What Causes Hemorrhoids and How Can You Treat Them?
Hemorrhoids, inflamed and swollen veins in the anal or rectal region, are uncomfortable and painful. The reasons for the formation of hemorrhoids are unclear; however, physicians have isolated a few general patterns. There are also a number of ways of treating them, ranging from home treatments to medical and surgical alternatives. Following is a look at the causes of hemorrhoids and the treatment options available today.
One major culprit of hemorrhoids is excessive blood pressure in the superior and inferior rectal arteries. Hemorrhoids are essentially swollen, distended veins. It seems logical that high blood pressure inside the vein can cause it to swell and distend into a hemorrhoid. What causes excessive pressure inside the veins around the rectum? Pregnancy, obesity, and general hypertension can all cause high blood pressure in that region. Furthermore, long periods of standing or sitting increase the fluid pressure as well. One of the biggest culprits of pressure on the rectal veins, however, is straining during defecation.
During the late 80s, scientists speculated on a relationship between hemorrhoids and different types of toilets. Specifically, why was it that the incidence of hemorrhoids in countries with squatting toilets is lower than that of the occidental world, where sit-down toilets are common? In a study performed with 20 hemorrhoid-prone patients, it was found that sit-down toilets encourage straining.
When one is sitting down, the rectum is not ideally angled for defecation. Hence, the process is more difficult, requiring the average patient to strain four to seven times. Straining places a lot of pressure on the rectal veins. However, when one squats, the rectum is correctly angled. The average patient only needs to strain one or two times. This theory that squatting during defecation may prevent and alleviate hemorrhoids is well-substantiated by geographical evidence. The incidence of hemorrhoids in countries with a prevalence of squatting toilets, such as Japan and China, is much lower. Thus, if you persistently get hemorrhoids, consider switching to a squatting toilet.
Straining can be caused by hard stools and constipation, the consequences of a diet poor in fiber. The average person requires between 20 and 25 grams of fiber everyday. However, with all the processed foods and frozen dinners, it may be difficult to acquire the requisite amount. The average North American only ingests five to 14 grams of fiber a day. To increase your fiber intake, and to prevent aggravation or formation of hemorrhoids, eat the following foods: bran, whole wheat bread, brown rice, plums, peaches, prunes, celery, cabbage, beans, and peas. Fiber supplements such as Benefiber and Metamucil can also be helpful.
The sensation of defecating can be very painful for hemorrhoid sufferers. Even if the stool is soft, it will still pass over the hemorrhoids, generating friction. To lessen the pain, and to avoid further irritation, lubricants such as mineral oil or Vaseline can be applied around and inside the anus. If the hemorrhoid is very serious, your physician may recommend a variety of more drastic medical treatments. These established medical procedures are quite safe when performed by a licensed physician or surgeon.
A common way of treating hemorrhoids is hemorrhoidectomy, a procedure in which the physician uses a scalpel to cut away the hemorrhoid. Stitches or special solutions are applied to the wound, to stop bleeding. Antibiotic ointment or pills may be subsequently prescribed, to avoid infection. Hemorrhoidectomy is strongly linked to incontinence later in life. Furthermore, the pain experienced during recovery is quite severe. For this reason, hemorroidectomies are only performed in cases of grade IV hemorrhoids, when the hemorrhoid is protruding from the anus. A variation on the standard hemorrhoidectomy is the stapled hemorroidectomy. Staples are applied to surround tissue, to cut blood flow to the hemorrhoid. This process results in a speedier, less painful recovery. However, it is usually performed only for protruding or bleeding hemorrhoids.
Another option is cryosurgery, in which hemorrhoids are frozen off. An extremely cold probe or liquid is applied to the hemorrhoid. The sudden cold causes liquids inside the hemorrhoid to freeze. The frozen hemorrhoid subsequently falls off. Cryosurgery is rarely used nowadays, due to the many complications it arouses.
One major culprit of hemorrhoids is excessive blood pressure in the superior and inferior rectal arteries. Hemorrhoids are essentially swollen, distended veins. It seems logical that high blood pressure inside the vein can cause it to swell and distend into a hemorrhoid. What causes excessive pressure inside the veins around the rectum? Pregnancy, obesity, and general hypertension can all cause high blood pressure in that region. Furthermore, long periods of standing or sitting increase the fluid pressure as well. One of the biggest culprits of pressure on the rectal veins, however, is straining during defecation.
During the late 80s, scientists speculated on a relationship between hemorrhoids and different types of toilets. Specifically, why was it that the incidence of hemorrhoids in countries with squatting toilets is lower than that of the occidental world, where sit-down toilets are common? In a study performed with 20 hemorrhoid-prone patients, it was found that sit-down toilets encourage straining.
When one is sitting down, the rectum is not ideally angled for defecation. Hence, the process is more difficult, requiring the average patient to strain four to seven times. Straining places a lot of pressure on the rectal veins. However, when one squats, the rectum is correctly angled. The average patient only needs to strain one or two times. This theory that squatting during defecation may prevent and alleviate hemorrhoids is well-substantiated by geographical evidence. The incidence of hemorrhoids in countries with a prevalence of squatting toilets, such as Japan and China, is much lower. Thus, if you persistently get hemorrhoids, consider switching to a squatting toilet.
Straining can be caused by hard stools and constipation, the consequences of a diet poor in fiber. The average person requires between 20 and 25 grams of fiber everyday. However, with all the processed foods and frozen dinners, it may be difficult to acquire the requisite amount. The average North American only ingests five to 14 grams of fiber a day. To increase your fiber intake, and to prevent aggravation or formation of hemorrhoids, eat the following foods: bran, whole wheat bread, brown rice, plums, peaches, prunes, celery, cabbage, beans, and peas. Fiber supplements such as Benefiber and Metamucil can also be helpful.
The sensation of defecating can be very painful for hemorrhoid sufferers. Even if the stool is soft, it will still pass over the hemorrhoids, generating friction. To lessen the pain, and to avoid further irritation, lubricants such as mineral oil or Vaseline can be applied around and inside the anus. If the hemorrhoid is very serious, your physician may recommend a variety of more drastic medical treatments. These established medical procedures are quite safe when performed by a licensed physician or surgeon.
A common way of treating hemorrhoids is hemorrhoidectomy, a procedure in which the physician uses a scalpel to cut away the hemorrhoid. Stitches or special solutions are applied to the wound, to stop bleeding. Antibiotic ointment or pills may be subsequently prescribed, to avoid infection. Hemorrhoidectomy is strongly linked to incontinence later in life. Furthermore, the pain experienced during recovery is quite severe. For this reason, hemorroidectomies are only performed in cases of grade IV hemorrhoids, when the hemorrhoid is protruding from the anus. A variation on the standard hemorrhoidectomy is the stapled hemorroidectomy. Staples are applied to surround tissue, to cut blood flow to the hemorrhoid. This process results in a speedier, less painful recovery. However, it is usually performed only for protruding or bleeding hemorrhoids.
Another option is cryosurgery, in which hemorrhoids are frozen off. An extremely cold probe or liquid is applied to the hemorrhoid. The sudden cold causes liquids inside the hemorrhoid to freeze. The frozen hemorrhoid subsequently falls off. Cryosurgery is rarely used nowadays, due to the many complications it arouses.
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