What are Hemorrhoids?
Posted on 19. Nov, 2009 by Ellen Roberts in Diet & Nutrition
When there is pressure in the rectum or anus area, the veins become swollen which causes hemorrhoids. The most common way to cause hemorrhoid is the strain during bowel movement. But there are other factors that can cause an increase in pressure in the rectum which are pregnancy, chronic constipation, and diarrhea. The two types of hemorrhoids are internal and external.
External Hemorrhoids:
Swollen veins outside of the rectum are called external hemorrhoids. It feels like a small lump and is very sensitive to the touch. They are usually itchy and irratating and is also more painful than internal hemorrhoids.
Internal Hemorrhoids:
As external hemorrhoids are found on the outside, internal hemorrhoids are found in the inside of the anus and may bleed on occasions. Blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet after bowel movement are common symptoms of internal hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids don’t normally hurt and compared to external hemorrhoids they don’t hurt at all.
Hemorrhoid Symptoms:
Blood on the toilet paper or blood in the toilet after bowel movement is the most common symptoms of hemorrhoids. The main symptoms of external hemorrhoids can be detected by irritation and painful swelling around the rectum. Around the anus area you may also find sensitive lumps. A symptom of internal hemorrhoids is an odd itch inside your anus.
Hemorrhoid Prevention:
Having the right diet is the best prevention for hemorrhoids. Drink lots of water to soften the stool for easy strain during bowel movement. It’s unhealthy to eat lots of processed food so in order to prevent hemorrhoids, add some fiber to your diet. More foods to increase your chances to prevent hemorrhoids are bran, fruits and vegetable.
Certain toilet habits will also help with avoiding hemorrhoids such as reading while your on the toilet. Sitting on the toilet for long periods of time can cause straining. So when you have a bowel movement, try to get the “job” done without reading.
Exercising and moving around is also a good hemorrhoid prevention. If your job requires you to sit for long periods of time, make sure you try to get up and walk around for five minutes per every hour. This advice will help you immensely.
Hemorrhoid Treatment:
The best treatment for you is based on the nature of your hemorrhoid. There are two types of treatment, natural home treatment and surgery. Both treatments are effective.
You would use the natural home hemorrhoid treatments to reduce the swelling and ease some of the pain.
A great hemorrhoid treatment is called a sitz bath where you sit in a tub of warm water for ten minutes a few times a day to treat both the swelling and the pain.
Another way to reduce hemorrhoid swelling is using ice packs which will also numb to area for pain.
Witch Hazel is a natural astringent that when used in creams and applying it around the effected area can help with irritation.
When the hemorrhoid is too painful, if the hemorrhoid persist, or in extreme cases, surgery is performed.
Rubber band ligation is a common form of uncomplicated hemorrhoid treatment. The blood flow is cut off by a rubber band that is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid inside the anus causing the hemorrhoid to shrivel and wither away in a few days.
A surgery that is used for smaller hemorrhoids is called Infrared Coagulations which can be used on external and internal hemorrhoids. Infrared light is used in this procedure to burn off the hemorrhoids.
An injection therapy called Sclerotherapy is a type of surgery used to cure small internal hemorrhoids. By injecting a hardening agent that causes loss of circulation will send the hemorrhoid shriveling.
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