Hemorrhoidal Treatment

The Treatment of Hemorrhoids and Their Causes

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are actually natural pads of muscle and blood vessels in the anus and are normal part of the human body. When the blood vessels enlarge the condition commonly called a “hemorrhoid” or “pile” arises, the symptoms of which include itching and bleeding. These can be external or internal to the anus. They should not be confused with anal fissures which are an injury caused to the anus when straining to pass a motion. Hemorrhoids are the earliest recorded human ailment dating back to over 300BC.

Hemorrhoid causes?

As we age – typically beginning as early as our twenties – the supporting tissue around a hemorrhoid loses elasticity and in consequence it begins to bulge and descend. In the process of doing so the pile becomes more sensitive to pressure from straining as well as direct trauma from a stool. Standing for long periods does not cause the condition in the first place – as often claimed – but may well make an existing hemorrhoidal condition worse. Diet certainly plays a major role – in particular straining caused by a hard stool – however recent research indicates that, along with obesity, frequent diarrhea may be an even more important trigger for hemorrhoidal conditions.

How common are they?

Having a hemorrhoidal abnormality is surprisingly common over the age of twenty. At any one time 5% of the population suffers from it in some form. When doctors working at the Mayo clinic proctoscopically examined a large group of people they discovered more than half had a hemorrhoid problem of some sort. The highest proportion of suffers are in the age range 45-65 though they can occur at any age. Hemorrhoids are common in pregnancy but tend to last only a short time when caused in this way. External hemorrhoids are more common in young or middle-aged adults than in older people. There is a genetic factor predisposing people to them and those of Caucasian descent are particularly vulnerable.

How effective are creams and ointments for home treatment?

In many cases creams and ointments are highly effective in reducing the inflammation and swelling in the area of the anus and most people need no more treatment beyond this unless it is scrupulous hygiene and the adoption of a sensible diet. The general rule is the sooner these are applied when symptoms arise the better. A few more serious and persistent cases will need surgery, though the latest techniques in the hands of a good surgeon minimize unpleasantness and need for time away from work and family.

How does a quality hemorrhoid treatment work?

Both pharmaceutical and natural treatments are available as hemorrhoid creams and ointments of various sorts. These have various aims including reduce inflammation, decrease blood supply, anesthetize the area to eliminate pain and hydrate the area to reduce irritation. For this purpose a number of ingredients are common: Hydro-cortisone, a steroid, may reduce inflammation; Lidocaine a local anesthetic (widely used in dentistry) included to reduce pain and itching; Analgesics (similar to aspirin and ibuprofen) used to very rapidly block the messenger molecule involved in pain; Ephedrine reduces blood full and by this means inflammation. Astringents can also reduce blood flow and reports indicate that natural ingredients such as witch hazel and shark liver oil can be highly effective in this case.

What foods can I eat to avoid them?

You need to adopt a balanced diet so that your stool is normally formed and neither hard nor causing regular diarrhea. There is good evidence that fiber can reduce their likelihood. In a major study carried out in Barcelona in 2005 the conclusion was “The risk of not improving hemorrhoids and having persisting symptoms decreased by 53% in the fiber group”. Incorporate oat, bran and green vegetables in particular into your diet to achieve this effect. Do this slowly to allow the body to adapt and reduce likelihood of diarrhea. Other foods that have at least some evidence of being helpful include dark fruits such as cherries, blackberries and blueberries. All these contain high levels of flavonoids (called anthocyanin and proanthocyadin) which may reduce swelling. If you are overweight use the thought of worsening hemorrhoids to motive yourself to lose weight.

Does stress make hemorrhoids worse?

This is often claimed but I can find no incontrovertible evidence that this is the case. On the other hand there is a common sense view that people who are stressed and rushed in their lives are less likely to eat well and more likely to strain when passing a motion. More on this topic on a later date. A far more important problem than stress though is being overweight.