What are HaemoroidsHaemoroids are abnormally large sacs of varicose veins, tissue and mucous membranes in the rectum. Haemoroids may also refer to small lumps that occur in the anus and lower part of the rectum as a result of swelling of the veins within the rectum. It is dilated or bulging veins of the rectum and anus, caused by increased pressure in the rectal veins which are develop either inside the anus, called internal
haemrroids, or under the skin around the anus, called external haemroids. Haemoroids in most cases is not considered a serious condition, but they can become a problem if they swell and protrude -- come out of the rectum to the outside of the anus and become irritated causing itching and bleeding.
Diagnosis for HaemoroidsDiagnosis of haemorroid begins at home with noticing any inconsistencies or symptoms associated with haemoroids, and ends with a comprehensive, medical evaluation. During a physical assessment for
haemoroids, physicians examine the anal area to receive a definitive diagnosis.
Diagnosing haemoroids may include:
- physical examination - to examine the anus and rectum and look for swollen blood vessels that indicate hemorrhoids
- digital rectum examination - the physical inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check for abnormalities.
- anoscopy - a hollow, lighted tube useful for viewing internal hemorrhoids is inserted into the anus.
- proctoscopy - a lighted tube, which allows the physician to completely examine the entire rectum, is inserted into the anus.
- sigmoidoscopy - a diagnostic procedure that allows the physician to examine the inside of a portion of the large intestine, and is helpful in identifying the causes of diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. A short, flexible, lighted tube, called a sigmoidoscope, is inserted into the intestine through the rectum. The scope blows air into the intestine to inflate it and make viewing the inside easier.
- colonoscopy - a procedure that allows the physician to view the entire length of the large intestine, and can often help identify abnormal growths, inflamed tissue, ulcers, and bleeding. It involves inserting a colonoscope, a long, flexible, lighted tube, in through the rectum up into the colon. The colonoscope allows the physician to see the lining of the colon, remove tissue for further examination, and possibly treat some problems that are discovered.
Causes of Haemoroids
Haemoroid causes are mostly attributed to physical dealing during defecation and may also be attributed to food intakes. Haemoroids are engorged veins in the rectal area and can develop through any increase in pressure in the veins on the lower rectum. Heamoroids are very common, but it is not exactly known how many people do have it, because often they do not know the haemoroid causes and symptoms. Although we know that people between the ages of 45 and 50 are mostly prone to haemoroid problems.
Haemoroids result from increased pressure in the veins of the anus. The pressure causes the veins to bulge and expand, making them painful, particularly when you are sitting because haemoroids are pressed. Haemoroid causes are mostly attributed by the increased pressure in the abdomen. Straining during bowel movement at the time of defecation also increases the chances of having haemoriods. Obesity, frequent constipation, and pressure of the fetus in pregnant women are also common to cause haemroids.
In order to avoid or to reduce the pain contributed by haemoroids, it is best to know the causes of haemoroids for you to be aware and have precautions as well. Most common causes of haemoroids includes:
• Poor intake of dietary fiber that results to constipation as one major causes of haemoroids.
• Poor intake of water or fluids also results to hard stool or constipation, as one major causes of haemoroids.
• Chronic constipation
• Straining during bowel movements
• Diarrhea and the continuous expulsion of loose stools thus can irritate the walls of the veins, thus causes haemoroids.
• Fecal straining
• Age specially at 45-60
• Pregnancy and child birth
• Lack of regular exercise
• Lack of physical and body movement
• Sitting or standing for a long time, especially sitting on the toilet waiting for the urge
Other Causes of haemoroids may also include:
• Genetic predisposition
• Pressure and strain due to standing for long periods
• Lifting objects that are too heavy
• Vomiting
• Coughing
• Sneezing
Haemoroid Symptoms
Haemoroids Symptoms may vary from person to another, and usually depends on what type of haemorroid and where it is located. Although many people have haemoroids, not all of them experienced symptoms of haemoriods.
For some, haemoroid is quite an embarrassing topic to discuss, it is also a very common issue that is untold. At age 50, about half of adults have had to deal with the uncomfortable feeling of itching, bleeding and pain which are the common symptoms of haemroids. But good to know, that there are now many available effective hemeriod treatments existing in our market, and for some only requires basic home remedies to get rid of haemoroid symptoms.
