cause many of the same symptoms as hemorrhoids, including bleeding.
When Should I See My Doctor
See your doctor if you start to notice pain and discomfort around your anus, especially when you sit or have a bowel movement.
Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any drastic worsening of your symptoms or any of these other symptoms, especially if theyre interfering with your daily activities:
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Causes And Risk Factors Of Rectal Bleeding
Diverticulosis is the most common cause of rectal bleeding. It is the presence of tiny bulges, called diverticula, in the colon wall. Diverticula are common and typically do not cause problems, but can sometimes protrude through the walls of the bowels, leading to bleeding or infections.
Often called piles, hemorrhoids are swollen veins that appear at the bottom of the large intestine and outside the anus. They are caused by excessive straining, such as while making a bowel movement, sitting on the toilet too long, or, in women, pregnancy and giving birth. People who have persistent hemorrhoids are often constipated, overweight or obese, or eating a very low-fiber diet.
Hemorrhoids can be itchy, painful, and annoying, but they are rarely serious and often go away on their own. In certain cases, treatment may be needed.
Anal fissures, another cause of rectal bleeding, are tiny tears in the anus and anal canal commonly caused by straining with hard stools.
Colitis is the inflammation of the lining of the tissues of the colon. This inflammation can lead to rectal bleeding. Ischemic colitis occurs when blood flow to the colon is reduced, typically as a result of narrowed or blocked arteries. With infectious colitis, the swelling of the colon is caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Colon cancer is the most serious cause of rectal bleeding. Anal cancer, which is less common than colorectal cancer, can also cause rectal bleeding.
How Are They Diagnosed
Your doctor may perform one or more tests to examine the anal or rectal area for hemorrhoids:
- Looking at the anus or rectum for visible signs of hemorrhoids. A doctor should be able to easily diagnose an external or prolapsed internal hemorrhoid through a visual examination.
- Doing a digital rectal exam. The doctor will insert a finger covered with a lubricated glove into the anus or rectum to feel for signs of hemorrhoids with the fingers.
- Using an imaging scope to look at the inside of your rectum to examine for internal hemorrhoids. This usually consists of inserting a thin tube with the light on the end into your rectum. Tools used for this diagnosis may include an anoscope or sigmoidoscope.
Treatment may vary by type, degree of prolapse, or severity of your symptoms.
Here are some home remedies to try if your symptoms arent too severe:
- Use an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or witch hazel solution to relieve swelling and pain.
- Take pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen , to reduce pain.
- Use a cold compress to relive pain and swelling.
- Sit in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. You can either fill a bathtub with warm water or use a sitz bath.
In some cases, your hemorrhoids may need to be removed to prevent pain and long-term complications. Some procedures for removal include:
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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 developing hemorrhoids:
- Lack of fiber in the diet.
- Obesity: Being overweight can put pressure on the hemorrhoidal tissue.
- Aging: As we get older, the connective tissue in the rectum and anus becomes weaker, potentially resulting in bulging hemorrhoids.
- Pregnancy: As the fetus grows and puts pressure on the abdomen, the veins in the rectum and anus may become enlarged. The problem typically goes away after birth.
Bleeding When You Have A Bowel Movement
There are many underlying causes of rectal bleeding, including hemorrhoids. If you have bleeding from internal hemorrhoids, its usually bright red, occurs with bowel movements, causes no pain, and ranges from mild to moderate in quantity.
But never assume rectal bleeding is due to hemorrhoids. If youve never been diagnosed with hemorrhoids or you have noticed a change in the characteristics of the bleeding youve had with hemorrhoids in the past see us for an accurate diagnosis.
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How Hemorrhoids Are Diagnosed By Your Doctor
See your doctor if you think you might have hemorrhoids, especially if you notice bleeding from your anus or rectum, or have bloody stools. Your doctor will want to rule out more serious problems that can cause bleeding from the anus or rectum, such as cancer.
Hemorrhoid symptoms may also be similar to those of other anal and rectal problems, including anal fissures, abscesses, warts, and polyps.
