Haemorrhoids
Natural remedies for hemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoids are an extremely common problem, and yet people are still too embarrassed to ask for help for the painful sensation of burning, itching and bleeding caused by them.
Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician who lived more than 2400 years ago, knew from that time that haemorrhoids were dilated anal veins, and the treatment he recommended was a frightening one: burning them with a hot iron!
Haemorrhoids - definition and classification
Haemorrhoids are dilated veins located in the wall of the rectum and anus, which causes pain, itching and occasionally haemorrhages. Haemorrhoids occur when veins of the rectum or anus dilate, causing bleeding.
Haemorrhoids may also become inflamed or may form blood clots (thrombi).
There are two types of haemorrhoids:
- Internal haemorrhoids, the most common type of haemorrhoids, develop in the anus, do not cause pain, but minor bleeding may occur.
- External haemorrhoids are, on the contrary, painful and can bleed.
Both forms of haemorrhoids can turn into protruding haemorrhoids (which become prominent on the outside), forming a soft gall.
Haemorrhoids - Causes and Risk Factors
The main factor leading to the appearance of haemorrhoids is the increase in pressure in the veins of the anorectal region.
This happens especially during pregnancy, the frequent lifting of heavy weights or during constant efforts to defecation.
Constipation may cause the onset or worsen of haemorrhoids. Also, prolonged state and age may contribute to the appearance of haemorrhoids.
In a small number of people, haemorrhoids occur due to increased pressure in the portal vein (the large vein of the abdomen that drains the blood of the intestinal visceral to the liver). It is the doctor who can distinguish between common haemorrhoids and venous dilations that occur in this disease.
Haemorrhoids - Symptoms and Diagnosis
Haemorrhoids can bleed, usually after the person has had a stool, with the appearance of blood on toilet paper or faeces. Blood can make the water in the toilet bowl red, but the amount of blood lost is usually small, and haemorrhoids rarely lead to severe bleeding caused by anaemia.
When haemorrhoids are protruding at the anal level, they sometimes have to be gently pushed back using their finger, or they can be self-indulgent.
Haemorrhoids can swell and become painful when their surface is damaged or when a blood clot forms inside them.
More rarely, haemorrhoids can lead to the elimination of mucus and cause the feeling that the rectum is not completely emptied after the person has had a chair.
The itching that occurs in the anal region (anal pruritus) is not usually a symptom of haemorrhoids, but it may occur if the presence of haemorrhoids causes anal hygiene to be deficient.
The doctor can easily determine the diagnosis of haemorrhoids when they are of large size, only based on the inspection of the anus and rectum. Examination with the anoscope or sigmoidoscope helps determine whether the patient would have a more serious disease, such as a tumour.
Haemorrhoids - medical treatment
Bleeding haemorrhoids can be treated by injecting a substance that causes local fibrous tissue formation, a procedure called injectable sclerotherapy. Large internal haemorrhoids and those who do not respond to injectable sclerotherapy can be ligated using special rubber bands (a procedure called "banding"). The bands cause the haemorrhoid size to rush and fall without pain.
Treatment usually only applies to a single haemorrhoid at intervals of at least two weeks. Internal haemorrhoids can be destroyed by laser (laser dissection), infrared light (infrared photocoagulation) or electric current (electrocoagulation).
If all of these therapeutic procedures do not work, surgery can be performed to remove the haemorrhoids. But surgery can cause intense pain. Currently, less painful new techniques, such as haemorrhoidal arterial ligation carried out under Doppler guidance, are identified where hemorrhoidal arteries are identified and ligated, thus reducing hemorrhoidal blood supply. Another method is circumferential stapling of haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoids - natural remedies
Some more or less effective remedies are not scientifically proven and do not work in all cases, so you should consult your doctor before making a decision. Here are some such natural remedies against haemorrhoids.
- Comfort comes from heat. Take a bath with warm water. You should sit with your knees bent to allow a warmer exposure to the hot water. This could relieve pain, facilitate blood circulation in the area, and help reduce dilated veins. For external haemorrhoids, you can use a warm, wet tea bag. Heat calms and tea's tannic acid helps to reduce pain and inflammation, also favouring coagulation that stops bleeding.
- Stay on the ice. Fill an ice-resistant plastic bag, wrap it in a piece of old cloth and sit on it. The cold contracts the swollen vessels, offering a strong calming. Do not stay more than 20 minutes with the seat on the ice.
- Some petroleum jelly, which is included in many of the haemorrhoid treatments released without a prescription, can help calm the area.
- Liquid vitamin E and wheat germ oil are both reputed to be effective. Put them on a cotton swab and apply several times a day.
- If you can find it in a herbal store, try a supplement containing dill and marigold, which soothes and favours healing.
- As strange as it may seem, a raspberry cataplasm has an astringent and calming effect.
- Be bit lazy. Several times a day you find a cosy couch, stretch and put your feet up. What is good for tense nerves is good for haemorrhoids. In this calming posture, lower the weight of the overloaded anal area. At the same time, improve your circulation.
- The cereals are good. It is good to have more fibre in the diet. Research has shown that a fibre-rich diet can significantly reduce the symptoms of haemorrhoids, including pain and bleeding. Foods rich in fibre include whole grain bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, brown rice and oleaginous fruits. When you include more fibre in your diet, you must keep yourself well hydrated to avoid constipation.
- Make sure you drink enough fluids, so the urine is pale yellow.
Haemorrhoids - Prevention.
Anyone who has been sitting for a long time on a chair needs to make a little movement from time to time.
If you are tired at the office, take a break and stroll for 5 minutes every hour. Every time you lift up, relieve the rectal pressure leading to the haemorrhoids. Heavy lifting exerts pressure on the anal area.
If you are asked to raise a bed or wardrobe, please excuse yourself that it hurts your back and ask for help.
If you are accustomed to doing heavy exercises when you go to the gym, avoid genuflexions.
Every time you crawl and then lift up, put a splash on the rectum. Also avoid any exercise involving the state in the seat for long periods, such as the use of a stationary bicycle.
The policy of the throne room
The key to avoiding haemorrhoids is not forced, so excuse yourself whenever you need and go to the toilet. The problem of postponing is that it leads to constipation, which, of course, means you have to force yourself more when you go to the toilet. And so the haemorrhoids appear. Also, keep in mind that toilet paper used should not contain perfume and should not be coloured because such substances may be irritating.
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