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External Hemorrhoids Relief
1. What Is the Difference Between External
Hemorrhoids & Internal Hemorrhoids?
There are two types of hemorrhoids - external and internal. An external hemorrhoid is the
inflammation of the soft tissue on the outside of the anus, whereas an internal hemorrhoid
is the inflammation of the anal tissue that resides within the rectum.
External hemorrhoids are easier to diagnose and treat than internal hemorrhoids. Since
they are located on the exterior of the anus, the bumps caused by blood filling the tissue
can be felt and seen.
The bumps, known as piles, are usually raw, sore, and itchy. Bright red blood may be
found on the toilet paper following a bowel movement. Pain when sitting is common with
external hemorrhoids and getting rid of them for good can feel like a nightmare.
External hemorrhoids are more likely to respond to home-care remedies such as over-the-
counter products (creams, pads, etc.), sitz baths, and good personal hygiene practices.
These remedies alleviate the discomfort and the hemorrhoids usually disappear entirely
within a few weeks.
Many cases of internal hemorrhoids are not painful and are not noticed until blood
appears in the stools or streaked on toilet paper following a bowel movement. Internal
hemorrhoids can also cause a non-painful, persistent urge to move the bowels, even when
there is no necessity to do so.
However, large internal hemorrhoids can be very painful, especially during a bowel
movement, and cannot be treated with creams, ointments, and pads because of their
internal location.
2. Very large internal hemorrhoids that swell and protrude through the anal opening are said
to be prolapsed hemorrhoids. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be painful and are often
accompanied by heavy blood and mucous discharge. Mucous that seeps from the
hemorrhoid causes severe itching and irritation of the anus and surrounding area.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids, if they are not too swollen, can be gently pushed back into the
rectum to reduce pain and discomfort when wiping or sitting. Prompt medical attention
should be sought if you think you may have a prolapsed hemorrhoid.
A prolapsed hemorrhoid that is too swollen to push back into the rectum may become
strangulated. Strangulated hemorrhoids also occur when a clot has formed in its blood
supply.
That is, the blood supply to the hemorrhoid has been cut off, resulting in excruciating
pain. Strangulated hemorrhoids require emergency medical attention. If you’re unsure
whether you have internal hemorrhoids or external hemorrhoids, it’s always best to
consult your physician.
How to Care for Bleeding Hemorrhoids
Bleeding hemorrhoids are caused by the
irritation of swollen hemorrhoidal veins and
anal tissue. They can be external or internal.
Hemorrhoids, especially internal hemorrhoids,
often go unnoticed until blood appears spotted
on toilet paper in the stools after a bowel
movement.
Too much pressure on the rectal and anal veins
is the most common cause of bleeding
hemorrhoids. Straining due to constipation,
too much sitting, poor diet, obesity, pregnancy, and lack of exercise are the usual suspects
that bring about hemorrhoids.
Bleeding results from inflammation of the veins and tissue in and around the anus.
Bleeding hemorrhoids can be treated at home if they aren’t too severe. It’s important to
treat a bleeding hemorrhoid as soon as it’s noticed to avoid enlargement and increased
pain. However, if there is heavy bleeding, severe pain, or if the hemorrhoid is prolapsed
(protruding through the anus), a doctor should be seen for treatment.
3. Self-care and home remedies practiced regularly will usually relieve the symptoms of
bleeding hemorrhoids. Creams, ointments, pads, and suppositories can be purchased
over-the-counter to treat bleeding hemorrhoids.
Products containing corticosteroids act as a vasoconstrictor to reduce bleeding and
itching. Witch hazel, petroleum jelly, or aloe vera applied directly with a cotton swab are
also effective, soothing home remedies.
Stay away from spicy foods and increase fiber in the diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables
and consider adding a fiber supplement. Drink at least six glasses of water a day and
avoid drinking alcohol, sodas, and other caffeinated beverages to promote regularity and
healthy bowels.
Keeping the anal area dry and clean will reduce itching and irritation. Moistened toilet
paper or towelettes make wiping after a bowel movement less painful; just be sure to
gently pat the area dry after wiping.
