Piles (hemorrhoids): symptoms, causes, treatment • hello healthy

Definition

What are hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids)?

Hemorrhoid is a condition of inflammation or swelling of the veins around the anus. The condition is also often referred to as hemorrhoids or better known as hemorrhoids.

Swelling can appear inside the rectum, which is the tube that connects the large intestine to the anus, or around the anus. Usually this disease is caused by straining too often and for a long time during bowel movements.

Hemorrhoid is divided into two types, namely:

internal hemorrhoids, appears inside the rectal tract, is painless but can cause bloody stools, as well
external hemorrhoid, appears outside the anus, feels itchy or painful, sometimes it can tear and bleed.

Hemorrhoid is a condition that is not dangerous and not contagious. Usually this condition can heal on its own or can be cured easily using hemorrhoid medication.

How common is this condition?

Hemorrhoid is a digestive disorder that is common and has been experienced by many people. Based on research, at the age of 50 years, almost half of the population has experienced hemorrhoids.

This disease can affect anyone, but it is more common in pregnant women, constipated patients, or patients with chronic diarrhea.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids?

Based on the type, the symptoms of hemorrhoids that will be felt are different. When you have an external type you will experience:

the appearance of a lump that is hard and feels soft to the touch near the anus,
the anus feels itchy, as well
pain in the anus, especially when sitting.

Usually, these symptoms can disappear within a few days. However, if you are accustomed to cleaning the anus roughly or pushing too often, the symptoms can last longer.

Whereas for the internal type, you usually won't feel pain or itching. However, the stool may come out with blood.

When hemorrhoids develop or the lumps come out of the anus, as a result, you will feel sore and have difficulty defecating.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience symptoms such as:

the hemorrhoid feels painful and doesn't get better even though it has been treated at home,
Bloody or black or bloody stools, as well
you feel dizzy or kliyengan.

Haemorrhoids are serious health conditions. It is important to see a doctor so that it does not lead to complications.

Please note, everyone's body is different, so the response to a disease can also be different. If you still have questions about the symptoms of hemorrhoids, consult a doctor.

Causes and risk factors

What causes hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids)?

Basically, the cause of hemorrhoids is a disturbance in the flow of blood to the fecal drainage.

This disorder can arise due to various habits, including straining during bowel movements or sitting on the toilet for too long.

This habit interferes with the flow of blood, so that it eventually builds up in the blood vessels near the anus and causes swelling.

What are the risk factors for this disease?

The following are various factors that can increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids.

1. Experiencing chronic constipation

Hard stool due to constipation makes you have to exert more force to push. This extra pressure can eventually lead to swelling of the blood vessels in the anus, which then causes hemorrhoids.

2. Pregnancy

As the gestational age gets bigger, the uterus will also develop following the development of the fetus. This uterine pressure will then press on the blood vessels in the large intestine to trigger the appearance of a lump in the anal area.

3. Sitting too long

The habit of sitting too long can be the cause of this condition, because the blood vessels around the anus will fill with blood a lot.

The constant flow of blood will eventually press on the walls of the blood vessels until they get bigger.

4. Lifting heavy objects

Repeatedly lifting heavy objects can be the cause of hemorrhoids. This is due to the buildup of pressure in the rectum which will affect blood flow, causing the blood vessels to become swollen.

5. Age

The condition of the body that is getting older naturally causes the network of blood vessels around the rectum and anus to weaken and stretch so they are prone to swelling. This is what ultimately causes hemorrhoids.

Diagnosis and treatment

What tests can be done to diagnose this disease?

The doctor will do a physical examination first. Usually, doctors can immediately diagnose the disease if the type of hemorrhoid you are experiencing is an external type.

At that time, the doctor also asks about your symptoms, bowel habits, and the food you eat. The information you provide will help the doctor find out what disease you are suffering from.

Another if the condition you are experiencing is suspected of being internal hemorrhoids, special procedures are needed to look at the condition in your anus and rectum.

There are two choices of examination procedures that can be done, namely anoscopy and proktosigmoidoscopy.

In an anoscopy procedure, the doctor will insert a small tube called an anoscope through the anus to see the tissue and rectum in it. To undergo this examination, patients usually do not need anesthesia.

While the proktosigmoidoscopy procedure is almost the same as anoscopy.

It's just that doctors also use a proctoscope, a tool in the form of iron binoculars that functions to see the lining of the rectum and lower large intestine. You also don't need anesthesia to live it.

How do you deal with hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids)?

Some of these hemorrhoid conditions can heal on their own. However, sometimes the symptoms are more severe and require treatment from a doctor. Here are various hemorrhoid treatment options.

Take fiber supplements

Fiber boosters such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel) can help pass your stool and treat constipation.

Hemorrhoid medicine

Medicines in the form of creams and suppositories can help relieve symptoms such as pain and itching due to hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoid removal surgery

Hemorrhoid removal surgery is also called a hemorrhoidectomy. Haemorrhoidectomy is the most effective way of treating severe and relapsing ambient.

Haemorrhoidectomy will remove excess tissue that is causing bleeding. This hemorrhoid operation can be done under local anesthesia combined with sedatives, spinal anesthesia, or general anesthesia.

Most people will experience pain after hemorrhoid surgery. You can take painkillers to overcome it.

Recovery time is usually around 2 weeks, but it may take 3 - 6 weeks before you can resume normal activities.

