mdolla: Hemorrhoids: Facts, Causes, and Treatments

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, can be extremely painful and unpleasant, but can easily be treated if you know the right treatment. Generally, it gets worse over time; therefore, doctors suggest that it should be treated as early as possible. In this article, I’ll explain some lesser known facts, causes and treatments of this ailment so that you can be well aware of it.

Hemorrhoids: The Facts

This medical condition is very common. Many people develop some form of hemorrhoid before the age of 50
There is an equal probability of hemorrhoids in both males and females
More than 75% of people will experience this ailment at least once in their lifetime
The likelihood of suffering from this ailment increases with the age
While this medical condition is most common between ages 40 and 60, it is not unusual to see it in younger adults.
In September 2014, New England Journal of Medicine published that this symptom did not get worse in people who ate hot chili peppers
Constipation is one of the biggest risk factors for developing the symptoms of hemorrhoids
There is no evidence that cold surfaces can cause this ailment. In fact, cold compression techniques may be helpful to relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids
Exercise is important for avoiding this ailment, with one small exception. Lifting heavy weights with poor technique can increase the risk

Hemorrhoids: Causes

Hemorrhoids occur when the veins in the rectum or around the anus are enlarged (dilated) or engorged with blood.

This ailment can occur due to the below reasons:

Pregnancy
Chronic diarrhea
Aging
Sitting for long periods (especially on the toilet)
Chronic constipation – from straining to move stools
Obesity
Anal intercourse
Some people also inherit a tendency for hemorrhoids genetically

Hemorrhoids: Treatments

Your doctor may carry out an incision in the case of clot formation around hemorrhoid. This treatment is usually effective. In the case of continuous bleeding, your doctor can use rubber band ligation, coagulation or sclerotherapy (injection).

1. Surgical treatment for hemorrhoids

Surgery is recommended if the patient has not benefited from the simple procedures, or if the hemorrhoids are very large.

In some cases, patients can go home straight after the surgical procedure, while in other cases they may have to be hospitalized.

Surgery may also involve hemorrhoidectomy which is complete hemorrhoid removal or stapling in which part of the intestine is stapled so as to reduce the chance of prolapse.

2. Home remedies for hemorrhoids

If you have fear of surgical treatment, then you should know how to heal hemorrhoids naturally. Some effective ways to treat this ailment naturally are as follows:

Topical creams and ointments
You can use over-the-counter creams which contain hydrocortisone as well as pads which contain a topical numbing agent.

Bathing the affected area
Gently bathe the affected area with warm water and don’t use soap. After that, you can dry the area gently with a hair dryer.

Ice packs and cold compresses
Applying ice packs to the affected area may help in reducing the swelling.

Sitz bath using warm water
The sitz bath is placed over the toilet and is available in some pharmacies. They may relieve the itching or burning symptoms.

Moist towelettes
If possible, you should always use wet toilet paper as dry toilet papers may aggravate the problem further.

Hemorrhoids are definitely a painful medical condition, but the cure can be pretty simple. You do not need to see a doctor for curing your pain and itching. The best treatments can often be things you can easily do at home. If you follow the above mentioned steps, you could be well on your way to aiding the problem.

Featured photo credit: Hemorrhoids via healthline.com

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