How To Tell If You Have Hemorrhoids And How To Treat It

Hemorrhoids or piles refer to swollen blood vessels in the rectum or on the anus. It’s caused due to the strain on these vessels associated with straining during bowel movements, sedentary lifestyle, low fiber diet, aging, etc. 3 out of 4 Americans suffer from it at least once in their lives. It can be painful and uncomfortable and if often accompanied by bleeding. In most cases, it’s minor and can be treated with over-the-counter methods like hemorrhoid wipes, lotion, gel, suppositories, etc. though in some cases medical attention may be needed. Many people miss the symptoms or ignore it out of embarrassment. If left untreated, the symptoms could worsen causing more complications.

Hemorrhoid Symptoms

Piles are associated with pain and discomfort in the anal region. The exact symptoms differ based on the type of piles the patient suffers from. They are as follows:

• Internal: As the name suggests, these piles are located inside the person’s rectum. They can’t be seen or felt with the hands but are uncomfortable. In milder cases, one might notice painless bleeding when passing stool. One may notice it when wiping their anus with a tissue or as red spots in the stool. In severe cases, the swollen vein may protrude out of the anus.

• External: These swollen blood vessels lie under the patient’s skin near the anus. They are noticeable as swellings around the anus. They could be bluish or purplish due to the blood pooling here. They are painful and cause constant discomfort. They itch a lot and may bleed often.

• Thrombosed: If the blood in external piles clot, they are called thrombosed piles because this type of clotting is called thrombus. They form hard lumps near the anus that swell and inflame. They are very painful.

A patient may not notice all the symptoms and some of them are common with other digestive diseases like colorectal cancer, which is why the patient should ideally visit a doctor to be sure. The doctor can use a digital examination or physical examination for diagnosis.

Piles Treatment

It can be treated at home or by going to a doctor.

Home treatment

In most cases, this disease goes away after a week of home treatment. There are many OTC options like hemorrhoid wipes, gel lotion, suppository, etc. that can be used for treatment. These medications come with anti-inflammatory ingredients like witch hazel and aloe vera that soothe the pain and swelling. The patient should check with a doctor or pharmacist if they are allergic or suffer from other medical conditions that may cause further complications.

Lifestyle changes also help reduce problems. Eating a fiber-rich diet smoothens bowel movement. The patient needs to drink lots of water to soften the stool to reduce the pressure needed to pass it. Exercising strengthens the pelvic floor and improves bowel movement. But heavy lifting must be avoided.

Medical treatment

If the home treatment doesn’t work after a week or worsens the symptoms then medical attention is needed. In the initial phases, the doctor will prescribe medicines. 

In the case of thrombosed piles, the patient should get it treated by a doctor within 72 hours for the best results. It is removed with thrombectomy done under local anesthesia.

Minimally invasive procedures are used to treat painful or persistently bleeding veins. These techniques include rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy and coagulation. In rubber band ligation, the doctor uses small rubber bands to cut off the circulation to piles causing it to wither and fall off. In sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected in the affected tissues to shrink them. Coagulation refers to laser treatment, where lasers are used to harden and shrivel the swelling.

Surgery is rarely needed and only recommended if other treatments don’t work. Two types of surgeries are used to treat piles: hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoid stapling.

Lifestyle changes mentioned in the previous section are necessary to prevent the problem from recurring. These changes can also help people prevent the disease.

About This Author

Brittany Wolfe https://www.reddashmedia.us/ Hi, I am Brittany. I am a writer, illustrator Joined: October 21st, 2019