External hemorrhoid thrombectomy

If a painful blood clot (thrombosis) forms inside the external hemorrhoid, your doctor will perform a simple incision and drainage, to remove the blood clot. This procedure is most effectively performed within 72 hours of the development of a blood clot.

Rubber band ligation

The doctor will tie one or two small rubber bands around the area around the internal hemorrhoid to cut off blood flow. Without blood flow, the hemorrhoid will come off after a week you have had this procedure.

This method of treating hemorrhoids is effective for many people and does not require anesthesia. The patient can return to normal activities the next day.

Discomfort, pain, and bleeding may occur 2 - 4 days after doing this procedure. However, this way of dealing with hemorrhoids rarely causes severe complications.

Injections (sclerotherapy)

In this procedure to treat hemorrhoids, a special chemical solution will be injected into the hemorrhoid tissue to shrink it.

This injection will relieve pain by numbing the nerve endings at the injection site. After about a month and a half, the hemorrhoid size will shrink or shrink.

Coagulation with infrared, laser, or bipolar

This coagulation technique uses laser or infrared light to burn the hemorrhoid tissue. This procedure serves to cut off blood flow.

However, this procedure can also make hemorrhoids recur (recur), applicable when compared to rubber band ligation procedures. Also, this procedure may cause some discomfort.

Is there a natural hemorrhoid cure?

Unfortunately, it has not been proven how effective natural ingredients are at treating hemorrhoids.

However, if you have consulted and your doctor has given you the green light, there are several natural ingredients that you can use as natural hemorrhoids remedies.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a natural hemorrhoid remedy that you can use. It's easy, just soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, then apply it gently to the hemorrhoid area.

Repeat the process until the inflammation disappears and the pain subsides. You can also mix water with apple cider vinegar when rinsing the anal area while bathing.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera is a plant that contains anti-inflammatory properties. With a cool gel texture, aloe vera can also be a natural hemorrhoid remedy that soothes and relaxes inflamed blood vessels while reducing the size of hemorrhoids in the anus.

You can also use aloe vera by consuming it. The arakuinone content in aloe vera is able to tighten the walls of the digestive tract and push the intestinal contents out softer.

This makes more stool in the intestine easier to move, preventing blockage that will cause hemorrhoids.

Garlic

Garlic or Allium sativum it can also be a natural hemorrhoid remedy.

Garlic is very rich in sulfur content, which contains amino acids, minerals, and enzymes such as allinase, peroxidase, and myrosinase. This plant also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

In an amino acid called alliin, when garlic is crushed, it is converted to allicin by an enzyme, allinase. Allicin is responsible for being a powerful antibacterial agent for eliminating bad odors.

The function of garlic for hemorrhoids can also improve blood circulation, destroy various intestinal bacteria, and protect blood vessels.

To treat hemorrhoids, garlic can be applied directly to the affected area, or eaten raw as a natural hemorrhoid remedy.

White oak bark

You may rarely hear the name white oak bark, but if you look at the herbal store, white oak is easy to find. This natural hemorrhoid remedy comes from white oak bark and is known by the name Quercus alba.

This plant contains powerful substances that are useful for treating internal and external hemorrhoids.

The bark of white oak has antiseptic, tonic, and hemostatic properties that can reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids at a severe level, such as bleeding.

The high calcium and tannin content of oak bark can strengthen intestinal capillaries and protect the soft tissues of the rectum, which are found in the anal canal.

In addition, the extract of white oak bark has a cleansing effect on swollen and sore mucosal surfaces (mucous membranes), so it can relieve itching and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.

White oak bark is usually boiled or steamed to produce a liquid that can be rubbed on the anal area where hemorrhoids are present or made into herbal teas as a natural hemorrhoid remedy.

Rock roots

Stone roots are also known by name Collinsonia canadensis. The concoction of this stone root plant drink can be useful for reducing hemorrhoids and reducing too much pressure on the blood vessels in the anus.

This effect reduces inflammation of hemorrhoids and can even prevent varicose veins.

This plant is also known to have diuretic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, astringent, tonic and sedative properties. It is all useful for protecting and strengthening the lining of the intestine and blood vessels in the walls of the anus.

The way to use stone roots as a natural hemorrhoid medicine is to use water extract of stone roots that have been boiled and can be applied directly to the anus with hemorrhoids.

Home remedies

Here are the lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with hemorrhoids.

Eat foods high in fiber and drink lots of water.
Sit in a warm bath for 10 minutes several times a day.
Lots of sports.
Keep the anal area clean.
Do not use dry toilet cleaning paper. To keep the anal area clean after defecating, use a damp washcloth or wet toilet paper that doesn't contain perfume or alcohol.
Use ice. Cold compress your anus with an ice pack to relieve swelling.

Foods to prevent hemorrhoids at home

Apart from doing the various methods above, you can also treat hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids) at home by paying attention to what you eat.

To treat hemorrhoids, make sure your food contains nutrients such as fiber and water. You can get both from fruit and vegetables.

Some vegetables that are rich in flavonoids and fiber are generally dark green in color.

Some foods to treat hemorrhoids or prevent them from worsening are as follows.

Fruits: apples, grapes, bananas, dates, tomatoes, cherries, watermelons, cucumbers
Vegetables: potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, kale
Grains: corn, wheat, oatmeal, biscuits and bread made from wheat flour
Nuts: almonds, peas, black beans, green beans, lentils