Hemorrhoids
What are hemorrhoids? A hemorrhoid is a vein in the anal cancel which is swollen. These things are painful, but not life-threatening.They are also commonly called piles.
Sometimes veins swell on the inside of the anal canal near the anal opening or be more inside. Anyone can have one or both at the same time.
Hemorrhoids are of two types namely
Internal Hemorrhoid occurs just inside the anus.
External Hemorrhoid occurs at the anal opening and may hang out.
Signs of having hemorrhoids are:
1. Anal itching
2. Pain in the anus
3. Some bleeding when trying to have bowel movements
When a hemorrhoid is internal, it is more likely to cause the bleeding. The internal types of hemorrhoids are inside of the anus. They can also be very painful if they are popping outwards. The pain from hemorrhoids may worsen a lot if the blood supply is no longer there.
Hemorrhoids that are on the outside, (external,) can also bleed.The blood might form a good sized lump.
When you see the doctor with your hemorrhoid problems, they will do a digital rectal exam. They can also use a special medical tool called a sigmoidscope to check the rectal area on the inside. He will want to make sure that the bleeding is just the hemorrhoid and not some other serious colon problem.
Hemorrhoid Treatment
To prevent hemorrhoids in the first place, you can do the following:
1. Have a high fiber diet so that stool is easier to pass.This includes whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
2. Stay active. Sitting all the time may cause you to have hemorrhoids.
3. Drink lots of water every day. This also helps to avoid the constipation issues.
4. Always go to the bathroom when nature calls. Ignoring the urge makes the problems worse.
5. Pregnant women should sleep on their side. This will help to lessen pressure on the pelvis.
For many patients if the Hemorrhoid is at an initial stage, following a high fiber diet consisting of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and drinking lot of fluids (at least eight glasses per day) is all that it takes to get relief. For others, corticosteroid creams that can reduce pain and swelling are available. Hemorrhoid creams can be used to reduce pains. Applying of witch hazel with a cotton swab can reduce itching. To ensure that there is no itching, you may also wear cotton undergarments, avoid toilet tissue with perfumes and try not to scratch the affected area.
All options mentioned above are effective, however it is very important to maintain a high-fiber diet and take a lot of fluids to prevent Hemorrhoids from recurring.
