Monday, August 20, 2012

Hemorrhoids Care- What You Need to Know

Hemorrhoids can cause a lot of discomfort, pain, irritation and scratching. More than often the person suffers mental irritation rather than physical pain. The constant scratching and discomfort makes one irritable and often you the person makes the hemorrhoids worse by scratching constantly.

Appropriate hemorrhoids care should be taken. A mild problem can turn into an extreme one where the treatment and suffering gets more complicated. There are various hemorrhoids care methods.

Hemorrhoids care and preventive measures
1. Apply affected area with a cold compress directly onto the hemorrhoid. Ask a family member to apply the cold compress as you lie facedown.

2. Moisten toilet paper and use it after a bowel movement.

3. Clean the area well with warm water several times a day.

4. Do not sit for too long as it will make your hemorrhoid worse.

5. Take Sitz bath 4-5 times a day.

6. Eat fresh vegetables, whole grains and beans. They contain fiber, which helps form stools and makes stool easier to pass.

7. Drink 12 glasses of water a day. This will keep stool loose and easier to pass.

8. Exercise regularly. This will aid your digestion and make moving your bowels less difficult.

9. Do not strain yourself during bowel movement.

10. Don't lift heavy objects that strain the lower body.

11. Buy a doughnut shaped cushion. They are available in pharmacies and medical supply stores and can be useful to hemorrhoid sufferers. Try and sit on it as instructed.

12. Use natural or herbal plant extracts, which aid the natural cure for hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids care and curative measures:
If there is only mild discomfort, the doctor may suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments or pads. These contain witch hazel or a topical anti-inflammatory agent containing hydrocortisone. In combination with daily warm baths, this treatment helps relieve your symptoms.

The hemorrhoids may be removed surgically or through other methods in extreme cases. Three surgical procedures to remove external hemorrhoids are:
a) Laser coagulation- The hemorrhoid is clotted with an electric probe which makes it shrink.
b) Infrared photocoagulation- The hemorrhoid is clotted with infrared light to make it shrinks.
c) Hemorrhoidectomy- Complete removal of the hemorrhoid.

Hemorrhoids care and post treatment care:
The hemorrhoids care after clinical or surgical treatment includes high fiber diet, drinking lots of water, safe bowel movements, etc.Always take care that the problem does not recur. If there is any discomfort in the region or bleeding or similar problems, get a check up done from your doctor. For more information visit: Venapro

External Hemorrhoids Treatment

Hemorrhoids treatment can be external or internal or both together depending on the nature of the hemorrhoids.

What is external hemorrhoids?

External Hemorrhoids are swollen areas of skin and blood vessels around the anus. They are highly innervated and sensitive and are also at risk for thrombosis. They develop around the external opening of the anus. It is usually very painful as the skin around them is very sensitive. Most of the times, they are just bothersome protrusions, which make hygiene and personal care very difficult.

External hemorrhoids develop a clot inside of them. This happens often after a period of diarrhea or constipation. In such cases, it produces a firm and painful swelling or lump around the rim of the anus. Symptoms are:
1. A painful bulge or firm lump around the rim of the anus, which may have a blue or purple tint.
2. Blood on the toilet paper after a bowel movement. The stool will be very hard or very large. Blood may also be seen on the toilet seat.

Treatment of external hemorrhoids
1. If there is only mild discomfort, the doctor may suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments or pads. These contain witch hazel or a topical anti-inflammatory agent containing hydrocortisone. In combination with daily warm baths, this treatment helps relieve your symptoms.

2. The hemorrhoids may be removed surgically or through other methods in extreme cases. Three surgical procedures to remove external hemorrhoids are-
a) Laser coagulation- The hemorrhoid is clotted with an electric probe which makes it shrink.
b) Infrared photocoagulation- The hemorrhoid is clotted with infrared light to make it shrinks.
c) Hemorrhoidectomy- Complete removal of the hemorrhoid.

3. There are specially designed tubs called Sitz Bath available at leading medical stores. This is a small tub and is specially designed to allow the soaking of hemorrhoids without taking a bath. In this process the rectal area is soaked in hot water for 15-20 minutes about 3-4 times a day. Not only does this helps relieve symptoms but also aids shrinkage of the hemorrhoid.

4. Other simpler treatments for mild cases include ice packs, topical ointments, suppositories, seat cushions, moist cloths and loose underwear.For more information visit: Venapro

Bleeding Internal Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are caused by over exerting oneself during a bowel movement. They are swollen areas of skin and blood vessels around the anus. They develop around the external opening of the anus. They are highly innervated and sensitive and are also at risk for thrombosis. They develop around the external opening of the anus.

Internal hemorrhoids occur above the pectinate or dentate line in the anal canal. They are covered by a mucous membrane. The internal hemorrhoid is graded to assist with the selection of a treatment plan. The treatment is then provided according to the grade. The grade of the hemorrhoid depends on the extent of descent into the anal canal and out of the anus. The most common sign of internal hemorrhoids is rectal bleeding. Hemorrhoids can ooze fresh red blood, whether located externally or internally. But bleeding internal hemorrhoids may produce fresh blood in the stool.

Reasons for bleeding internal hemorrhoids:
Hemorrhoids can develop from any common sources of pressure which includes:
a) Constipation and extra straining of the bowel.
b) Diarrhea, where the expulsion of loose stools is continuous.
c) Sitting or standing for prolonged hours
d) Obesity
e) Lifting very heavy weights or objects
f) Pregnancy and childbirth

How to deal with bleeding internal hemorrhoids?
a) Consult a doctor immediately. If you have been suffering from bleeding internal hemorrhoids then inform him if your bleeding is not stopping. If you are not aware of why you are bleeding then go for a check up as more than often anal fissure is mistaken for bleeding internal hemorrhoids.

b) Wipe yourself with clean wet toilet paper. Wetting the paper makes it softer.

c) Ask for emergency care if you notice large amounts of rectal bleeding along with dizziness or faintness.

Treatments for bleeding internal hemorrhoids:
If the bleeding is not stopping with prescribed medicines the doctor may recommend:
a) Rubber band ligation- Here one or two tiny rubber bands around the base of an internal hemorrhoid to cut off its circulation and the hemorrhoid falls off.

b) Sclerotherapy- In this process a chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorrhoid.

c) Laser treatment- A burst of infrared light can cut off circulation to small, bleeding, internal hemorrhoids.

d) Hemorrhoidectomy- This is the last resource if other procedures fail. Here the surgery is done with either local anesthetic combined with sedation, and requires an overnight hospital stay.

For more information visit: Venapro