Regular soaks in warm baths cleanse and soothe inflamed hemorrhoids. A hair dryer set
on low can be used after bathing to avoid direct contact with the raw area. One hundred
percent cotton undergarments will also promote dryness.
Though the area may itch, try not to scratch as this will exacerbate the bleeding and
further inflame the hemorrhoid. Perfumed products and products containing alcohol,
such as lotions, scented toilet paper, and body spray are irritants that should be avoided.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that do not chafe the affected area. A doughnut-shaped
foam pillow to make sitting easier can be bought where medical supplies are sold. If
bleeding hemorrhoids persist beyond a few days with home self-care, seek help from a
physician who can present medical alternatives.
Hemorrhoid Surgery as a Last Resort
Hemorrhoids are nearly always a transient
condition. However, if severe hemorrhoids
persist or are recurrent in spite of good hygiene
practices, home care remedies, a healthy diet,
and regular exercise, surgery as a last resort
may be necessary for enduring relief.
Surgery, or a hemorrhoidectomy, is required in
less than one percent of cases and should be
considered only when all other treatments have
failed. Depending on the location and severity
4. of the offending hemorrhoids, minimally invasive procedures can be performed with
local anesthesia in a surgeon’s office or on an outpatient basis.
While still unpleasant and painful, the aftercare and recovery time associated with these
procedures are significantly less than with major surgery. Less invasive techniques block
the blood supply to the hemorrhoid causing it to die and slough off.
One such procedure is rubber band ligation (RBL), whereby a physician places a band
around the base of the hemorrhoid, strangulating the blood flow. Similarly, stapling
devices also interrupt circulation to hemorrhoids and tend to be less painful than RBL.
Laser coagulation and heat coagulation create a blockage by forming a clot in the blood
vessel. Another method, sclerotherapy, uses a hardening solution injected into the
hemorrhoid causing it to shrivel and eventually fall off.
Treatment with major surgery is necessary to remove large, severe, often prolapsed,
internal hemorrhoids. The same risks and post-operative care, along with a longer
recovery time, inherent with any major surgery can be expected. This type of
hemorrhoidectomy involves removal through surgical incisions made around the base of
the hemorrhoid to excise it completely.
Recovery time from a major hemorrhoidectomy is about 3 weeks. Bleeding is normal
and antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent infection. Ice packs may be used in
addition to the prescribed and over-the counter medication to numb the pain from the
incisions. Frequent soaks in warm sitz baths are recommended to ease discomfort and
muscle spasms.
While treatment through major surgery is the most painful and difficult to recover from,
it is also the treatment least likely to see a recurrence of hemorrhoids. But because of its
radical nature and lingering effects, surgery is impractical for most sufferers of
hemorrhoids. Unless hemorrhoids are chronic and severe, treatment with surgery is more
unpleasant and painful than the hemorrhoids themselves.
Following recovery from surgery, major or minor, your mind must be set on preventing a
relapse of hemorrhoids. The conditions that caused the hemorrhoids in the first place
must be changed and counteracted. Healthy lifestyle elements, especially a diet rich in
fiber, exercise, and good hygiene practices must be put into place to avoid relapse.
What Are Some Good Hemorrhoid Treatments?
5. Hemorrhoids are quite common among
Americans. Around 50 percent will have had
some form of hemorrhoids by the age of 50.
Most cases are easily treated and less than 10
percent of cases require surgery.
Hemorrhoids often vanish, even without
treatment, in a few days.
Over-the-counter hemorrhoid treatments can
often be used to relieve mild discomfort,
including pain, swelling, rawness and anal itching when wiping following a bowel
movement.
Products such as creams, pads, and ointments that contain hydrocortisone, witch hazel, or
other ingredients to alleviate itching and soreness, can be obtained at a nearby pharmacy.
Products containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also be taken orally for pain
associated with hemorrhoids.
In addition to over-the-counter products, certain home remedies and practices are further
recommended to ease hemorrhoid symptoms. The anal area should be kept clean and
dry.