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and will ask you to describe your symptoms. Questions about your eating habits, toilet habits, and enema and laxative use are likely to come up.
Your doctor will also perform a physical exam to look for lumps or swelling, prolapsed internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, skin irritation, skin tags, and anal fissures, which are small tears in the anus that can result in itching and bleeding. This will involve a visual examination of the area.
Your doctor may also perform a rectal exam to diagnose internal hemorrhoids, check the muscle tone of your anus, and check for blood in the stool. This is done with a gloved, lubricated finger and a tool called an anoscope.
An anoscope is a type of endoscope a hollow, lighted tube that is inserted a few inches into the anus to help the doctor see any problems inside the lining of the rectum. This procedure is performed in the doctors office and doesnt require anesthesia.
Your doctor may also recommend additional tests to rule out other causes of bleeding, especially if you are over age 40.
Hemroids Doctor In Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you what you need to make informed decisions about hemroids doctors, but we simply cannot cover everything here.
Again, always feel free to ask questions, never stop until you completely understand the information that your doctor is trying to convey, your hemroid doctors beliefs, attitudes, and experience on the subject of hemroid care, and the intricacies of your insurance. Doing so will ensure that you have the best and least expensive experience possible while treating your hemroids.
Hemroids are one of the more common health problems in existence today, with over 10 million people annually being affected by them. They can also be quite frightening on occasion, as the pain, itching, burning, swelling, and occasional bleeding both really gets in the way of daily living activities and can be indications of much more serious problems. A good hemroids doctor can be worth their weight in gold, while a bad hemroids doctor can cause you untold pain and grief for a life time. There are horror stories.
Main write by L Ice and rewrites by DS Urquhart.
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Procedure For Prolapse And Hemorrhoids
PPH is also called a stapled hemorrhoidectomy. The doctor will use a stapler-like device to reposition the hemorrhoids and cut off their blood supply. Without blood, they’ll eventually shrivel and die.
It can treat hemorrhoids that have and have not prolapsed, or slipped down out of the anus.
This procedure moves the hemorrhoid to where there are fewer nerve endings, so it hurts less than a traditional hemorrhoidectomy. You’ll also recover faster and have less bleeding and itching. And there are generally fewer complications.
Signs And Symptoms Of Rectal Prolapse
Rectal prolapse may be uncomfortable, but its not usually painful.
Symptoms of rectal prolapse may include:
- Bright red tissue sticking out of the anus
- An uncomfortable sensation like something is falling out, or like youre sitting on a ball
- Trouble beginning a bowel movement
- Feeling like you cant completely empty your bowels
- Fecal incontinence
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Prevention Of Rectal Bleeding
The best way to prevent rectal bleeding is to prevent its chief causes.
People at high risk for colorectal cancer should undergo regular screenings, primarily colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer screenings can detect precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screenings can also identify colorectal cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Complications Of Rectal Prolapse
- Ulcers in the rectum. These can lead to bleeding.
- A prolapse that cant be pushed back into the rectum. Emergency treatment is necessary in this case because the blood supply to the prolapse will be cut off, resulting in pain.
- Damage to the muscles and nerves in the sphincter. These can worsen fecal incontinence.
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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.
What Are Possible Complications Of Hemorrhoids
Complications of hemorrhoids are rare. If they do happen, they may include:
- Strangulation. Arteries feeding fresh blood to the hemorrhoid can become blocked, preventing blood supply from reaching the hemorrhoid. This can cause extremely intense and unbearable pain.
- Anemia. If hemorrhoids bleed too much, they can deprive your red blood cells of oxygen. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness as the blood supply carries less oxygen around your body.
- Prolapse. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can cause pain or discomfort when you sit or pass a bowel movement.
- Blood clots. Thrombosis is more likely to be a complication of an external hemorrhoid. Blood clots can cause increasingly unbearable pain and itching.
- Infection. Bacteria can get into hemorrhoids that are bleeding and infect the tissue. Untreated infections can sometimes cause serious complications, such as tissue death, abscesses, and fever.
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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.