In case there is no haemroids symptoms such as pain or discomfort experienced, how will you know you have haemoroids? In most cases, bleeding or spotting of any blood in the stools or toilet tissue should immediately be referred to a doctor so the condition will be diagnosed properly. You need to have this checked to rule out the possibility of haemoroid symptoms.
Haemoroids symptoms usually disappears after a few days.
- Haemoroids symptoms of Internal hemeriods. These haemoroids develops in the deeper portion of the anal canal and rectum where there are few nerve endings, the main reason why you mostly can't see or feel these haemorroids. The presence of blood on toilet paper or in the bowl during bowel movement is a common haemoroid symptoms. And because internal anal membranes lack pain-sensitive nerve fibers, these haemoroids usually don't cause discomfort. But because of straining or irritation from passing stool that can injure a haemoroids delicate surface thus causes it to bleed. Occasionally, straining can push an internal haemoroid through the anal opening. If a haemoroid remains displaced, it can cause pain and irritation. Rectal Bleeding and pain are most complained about. Internal haemoroid can be extremely painful, as they often protrude and can become thrombosed, or clotted. Another haemoroids symptom of internal haemoroids is the occurrence of mucus just like the occurrence of blood in your stool.
- Haemoroids symptoms of External haemoroids. These external haemoroids appears on the outer rim of the anus and are usually the most uncomfortable haemoroids condition. These usually tend to be painful. Sometimes blood may pool in an external haemoroids and form a clot, causing severe pain, swelling and inflammation. Most common haemoroid symptoms of external haemoroids are itching, burning, and irritation. Streaks of blood may also appear on toilet paper after straining during bowel movements. You may also find it difficult to thoroughly cleanse the anal area.
Haemoroids symptoms for both internal haemoroids and external haemoroids are:
• Bleeding during bowel movements and the appearance of bright red blood on toilet paper after you strain to have a bowel movement is the number one haemoroid symptoms.
• Itching and burning are another haemoroids symptoms.
• The feeling of pain and swellings while cleaning your rectal area are also most common haemoroids symptoms.
Early recognition of haemoroids symptoms should be given importance to come up with early haemoroid treatment.
Haemoroid Relief
Haemoroid relief is aimed mainly to reduce the pain experienced by people who are affected by haemoroids. Although majority of haemoroid cases does not require any haemoroid treatment, unless they become very painful and starts bleeding. Normally, consumption of any laxative or stool softeners may give haemoroid relief from the strained bowel movements. However severe and bleeding haemoroids requires intensive haemoroid treatments to avoid further discomfort and pain
When talking about how to deal with your haemoroid flareups, there are several basic options which can give you good haemoroid relief. You can either choose to go with more conventional methods of haemoroid treatment, which would include prescription medications and medicines, or you can go the opposite route, and opt to use all natural or herbal products for haemoroid relief.
Although most haemoroids heal on their own without high level haemoroid treatments, there are some things you can do to speed up the healing process and spare yourself from long haemoroid suffering. For chronic haemoroid sufferers, the following may help you reduce the symptoms of haemoroids and offers you haemoroid relief.
- Apply haemoroid creams. There are various over-the-counter haemoroid creams containing witch hazel, hydrocortisone or other anti-inflammatory agents that can help reduce swelling and offers haemoroid relief to those who are badly suffering from haemoroids. Haemoroid cream usually contains active ingredients that go directly to the main problem thus providing immediate soothing haemoroid relief.
- Moist wipes. Wiping with moist wipes or moist toilet pads can also reduce and prevent continued irritation of the rectal area thus gives haemoroid relief.
- Applying petroleum jelly or aloe vera gel to the anal area also gives haemoroid relief
- Sitz bath. Soaking in a tub of warm water regularly for about 10 minutes to 15 minutes can help reduce swelling and decrease pain and discomfort.
- Apply Ice on it. Apply a cold compress or an icepack to the affected area can cause haemoroid tissue to numb thus can help reduce the swelling and offers you haemoroid relief.