Use of perfume- and alcohol-free moistened toilet paper or towelettes following a bowel
movement will cleanse and ease the pain of wiping the inflamed area. Regular soaks in
warm baths or sitz baths help to relieve inflammation and keep the anus and surrounding
area clean. Ice packs can also be used to numb aching hemorrhoids.
Over-the-counter products and self-care practices only alleviate the symptoms of internal
or external hemorrhoids and are not a cure. If hemorrhoids persist, causing severe pain,
bleeding, or symptoms that are not relieved within a few days of self-treatment, a trip to
your doctor’s office will be necessary.
Minimally invasive procedures can be performed in a doctor’s office. A blood clot in an
external hemorrhoid can be removed easily, giving the sufferer quick relief. Other
hemorrhoid treatments, such as laser therapy or rubber-band ligation, aim to cut off the
blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrivel and drop off, thereby providing
relief within a few days.
Only in extreme cases, such as large hemorrhoids or when other treatments are
ineffective, is more invasive surgery required. Daily, repeated practices of bodily and
anal hygiene can help prevent recurring hemorrhoids.
Avoid straining during a bowel movement and drink adequate fluids each day to keep
stools soft. A high-fiber diet acts as a stool softener as well and will reduce gas and
bloating.
6. Always make time for a bowel movement as soon as the urge presents itself – waiting can
make stools harder, making them more difficult to pass. Regular exercise and loss of
excess weight will also ease factors contributing to hemorrhoids.
Finding a Long-Term Hemorrhoids Cure
Chronic hemorrhoids are more often than not an indication
that a lifestyle adjustment is overdue. A long-term
hemorrhoids cure can be as simple as making a few changes
in daily practices. Habits and routines that have become
ingrained may need to be reevaluated to prevent recurring
hemorrhoids and avoid invasive surgery.
Hectic daily life often leads us to find quick and easy meal
solutions. Unfortunately, unhealthy choices are all too easy
to make without much thought given to nutrition or
digestive processes.
A healthy diet rich in fiber strengthens rectal veins and
valves in and around the anus. Fiber also acts as a natural
stool softer, eliminating the need to strain in order to pass
stools.
Fruits and vegetables, as well as grains, cereals, and whole-wheat pastas are excellent
sources of natural fiber. Consider using a fiber supplement. Read the ‘Nutrition Facts’
label on food products: men should consume about 35 grams and women at least 22
grams of fiber each day.
Awareness of what one’s diet consists of is key in making the right changes in food
choices. Over-processed foods low in fiber and high in carbohydrates lead to dry, hard
stools that cause constipation.
Frequent constipation is a common cause of hemorrhoids due to straining and excessive
pressure on rectal walls and veins. Paradoxically, recurrent diarrhea also causes
hemorrhoids: regular consumption of fatty foods, excess alcohol or caffeine, and some
medications create watery stools.
Daily discharge of diarrhea can damage the rectal veins from moving the bowels too
frequently. Drink at least six glasses of water per day to promote regularity and healthy
bowel movements.
In addition to diet, regular exercise is essential to preventing hemorrhoids. It is
unnatural, and therefore unhealthy, for human beings to be sedentary. A lifestyle of
inactivity that commonly accompanies our desk jobs and such conveniences as cars,
7. computers, and televisions creates ideal conditions for hemorrhoids. Daily exercise that
is age and health appropriate aids the natural movement of the digestive system, promotes
healthy weight, and relieves anxiety that causes hypertension.
Good toilet practices are imperative to realizing a long-term hemorrhoids cure. Always
make time to move your bowels as soon as possible when the urge presents itself. Once
the stools pass from the colon to the rectum, they tend to try and harden.
Take the least amount of time needed to eliminate – don’t use the bathroom as a library.
Prompt elimination reduces straining. Wipe cleanly and completely after each bowel
movement – moisture and feces consistently left behind are conducive to hemorrhoids.
Shower or bathe daily to remove dirt and perspiration.
Self-care and a healthy lifestyle are usually sufficient to attain a long-term hemorrhoids
cure. Only in very few cases is surgery necessary for a cure. Hemorrhoids that refuse to
go away despite your best efforts should be attended to by a physician.
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