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A Guide to Hemorrhoids Treatment

Hemorrhoids are a conglomerate of blood vessels that protrude from the anus and can be painful and bothersome. Hemorrhoids treatment that normally works well is a change in diet and taking preventative steps. That should be the first line of action when considering hemorrhoid treatments. Left untreated hemorrhoids can grow in size and pain and are very uncomfortable. There are several ways to treat hemorrhoids, from invasive surgery to gentle at home treatments. Treatments depend on the type of hemorrhoids. There are two kinds, those on the inside, or internal hemorrhoids and those on the outside or external hemorrhoids.

Invasive treatments are those required by a physician. There are two types of invasive treatments, fixative and surgical. These should only be done after all other treatment options have been exhausted and rendered useless. Only a medical doctor should perform invasive treatments, never try these at home on your own, or you risk major bleeding and infection.

Fixative Hemorrhoids Treatment

Fixative treatments aim to stop the blood flow to the hemorrhoid, thus eliminating the growth of the hemorrhoid and helping to shrink them. A fixative treatment will leave significant scar tissue behind, however this scar tissue aids in the prevention of developing more hemorrhoids. One mode of fixative treatments is with the use of a rubber band, called rubber band ligation. The rubber band is placed around the hemorrhoid and it cuts the blood supply. Other fixatives are:

• electric current
• heat
• lasers

These create scar tissues that keep the blood supply at a minimum to the hemorrhoid, helping the area to shrink. This procedure is attempted before moving on to surgical treatments. Fixative treatments works better with smaller hemorrhoids that pokes out of the anus.

Surgical Hemorrhoids Treatment

A hemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of hemorrhoids. This works well for large hemorrhoids that reside on the inside of the anus. This is the best method to aid in the control of bleeding. Some treatments cause the bleeding to worsen, and surgery is the next logical step. A combination of a hemorrhoidectomy and a fixative treatment is useful with some cases, and works very well. The surgical treatment is more permanent, but also pricey and comes with a recovery time that can be lengthy. Recovery is also painful and runs a risk of infections. Surgery is not recommended for older patients over age 70.

Hemorrhoids Treatment by Preventing Constipation

Hemorrhoids are aggravated when constipation, because straining can cause them to swell. To avoid constipation, you can help to prevent hemorrhoids. The best way to avoid constipation is to eat a balanced diet that includes whole foods:

• beans
• fruits
• vegetables
• whole grains

Foods that are high in fiber helps to keep the bowels moving normally and high fiber foods help to prevent the need to strain. Drinking water to help keep the body well hydrated will help to keep the digestive system moving right along. Exercising helps the body to stay regular. A good workout routine includes at least half an hour three times a week, even if you exercise for just 10 minutes 15 times a week, will help.

If constipation is still an issue it is okay to include a fiber supplement with your daily routine. Use one that is not addictive like those that contain nothing but soluble fiber. Drink plenty of water with the fiber supplement for best results. The body works well to put your bowel movements on a schedule. When you feel the urge, go, but do not strain. Try to relax, and see what time of day you normally feel the urge and make sure your schedule will allow for an uninterrupted bowel movement.

Hemorrhoids Treatment by Good Habits

Good bathroom habits will help to prevent hemorrhoids. As mentioned above, when you feel the urge, go. If you feel the urge and wait, you may end up straining. The urge hits, and you have a few minutes to “go with it” and allow nature to help push the contents out of your bowels. Straining at all will aggravate hemorrhoids. It is best to not strain. You can prevent strain by breathing through the bowel movements. If you hold your breath during it, you will tend to strain and will aggravate the hemorrhoid. Try not to spend any more time on the toilet than necessary. While it may seem relaxing to read the newspaper or magazine while sitting there, do not do this, because it draws your attention away from the task.

Try to be active to help keep the hemorrhoids at bay. This means you should work to move around more during the day. If you have a job that has you standing for long periods, try to sit down a few times throughout the day to give your body a rest. On the same token, if you have to sit all day, try getting up every 20 to thirty minutes and walk around. The key is not to let the body stay in one position for a long time, as this encourages hemorrhoids to be aggravated.

