Hemmroids, most commonly known as Hemorrhoids (the proper term) are abnormally large sacs of varicose veins, tissue and mucous membranes in the rectum. Hemmroids is also one of the most common anorectal disorders affecting approximately 5% of the entire population. So that's about 336 million people suffering from hemmroids as of September 2008.

Hemmroid's most common symptoms are : Presence of blood in the stool, Feeling of obstruction caused by swollen veins in the anus, Protruding lumps hanging from the anus, Itching and inflammation around the anus.

Hemmroid causes : includes long periods of sitting or standing, lifting heavy objects, dehydration, obesity and lack of exercise, but without a doubt the largest factor is constipation and straining during defecation which resulted from poor eating habits and diet. Hemmroids often develop during pregnancy because of the pressure the fetus exerts in the abdominal area, as well as the hormonal changes that cause the veins to enlarge. Stress is another cause of hemmroid.

Hemmroid Diagnosis/Test : It is diagnosed based on a rectal examination. To diagnose internal hemmroids, the doctor will insert an anoscope , a thin, lighted tube to view the lower rectum. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy may also be performed to examine the inside of the colon and rule out any other causes of bleeding.


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How To Treat Hemmroids

how to treat hemmroids picHow to treat hemmroids? Well, treating hemmroids by simple treatment in an early stage is quite achievable than hemmroids that is already in worst condition. How to treat hemmroids is commonly asked especially for people who do not want to go to doctors for check up because they are ashamed of their condition. True that its is sometimes an embarrassing topic for discussion, but hemmroids are common. By age 50, about half of adults deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of hemmroid.

Hemmroids, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum. They may result from straining when having a bowel movement or the increased pressure on these veins during pregnancy. Fortunately, effective hemmroid medications and procedures are readily available to treat hemmroids. And in many cases this condition may require only self-care and simple lifestyle changes.

So, how to treat hemmroids?

Treatment for this problem consists of two important parts: (1) what you can do, and (2) what your doctor can do...

What Can You Do? How to treat hemmroids on your own? Well, you can temporarily relieve the mild pain, swelling and inflammation of most hemmroidal flare-ups with the following self-care measures:
  • * Put an ice bag on your hemmroids to help relieve acute pain. Some people find that the tanic acid from a warm, wet tea bag applied to the area is soothing. Others use compresses containing witch hazel applied to your hemmroid for 10 to 15 minutes three or four times a day.
  • * A 10 to 15 minute soak in a warm bath three or four times a day may relieve hemmroid pain and swelling for some people.
  • * Lying on your stomach or side instead of sitting may lessen the discomfort brought by hemmroids.
  • * If you must sit try using a “donut pillow”. This will help take some of the direct pressure off on your hemmroids.
  • * Keep the rectal area clean to help relieve the itching.
  • * Do not wipe yourself vigorously. Patting with toilet paper will help. Using moistened toilet paper or baby-wipes after a bowel movement can protect the skin from further hemmroids irritation.
  • * Avoid scratching. This will make your hemmroids worse.
  • * Avoid anti-itching creams or lotions with an ingredient that has "-caine" in its name. These products have a local anesthetic in them and, if used too often, can cause further hemmroid irritation.
  • * Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemmroid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a topical numbing agent.
  • * It is recommended that you consult with a physician prior to using any suppository-type product. Or better, try hemmroid creams than suppositories.
  • * Keep the anal area clean. Bathe or shower daily to cleanse the skin around your anus gently with warm water. Soap isn't necessary and may only aggravate your hemmroids. Gently drying the area with a hair dryer after bathing can minimize moisture, which can cause hemmroid irritation.
  • * Push back a prolapsed hemmroid. If a hemmroid has prolapsed, gently try pushing the hemmroid back into the anal canal.
  • * Don't use dry toilet paper. Use moist towelettes or wet toilet paper after a bowel movement instead.
  • * Take oral medications. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may relieve your discomfort brought by hemmroids.
What Can Your Doctor Do ToTreat Hemmroids

