If you experience burning, itching, or pain in your anus, it may be due to hemorrhoids.
Many people hesitate to go to the doctor due to embarrassment or fear of being examined, but diagnosis is usually painless and highly recommended. While severe hemorrhoids can be prevented in the early stages with home remedies, hygiene measures, ointments, creams and suppositories, delayed treatment often requires surgery.
To prevent this from happening to you, in this article we will explain the causes of hemorrhoids, how to treat them using proven home remedies, and effective prevention measures.
Overview of Hemorrhoids
• What are hemorrhoids : Hemorrhoids block the rectum and can leak fluid if they are severely swollen.
• Causes and risk factors for hemorrhoids : Lack of exercise, prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, a low-fiber diet, dehydration, pregnancy and childbirth, weak connective tissue, obesity, poor circulation and older age.
• How to treat hemorrhoids : Good anal hygiene, avoiding and eliminating risk factors, anti-inflammatory ointments and creams, suppositories, or surgery (such as sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, or rubber band ligation).
• How to prevent haemorrhoids : Increase exercise, alternate between standing and sitting at work, keep your anal area clean, and eat a varied, high-fibre diet.
What are hemorrhoids and how do they develop?
Hemorrhoids themselves are not a disease. Everyone has them. They are part of the genital area that receives blood and closes the rectum. If we didn't have hemorrhoids, we would be incontinent.
However, if hemorrhoids become too swollen, they can no longer close the rectum properly and leak fluid, which can lead to inflammation around the anus. This inflammation can cause itching, burning, and even bleeding.
Are hemorrhoids infected?
Hemorrhoid inflammation is not caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria, but rather by unhealthy lifestyle choices and other non-infectious risk factors.
Bright red blood is likely a sign of hemorrhoids, but darker blood could be a sign of a serious intestinal problem.
In any case, if you experience any symptoms of hemorrhoids, it is best to see a doctor, preferably a proctologist.
Typical symptoms of hemorrhoids
Depending on the severity of hemorrhoid swelling, their appearance and symptoms may vary. [1]
• Itching, burning, or pain around the anus
• Leaking bright red blood or bleeding during bowel movements
• Constant urge to defecate, but not much actually going
• Painful swelling inside and outside the anus
• incontinence
In the early stages, hemorrhoids are very mild and can be easily treated with the home remedies and measures mentioned below, but if the condition is left untreated, surgery may be required.
Special cases during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the growing baby puts increased pressure on the abdomen, making it easier for blood to pool in the hemorrhoidal blood vessels. Similarly, a child can put pressure on the intestines, causing constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids. A high-fiber diet, plenty of fluids, and exercise can help prevent and treat hemorrhoids. Anti-inflammatory ointments and suppositories can also be used in cases of severe pain.
[Image]: Appearance of hemorrhoids depending on severity
Depending on the severity of your hemorrhoids, they may be internal (1st and 2nd degree) or external (3rd and 4th degree).
Causes and Risk Factors of Hemorrhoids
The cause of hemorrhoids is not clearly understood, but the development of hemorrhoids is generally caused by a combination of the following risk factors:
• Lack of exercise & sitting for long periods of time : Lack of exercise impairs blood circulation and intestinal peristalsis, leading to constipation and obesity, and putting a strain on the internal organs.
• Constipation : A low-fiber diet and lack of fluids can lead to constipation, while sitting on the toilet for long periods of time and straining can increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids.
• Poor circulation, weak connective tissue (due to age, pregnancy, childbirth, obesity)
Do you exercise regularly? And are you sitting too much?
When and which hemorrhoid surgery is appropriate
Most hemorrhoids (especially first and second degree) can be treated independently within a few weeks using home remedies (see next chapter). [2] If symptoms or pain are very severe and do not improve after 4 weeks, it is advisable to consult a specialist proctologist.
Treatment of hemorrhoids includes other methods and procedures such as sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, rubber band ligation, and surgical removal.[1][3]
Destruction of hemorrhoids: For first and second degree hemorrhoids, a doctor can perform sclerotherapy (also called injection therapy or sclerotherapy) on an outpatient basis. Here, a sclerosing agent is injected through a thin tube around the enlarged hemorrhoid, aiming to decrease blood flow and reduce swelling. This treatment is usually done up to three times, with a repeat treatment needed after about two years if the cause is not resolved.
Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids: Rubber band ligation is primarily used for second-degree hemorrhoids. A small rubber ring is placed around the hemorrhoid, cutting off blood flow and allowing the tissue to die and be expelled after a few days.
Hemorrhoid surgery (hemorrhoidectomy): This surgery using a laser, scalpel, and scissors is used for large hemorrhoids of the third degree or higher. It is divided into open surgery without stitches, semi-open surgery with partial stitches, and closed surgery with full stitches. Closed surgery allows for quicker healing, but there are more complications associated with stitches and internal bleeding. After hemorrhoid surgery, patients often suffer from pain around the anus, especially during bowel movements.
Treatment and Home Remedies: What works for hemorrhoids?
Research suggests that most cases of hemorrhoids should not require surgery unless conservative treatments, such as special hygiene, exercise, and dietary changes, have been exhausted.[4]
Small hemorrhoids (1st and 2nd degree) can be treated by a proctologist with sclerotherapy, but if they are already large (3rd and 4th degree), the so-called rubber band ligation is unavoidable, where part of the overly swollen hemorrhoid is ligated and falls off after a short period of time.
To avoid this or any other surgical procedure, you can use the following tips and home remedies to effectively prevent and deal with troublesome hemorrhoids in the future.
How long does it take for hemorrhoids to go away? Swelling from mild hemorrhoids (first and second degree) can be quickly and temporarily (though not permanently) reduced by cooling. Home remedies such as a high-fiber diet, adequate fluid intake, good hygiene, and plenty of exercise can significantly improve mild hemorrhoid symptoms within 1-2 weeks. After at least 4 weeks, or if the condition is already advanced, you should consult a doctor.
The following home remedies can help relieve hemorrhoid pain without medication:
1. Helps prevent hemorrhoids: sit less and move more!
For many people, their daily lives tend to be sedentary: during meals, during commutes, long periods in an office chair, and after work, perhaps on the sofa in front of the TV.
It is important to break this vicious cycle. In addition to hemorrhoid problems, lack of exercise is a risk factor for back pain, metabolic disorders, diabetes, and many other lifestyle-related diseases.
The easiest way to create a more active daily life is to adopt a few simple exercise habits that you can work on bit by bit: "10,000 Steps a Day: 33 Healthy Exercise Habits"
Screenworkers are encouraged to stand at a standing desk for 10 to 15 minutes every hour to improve circulation and reduce haemorrhoids.
2. Food that helps with hemorrhoids
Constipation can lead to the enlargement of hemorrhoids. To combat and prevent this, a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and generally high in fibre is effective. Drinking plenty of fluids also ensures optimal bowel function.
Things that help:
Psyllium
1 spoon of olive oil before breakfast
Castor oil
Massage the abdomen in a circular motion from right to left to stimulate intestinal activity.
Heating pad
3. Treating Hemorrhoids with Hygiene and Ointments
A common cause of hemorrhoids is poor hygiene. Be sure to clean thoroughly when you shower, especially around the anal area. Patting dry instead of rubbing dry will help prevent sores.
After bowel movements, it is recommended to regularly clean yourself carefully with wet tissues or a wet towel. When "passing the stool", try to relax as much as possible and avoid "pushing out". Placing a stool under your feet may help. This increased height reduces pressure on the intestines, making defecation easier.
Hemorrhoid ointments can relieve symptoms like pain and itching, but they don't speed up healing. [1] It's best to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about this, as not all hemorrhoid creams actually work. A natural alternative that many people have at home is aloe vera. Rubbing with the juice from this plant has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Remember: hemorrhoid ointment must be applied inside the anus, after which the cream must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Sitz baths with anti-inflammatory tannins (such as oak bark) can also be effective for acute pain and itching.
4. Hemorrhoid cushion to relieve pain when sitting
If you already have pain when sitting, a hemorrhoid cushion can help relieve the symptoms. This type of cushion has a depression over the hemorrhoid area, which takes pressure off the painful area when you sit. As a result, many patients are able to sit comfortably again.
Conclusion: How to deal with hemorrhoids?
It's important to first identify the cause of your hemorrhoids. Are you sitting on a hard surface for too long or for long periods of time? Is an improper diet causing constipation?
You can then take the appropriate measures to proactively and sustainably overcome hemorrhoid pain, which includes a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of fluids, taking frequent breaks from sitting, and special care of the anal area.
Image credit: Andreus / Depositphotos.com
Read the original article: ergotopia.de/blog/haemorrhoiden-schmerzen