Medical Treatment For Your Hemorrhoids
Dr. Rivas develops personalized hemorrhoid treatment plans after completing a thorough examination. The treatments we recommend may depend on the type of hemorrhoids, as well as your symptoms. Initially, we may suggest lifestyle changes to ease your pain, such as increasing your intake of fiber and water to improve bowel movements and sitz baths to alleviate pain and discomfort.
However, when at-home treatments fail, Dr. Rivas may suggest a procedure to destroy or remove your hemorrhoids, such as:
- Rubber band ligation
- Infrared, laser, or bipolar coagulation
- Thrombectomy
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How To Shrink External Hemorrhoids In 48 Hours
One of the treatments that have been going on for decades is applying an ice pack. Hence a cold compress or ice pack will give you immediate comfort. It is a first-line defense and is safe to use.
Also, you can buy over-the-counter medicines that are safe as well. There are various creams, steroid treatments, ointments, and suppositories that can help reduce the piles. All of them are painless.
Symptoms And How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last
If the veins are small, the symptoms will clear up in a few days, and no treatment is needed. Also, you might need to change few things in your lifestyle and diet.
Moreover, there are internal piles that might become big and stick out of the rectum. These types of piles are called prolapsed hemorrhoids. Also, they take more time to heal, and you might need treatment. If you think it is internal, then go to your doctor.
Also, when the internal hormones are pushed out of the anal opening, you might bleed during bowel movements. Some of the signs can be pain, lump, burning, discomfort, itching, and swelling.
Also, we said before some pregnant women develop piles. The main reason is due to the increased pressure in the stomach. This mainly happens during the third trimester, which makes the vessels in the anus and rectum bigger.
Sometimes pregnancy hormones might make the vessels swollen. If you get piles when you are pregnant, then the symptoms will last until the birth.
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Are There Any Preventive Measures That I Can Take
A healthier lifestyle is the key to preventing hemorrhoids. Small, gradual changes in your diet and daily activities can be very helpful. For instance, staying active and incorporating moderate exercises in your daily routine will not only help keep your weight in check but also reduces the chances of getting constipated.
Additionally, try to add more fibre rich foods to your diet and drink plenty of water. This will help keep regulate bowl movements and prevent constipation.
Also, as simple as it sounds, go to the bathroom as soon as you have the urge. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to pass the stool. If you do get constipated, dont force a bowel movement because that builds up pressure on the veins causing hemorrhoids to form.
If you are pregnant, avoid sleeping on your back. Try to sleep on your side. This can help lower the pressure on the blood vessels in your pelvis and prevent hemorrhoids from forming.
Some of the most frequently asked questions have been answered below for you. In case you have any other queries or would like to get medical advice from a doctor, feel free to reach out to one of our doctors.
What To Eat When One Is Suffering From Hemorrhoids
Consuming high fiber foods such as whole grains can ease your symptoms of piles like swelling and pain. Also, these foods help to prevent piles by making the stool soft and bulky. Hence you do not need to strain during bowel movements which is one of the causes of piles. Moreover, once you include more high-fiber food, it will also .
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Hemroids Doctor For Surgery
When hemroid surgery is indicated, the proctologist will generally refer you at that point to a colorectal surgeon another specialist hemroids doctor you may encounter. This doctors sole purpose and practice is to do surgical procedures on your colorectal region, thats it, thats all.
Your proctologist will probably handle post-surgical care and should remain an active participant in your care throughout the process. The proctologist will consult with both the colorectal surgeon and you on what surgical procedure fits your condition the best.
As long as you agree, the surgeon will give you instructions on pre-surgical procedure and what you can do at home to prepare for the surgery, with requirements for self-care before surgery and what you can expect after surgery.
While some surgical procedures can be done on an outpatient basis, where you go home the same day of the surgery, every surgical procedure usually forbids at least some physical activity for up to a week afterwards.
You should also get predictions on how much pain will be involved, and prescriptions and instructions for dealing with pain, inflammation, bleeding, and other common side effects. Either the surgeon or your proctologist, or maybe both, will want to see you a few days after the surgery to make sure that healing is progressing well and no complications have come up.