*Pregnant women are prone to hemorrhoids. If you are expecting, keep the pressure off your backside. Lay on your side instead of your back. In addition, do not sit on the toilet for prolonged periods.

Hemorrhoids Treatment at Home

Treating hemorrhoids naturally works if you first develop the preventative habits above. After a bowel movement, instead of wiping with dry toilet paper, try a baby wipe, or a medicated wipe made for hemorrhoids. Never rub the anus vigorously. The area needs gentle patting to cleanse and a gentle pat dry with a soft towel. Be care to only use gentle soaps, nothing heavily perfumed.

Hemorrhoids Treatment for Itching and Pain

If you have a lot of pain take an over the counter pain reliever like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen will also help with swelling. A sitz bath helps to cleanse and relieve the area. Soak the bottom in a bit of warm water for around fifteen minutes a few times a day. Ice helps to shrink the tissues and relieves the pain and itching. Place an ice pack on the anus for around 10 minutes. If you wish, use a warm compress to help relax the area. Always seek the advice of your physician before taking any medications as listed above, or any of the hemorrhoid medications available over the counter.

Hemorrhoids Treatment: Over the Counter Medications

Suppositories

The medicines you can purchase over the counter work to help relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids without the need for a prescription. There are suppositories, which are gently inserted in through the anus to help shrink the hemorrhoids and helps to control itching and irritation. Suppositories are good to use for a week, or a little longer.

Ointments

Ointments like petroleum jelly (Vaseline), hydrocortisone, and zinc oxide help to protect the skin. They aid in stopping the itch by creating a barrier of protection of the hemorrhoids. Hydrocortisones are steroids that will help to reduce the swelling and itching. Over the counter medications may contain 1% hydrocortisone and a doctor can prescribe one that contains 2.5% for extra strength. Steroids should only be used short term, no longer than 2 weeks.

Some ointments may contain a local anesthetic, which numbs the tissues. They work when hemorrhoids become painful. Caution is necessary when using products that end in a “caine.” These ingredients are associated with a high allergic rate.

Being Comfortable with Hemorrhoids Treatment

It can be difficult to be comfortable if hemorrhoids are inflamed. There are things you can do to help be comfortable while treating hemorrhoids. For one, not putting pressure on your backside will help. This means to lay down, either on your side or stomach to take all pressure off the hemorrhoids. Keep standing and sitting at a minimum until they have shrunk. If you have to sit, try using a pillow, to cushion your backside. Clothing can irritate hemorrhoids, so wear all cotton undergarments to keep the area dry. Tight clothes will also irritate the area, loose clothing is best. At this point, you want no pressure on or near your anus, including clothing.

What to Consider with Hemorrhoids Treatment

Hemorrhoids are easy to irritate and become inflamed. Because they are external blood vessels, they can clot easy, causing them to become hardened and painful. When this occurs, it creates a thrombosed hemorrhoid. These are extremely painful and do not react well to simply at home treatments. Normally they need treatment at a physician’s office, with outpatient surgery.

During this surgery, a local anesthetic will numb the area before the doctor makes an incision to remove the hemorrhoid. Once removed, the swelling and pain goes away. Recovery time for the incision is a couple of weeks. The incision area will drain while it is healing, and it can be as painful as or more painful than the actual hemorrhoid. However, once healed, the hemorrhoid is gone and you should never have an issue in that area again. Pain meds are given during recovery and taking the same measures as you would to find a comfort level with the hemorrhoid would help to get through the recovery time.

It is best to try the home hemorrhoids treatment before submitting to surgery. Surgery should always be the last choice. When choosing a physician to perform any type of fixative procedure or surgery, inquire about the equipment they use and choose one who has the most satisfied patients. It is okay to ask for referrals and testimonies, especially when it comes to surgical procedures.