Why do hemorrhoids occur? What you need to know about causes and treatments.

They’re never appreciated, but hemorrhoids are like the MVP of their field. The cushion helps protect the anal canal from accidental leaks. Have you ever wondered how your body knows the difference between gases, solids, and liquids? Scientists have found that the ability to tell when it’s safe to fart is based on the sensitivity of your body. I think it’s hemorrhoids.

However, these veins can become congested and the tissues that hold them in place weaken. When this happens, we notice hemorrhoids and decide that is the problem. Symptoms include itching, bleeding, bloating, uncomfortable lumps, inadvertent staining, and pain.

Decades ago, doctors thought constipation and a low-fiber diet were the problem. The main reason People suffered from symptomatic hemorrhoids.but the study We have not consistently proven this over the years. Also, although recommended as a treatment, a high-fiber diet does not clearly reduce the risk of developing engorged hemorrhoids. Meta-analysis shows that fibers increased. can be improved Once symptoms of hemorrhoids appear.

It is now believed that symptomatic hemorrhoids may be related to these factors, but the relationship is more complex. These are more likely to be caused by straining or hard stools (which can, but does not always, occur with constipation).

Sitting or straining for long periods of time (like when you’re scrolling through social media on the toilet) can damage the supporting tissues in your anal canal. I think smartphones have exacerbated this problem, but our pre-TikTok ancestors were also unaffected.A 1989 study published in The Lancet found that people with hemorrhoids spend more time reading in the toilet than those without hemorrhoids.

For this reason, I often remind patients when they sit down that they have one job and one job only.

If you still feel nervous despite a fiber-rich diet, consult a gastroenterologist to resolve the reason. You may have a problem with your pelvic floor muscles, which may be helped by physical therapy.

How to cure hemorrhoids quickly?

Hemorrhoid swelling usually heals on its own within a few days. Just like with a cold, it’s important to control your symptoms and support your body during this time. data The overall effectiveness of most over-the-counter medications is pretty weak, so you’ll want to avoid products that contain ingredients you’ve never heard of and promise quick relief.

What I tell my patients is what to do as soon as you feel hemorrhoid pain.

• Start consuming extra fiber.Dietary fiber supplements such as psyllium husk cut the risk Bleeding from hemorrhoids has been cut in half. It usually comes as a powder or capsule. Typical doses are 10 grams up to 30 grams per day (often divided into morning and evening doses). I think the powder is easier for patients to prepare themselves. See how a lower dose affects your stool and increase from there.
• use bidet. If you don’t have one, use wet wipes instead of toilet paper. These are gentle on the anal area and less irritating.
• Try a topical cream containing hydrocortisone twice a day. However, do not use it for more than a week.. These creams are available at any pharmacy and may relieve itching. However, steroids such as hydrocortisone can also weaken the fragile tissue around the anus and should be discontinued after a week.
• take a sitz bath. Sitz baths are nothing special. This is a term derived from the German word Sitzbad, which means to bathe while sitting. You can also purchase a portable bowl to place on the toilet seat or sit in the bathtub for about 10 minutes. Warm water reduces pressure within the anal canal and reduces inflammation. I tell my patients to do it two or three times a day.
• Call your doctor if you have painful thrombosed hemorrhoids. When a hemorrhoid changes from a mild irritation to a fiery ring of fire, it may be thrombosed or filled with blood clots. These will heal naturally, but if the pain is severe, quick procedure Symptoms can be resolved quickly. However, we want to act quickly. After 72 hours, Few benefits To intervene.

How do I know what type of hemorrhoid I have?

Are your hemorrhoids internal hemorrhoids (starting from inside the anal canal) or external hemorrhoids (starting around the rim of the anus)? External hemorrhoids are often bothersome, especially when sitting, while internal hemorrhoids are It is usually painless, but heavy bleeding can occur.

In some cases, the tissue that connects internal hemorrhoids can become weakened and cause them to protrude out of the anal canal. These prolapsed hemorrhoids may come out only to greet you when you strain to have a bowel movement, and then retract upwards on their own. You may also have to manually push it back into the canal.

Will hemorrhoids stop coming back?

Once hemorrhoids become enlarged, they often recur. The likelihood that they’ll bother you depends on your ongoing risk factors (are you still tweeting from the toilet?), the type of hemorrhoid, and how it’s treated.For example, people undergoing surgery for thrombosed external hemorrhoids much less likely More people return (about 6 percent) than don’t (about 25 percent).

Once the hemorrhoids heal, small memories of the time we spent together will remain. This is a piece of tissue called a skin tag. These are harmless, but can be difficult to clean. Skin tags can easily become irritated when rubbed with toilet paper or come into contact with feces. This is another reason to join #teambidet.

What treatments are used to treat hemorrhoids?

If your hemorrhoids do not improve, talk to your health care provider about possible treatments. Certain aspects of hemorrhoid intervention methods have remained unchanged for over 2000 years. The Greek physician Hippocrates wrote: paper About hemorrhoids from around the 4th century BC, it describes basic surgical and ligation techniques that are still mostly used today. For example, many prolapsed internal hemorrhoids heal successfully with a simple outpatient technique called rubber band ligation, which does not require surgery.

If you are taking blood thinners, your doctor may recommend sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a simple outpatient procedure in which a chemical solution is injected into the base of the hemorrhoid to deflate it. Other interventions are more complex and may require anesthesia. hemorrhoidectomy In case of severe prolapse hemorrhoids.

What we want patients to know

It’s difficult to give exact numbers on how many Americans suffer from symptomatic hemorrhoids, but it’s probably at least 10 million. most of them Men and women between the ages of 45 and 65. Some studies have observed that hemorrhoids are more common in pregnant and postpartum women, but it is unclear whether this is due to hormonal changes or other factors.During a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer, gastroenterologists like me use approx. 1 in 3 patients.

but Tumors, anal fissures, and even abscesses can also mimic hemorrhoid symptoms. If you experience bleeding from the rectum, consult your doctor. A physical exam may be performed to ensure an accurate diagnosis, and a colonoscopy may be advised to see if we have missed anything that should be more concerning.

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