• Your doctor will examine your rectal area and may recommend several alternatives on hoe to treat hemmroids. Prescription of hemmroid creams and suppositories are available for hemmroid pain and swelling.
• Your doctor may also recommend a stool softener or a high-fiber, anti-constipation diet. All of these are available over the counter. The dietary fiber should be between 20 and 35 grams a day.
• If hemmroids persist or are particularly troublesome, a more active type of hemmroid treatment may be necessary. This may include the following:
  • Banding hemmroids. This is how to treat hemmroids through banding. Your doctor places one or two tiny rubber bands around the base of an internal hemmroid to cut off its circulation and the hemmroid falls off. This simple procedure — called rubber band ligation — is done in the doctor's office and is effective for many people.
  • Sclerotherapy. A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemmroid.
  • Infrared light. A 1- or 2-second burst of infrared light can cut off circulation to small, bleeding, internal hemmroids.
  • Surgery. If other procedures haven't been successful or if you have large hemmroids, your doctor can remove tissue in a procedure called hemmroidectomy. The surgery is done with either local anesthetic combined with sedation, a spinal anesthetic, or general anesthetic. It's usually done as an outpatient or overnight hospital stay. While you may experience discomfort after the procedure, medications can be used to relieve your pain. Soaking in a warm bath can also ease your discomfort. Some newer surgical techniques may decrease the amount of pain that some people experience.
Take note also that as a general rule, see your doctor if your hemmroids don't improve with self-care, cause pain, or bleed frequently or excessively. If the onset of your hemmroids occurs along with a marked change in bowel habits or if you're passing black, tarry or maroon stools, consult your doctor without delay. These types of stools can signal more extensive bleeding elsewhere in your digestive tract. Also seek emergency care if you notice large amounts of rectal bleeding, lightheadedness, dizziness or faintness.

The most common sign of hemmroids is rectal bleeding. But because rectal bleeding can occur for other reasons, see your doctor to rule out more serious conditions or diseases. Other causes of bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract include colorectal or anal cancer.

A doctor may also determine if you have external hemmroids simply by looking. For internal hemmroids, your doctor may want to conduct an examination with a rubber-gloved finger. But even this technique may be inconclusive because internal hemmroids are often too soft to detect by a rectal examination. In this case your doctor may want to examine the lower portion of your colon and rectum with an anoscope, proctoscope or sigmoidoscope. A more extensive examination could include an examination of the entire colon and rectum using a flexible fiber-optic colonoscope, to help exclude bleeding lesions not only in the rectum but also in the entire colon. Close follow-up is necessary, however, and continued bleeding despite hemmroid treatment requires additional examinations.

So, how to prevent hemmroids formation or to prevent hemmroids from coming back? These as follows:
  • Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help lessen the straining that can cause hemmroids.
  • Drink plenty of liquids. This can help avoid constipation as very common cause of hemmroids. But the exact amount of water and other fluids you should drink each day varies and depends on your age, sex, health, activity level and other factors.
  • Consider fiber supplements. Over-the-counter products such as Metamucil and Citrucel can help keep stools soft and regular. Check with your doctor about using stool softeners. If you use fiber supplements, be sure to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, fiber supplements can cause constipation or make constipation worse. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.
  • Exercise. Stay active to reduce pressure on veins, which can occur with long periods of standing or sitting, and to help prevent constipation. Exercise can also help you lose excess weight thus avoiding possible causes of hemmroids.
  • Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. If you must sit for long periods, don't use an inflatable doughnut cushion to pad your chair. It can increase the pressure on the veins in the anus.
  • Don't strain. Straining and holding your breath when trying to pass a stool creates greater pressure in the veins in the lower rectum. This is what you should do while on your pprocess of treating your hemmroids.
  • Go as soon as you feel the urge. If you wait to pass a bowel movement and the urge goes away, your stool could become dry and be harder to pass resulting to exerting much pressure which causes formation of hemmroids.
The mention above are the following suggestion on how to treat hemmroids. Just choose what best suit for your condition. And remember, notify your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: Severe, acute bleeding that you cannot control, bleeding that lasts more than a week , and severe hemmroid pain lasting more than a few hours.

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