- Keep the anal area clean. Bathe or shower daily to cleanse the skin around your anus gently with warm water. Soap isn't necessary because it may aggravate the haemoroids problem. Gently drying the area with a hair dryer after bathing can minimize moisture, which can cause irritation
- Zinc oxide lotion. Many people find kind of lotion such as that in diaper rash medicines, to be very relieving and offers effective haemoroid relief. They’ll help reduce the pain and swelling very quickly.
- Aerosol treatments are also good with their numbing properties.
- Take oral medications. You can use acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen for temporary haemoroid relief.
- You will also want to make sure you’re patting down the rectal area instead of wiping and rubbing it after going to the toilet. Unscented baby wipes are highly recommended because they are mild and easy on your skin.
There are also various local and alternative treatments to achieve better haemroid relief which are available for either external and internal haemroids. Examples are specific fiber rich diets, herbal ointments and preparations in addition to acupuncture and homoeopathic treatments for immediate haemroids relief.
Another common treatment for heamoroid relief especially for large internal haemoroids that do not respond to injection is to tie them with rubber bands that make the veins to wither off without pains. Usually this is done one haemoroid at a time and repeated once a fortnight. Alternatively the internal haemoroid may also be treated by a laser or electrical current. All of these are basically recommended to give haemoroid relief for those who suffer greatly on haemoroids
Failure to prevent haemoroids from getting worse or give any haemoroid relief will result in to a need for outpatient surgery for most severe haemoroids cases. Normally surgical intervention is made only if all other haemoroid treatments fail to give any relief for those who suffer because surgery causes severe pain, and new techniques are still being investigated for pain free removal. And any occurrence of bleeding may be a sign of something more serious and should be checked by physician as soon as possible for immediate haemoroid treatment.
Haemoroid Treatment
Haemoroid treatments are aimed to relieve pain and discomfort suffered by an individual. There are many natural heamoriods treatment that requires simple steps which you can do on your own, and are also very effective way to ease discomfort. These treatments of haemoroids includes herbal and homeopathic remedies which contain natural ingredients and are gentle to use.
Haemoroid Treatment should be given first priority if you already notice some heamoriod symptoms in order give quick relief and recovery, and to avoid discomfort and other problems and complications associated with haemriods. This uncomfortable problem involves swelling of the veins of the rectum and anus. This is because veins in the rectal area becomes overloaded with blood and that leads the walls to stretch thus resulting to bleeding, pain, itching and burning feeling- therefore immediate haemoroid treatments are highly recommended.
There are also various haemoroid treatments prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter medicines that are now instantly available to sooth pain. There are alternative therapies for Heamoroid treatment that can give you safe and long lasting results. These includes dietary supplement, home made remedies, homoeopathic and herbal medicines. But of course, doctors would recommend the right haemoroids medication treatment such as ointments, pads and creams when the need arises. Doctors may also recommend rubber band litigation, sclerotherapy, surgery, and stapling for other cases wherein the haemoroid is too painful to bear or are persistently bleeding.
Even without haemorroid treatment applied, haemoroids sometimes may heal on their own but there are also some things you can do to speed up the healing process and spare yourself from long suffering of haemoroids. You can try these following Haemoroid treatments which you can perform at home and may help keep your haemoroids from getting worse:
- Apply Haemoroid Cream: Over-the-counter haemoroid cream or corticosteroid creams and wipes containing witch hazel and other anti-inflammatory agents can help reduce pain and swelling. Wiping with moist wipes can also prevent continued irritation of the rectal area while having your haemoroid treatment.• Take a bath: One of the most common haemorroid treatment is soaking in a tub of warm water for about 10 minutes to 15 minutes can help reduce swelling and decrease pain. Warm baths are excellent way to accomplish haemoroid relief. It 's best if you can soak in the warm water several times a day. It provide immediate relief from pain and itching, increased blood flow to the area that will accelerate healing and clothing and to reduce pressure on the anal area.
