Forget these painful discomforts forever.
Checking Facebook without stopping is a great way to spend time while sitting on the toilet, but it can become a nuisance in the butt: people who read in the toilet are more likely to develop hemorrhoids .
This is because hemorrhoids (which are normal vascular structures that we all have in the anal canal) can enlarge and cause pain when pressed against the connective tissue that normally holds them in place, explains Dr. Anish Sheth, a gastroenterologist at the University Medical Center at Princeton University in New Jersey.
Sitting on the toilet for a long time tense, irritate and inflame these connective tissues, says Dr. Sheth. The same happens when you are constipated or if you sit in the same position on the desk or in the car.
Some men may even experience hemorrhoids by carrying too much weight in the gym, Sheth says. You activate the same abdominal muscles when you evacuate, which can tighten the tissue around the anus .
If you do any of this, you may experience hemorrhoids . In fact, about 75% of people will suffer at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Health of the United States.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF HEMORROIDS
1. External hemorrhoids , located under the skin around your anus and can form small hard lumps. They can cause bleeding, painful swelling and itching.
2. Internal hemorrhoids are located in the rectum, the final part of your large intestine, and are usually not painful. However, they can cause bleeding that you will notice in your stool, on the paper when you clean or in the toilet after evacuating.
The chances of getting hemorrhoids increase with age, Sheth adds. The connective tissue that lines your anal canal weakens with age, making it easier for your blood vessels to bulge when they get irritated.
HOW TO TREAT HEMORROIDS
The good news: they are easy to deal with.
Your first option should be over-the-counter creams, ointments or suppositories that contain hydrocortisone . This medicine reduces inflammation, pain and itching.
? If your symptoms don’t go away in a week, make an appointment with your doctor ,? says Dr. Gina Sam, director of Gastrointestinal Motility at Mount Sinai Hospital.
? You may need a medication that contains a combination of hydrocortisone and lidocaine to control swelling and pain ,? he adds.
Does the pain persist?
Ask your doctor to refer you to a gastroenterologist or proctologist.
The specialist can treat severe cases or any complications, such as a blood clot, persistent bleeding, or a prolapse (an internal hemorrhoid that pushes your anus outward).
In this case, you may have to undergo a surgical procedure to decrease the hemorrhoid .
HOW TO AVOID THE HEMORROIDS RETURN
To prevent them from returning, attend to the causes, says Dr. Sam.
Constipation : Eat more fiber and drink more water. Try to consume at least 25 grams of fiber per day from oats, prunes, fruits, vegetables and grains, says Sheth.
Long time sitting : if you are one of those who spend hours sitting at the desk, get up every 20 minutes to avoid pressure at the same point.
Get your phone out of the bathroom. “You don’t feel in the toilet longer than necessary,” says Sheth.
Weights : You don’t need to stop squatting or dead weights, but you may need to lose weight if the symptoms are recurring, concludes Sheth.