Hemorrhoids have plagiarized the derrieres of mankind for centuries. It is said that the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte had a rectal bulge that caused him great pain during the battle of Waterloo and that affected his ability to lead and ultimately cost him the victory.
The word hemorrhoids actually refer to tissue cushions that line up in the anal canal. We all have hemorrhoids, as they are responsible for tightening and tightening the anal canal and sphincter muscles that prevent the unmentionable when coughing or sneezing.
But those tissues break down and by the age of 50 half of us will have suffered at least one episode of this spicy, hot and unbearable event of life. However, hemorrhoids are not a subject that is usually talked about, not even off the table.
What causes these unbearable pains? They are dangerous? What treatments are available? And if you have ever suffered, you will agree that this is the most important question: how do you prevent hemorrhoids?
Causes of Hemorrhoids
Think of hemorrhoids as the anal version of varicose veins. Most of the time they are there, doing their job. But put pressure - such as obesity, or extra pressure during a bowel movement, extra weight or pregnancy, prolonged sitting in a car or plane, or while in the bathroom, or chronic diarrhea or constipation - It will become inflamed, it will become knotted and it usually becomes painful.
There are other reasons for this unfortunate experience. With age, the connecting tissues may become weak and become out of shape, which can lead to prolapse, or fall, of a part of the anal wall. Anal sex may also produce the same effect or irritate existing hemorrhoids or make them bleed.
Types of hemorrhoids: internal and external
If you had to choose, choose the internal ones.
Internal hemorrhoids occur in the lower rectum, where there are no pain centers, so they do not hurt.
But it is terrifying when they bleed, usually with a bright red color due to the high oxygen content in the area. Sometimes internal hemorrhoids can fall out of the anus, collecting tiny particles of feces or other materials, leading to intense itching known as pruritis ani.
External hemorrhoids, on the other hand, develop skin around the anus and can be extremely painful when sitting, cleaning or in daily life, especially if a blood clot or thrombosis develops inside the hemorrhoid sac. Even if the clot resolves on its own, which can happen in a week or two, the shrunken hemorrhoid can leave a mark on the skin that can cause hygiene problems.
They are dangerous?
Very seldom. If hemorrhoid blood loss is severe, there is a chance that anemia will occur, with which you do not have enough red blood cells to carry the necessary oxygen throughout the body.
Internal hemorrhoids can collapse and be "strangled" when the blood supply is cut off by the anal muscles. It can cause blood clots, infections, and in extreme cases, gangrene or sepsis. Some patients will need surgeries in extreme cases.
What can be dangerous is to assume that the symptoms you have are hemorrhoids without a colorectal specialist for examination. Although not the most pleasurable experience, it can be many other diseases that mimic the symptoms of hemorrhoid.
Bleeding, for example, is one of the most common symptoms of hemorrhoids, but they are also a sign of colorectal or anal cancer.
Treatments
Most hemorrhoids can be handled at home with care so as not to exacerbate the problem. Try not to exert tension when you do your needs or sit for a long time. Stool softeners, additional hydration, and fiber can help with constipation.
For external hemorrhoids, studies show that swelling and peak pain tend to end in a period of four days. Meanwhile, warm baths in the bath or anal baths can reduce pain and itching.
Steroids and analgesics may help control pain, but studies show they do little in the long run. In extreme cases, doctors may recommend the removal of hemorrhoids, possibly between 48 and 72 hours after the onset of symptoms.
How to prevent them?
Drink lots of water and introduce more fiber into your diet, both of which can help dissolve hard stools and keep your digestive tract in smooth movements. To avoid excess gas, increase the fiber for a week or until your system fits.
The Institute of Medicine recommends 25 grams of fiber every day for women and 38 grams for men. And since most people do not consume the necessary fiber, we advise you to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can also add pieces of bread and whole grains to your diet. Oats and wheat are also good choices.
But if you can not eat all that fiber, consider a fiber supplement. Several popular choices can come in a powder that you can add to 8 ounces of water, but make sure you take another eight glasses of water each day.
Sorry, alcohol does not count!
SOURCE: CNN