- Take plenty of liquids in your daily diet. As much as possible take a minimum of 7 to 9 glasses of water a day. If any one is having bowel disorders this can lead to haemoroids. Because of this many prominent people and physicians stress the importance of taking much water for rapid recovery as one your haemoroid treatment. Try to lose weight. If you're overweight, it could be one contributing factor to your haemoroid.• Losing weight and being more active will provide haemoroid treatment. Reduce your salt intake as much as possible.
- Try not to sit or stand for a long period. Or try to sit with pillow if you cannot have short breaks to stand. And avoid lifting heavy objects while your doing your haemoroid treatment.
However, if the above haemoroids treatment does not alleviate your pain and swelling , it is more recommended to seek for physicians advice for proper haemroids treatment. The process of haemoroid treatment is not a fun one, but as long as you take the issue seriously and get yourself haemoroids treatment as soon as possible, then you should be able to relieve yourself of the condition promptly.
Haemoroid Surgery
Haemoroid Surgery may become highly recommended and very necessary if the haemoroids becomes very enlarged, protrude from the anus , bleed frequently, or contain blood clots, severe, chronic and all other haemoroid treatments were unsuccessful. Your last resort for short.
A number of haemoroid surgery methods may be used to remove or reduce the size of such haemoroids. Common practitioners will apply haemoroids surgery and other form of haemoroid treatment in such worst cases. These haemoroid surgery includes:
• Hemorrhoidectomy. This kind of haemoroid surgery is commonly reserved for permanently prolapsed or protruding hemmmeroids, these are anal surgeries that are carried out under anesthesia and may require hospitalization after the process. When the haemoroid becomes too large and is already protruding out of the anus all the time, it might be a right time and necessarily be cut off through a haemoroids surgery process called haemoroidectomy. In some cases it might not mean actual cutting off of pieces of haemoroids tissue from the anal walls, but just merely dissecting the swollen haemoroid to remove clotted blood and puss so that the haemoroid can eventually "dry" up with the help of other medication such as ointments and suppositories. Internal haemoroids usually can be destroyed by injecting them with a chemical substance, this is necessary if internal haemoroids are prolapsed or very large.
• Coagulation. This kind of haemorroid surgery is considered best for heamoriods that are still in its smaller shape. It involves the process of burning of hemeriods with the help of electric current or infrared light to burn off or shrivel the haemoroid tissue. Continuous heamoroid treatment results in shrinkage and disappearance of haemoroids.
• Rubber Band Ligation. Any qualified medical practitioner uses a rubber band to tie off the haemoroids at the root so that they wither off and die. By its very nature, this haemoroid surgery method of treatment cannot be applied in the early stages of the haemoroid since the haemroids are still tiny. It is best suited for hemmreoids that are already hanging out of the anus, or those that are seen and felt as big lumps outside the anal opening. This procedure is based on the fact that haemoriod thrive on regular blood supply. Therefore, if the blood supply is cut off, by tying the vessels that carry blood to the lumpy haemoroids, then this shortage and absence of this blood supply will see to it that the haemoroid will "starve to death", but it takes a couple of weeks for the area to completely heal. This procedure is usually painful and may cause bleeding and because there are no nerve endings in the rectum, no anesthesia is necessary on this kind of haemoroid surgery.
• Sclerotherapy. In sclerotherapy, a chemical solution or substance are injected around the blood vessel to shrink and destroy the haemoroidal tissue.
Haemoroid Surgery causes severe pain and new techniques are still being investigated for pain free removal of haemroids. Depending on the severity of your haemoroid case, haemoroid surgery may be performed by giving local or general anesthesia, the healing takes place after a period of 3 to 4 weeks. However one disadvantage reported by some patients who undergone surgery is that even haemoroid surgeries cannot assure that haemoriods won't return after the haemoroid removal.
Therefore, for you to not experience the pain of haemoroid surgery only to find out it will just reoccur, it is best for you to have it prevented before it becomes worst. Make it a habit to add fibrous foods and fruits in your daily diet. Increase your fluid intake, a minimum of 8 glasses a day will do to avoid constipation as one of the major cause of haemoroid.
It is best recommend however that haemoroid surgery be used only as your last line of defense against haemoroid because most hemmeriods can be treated and cured with self treatments and other home remedies. But for haemroids which did not respond to non-surgical treatments... haemoroid surgery is advised.