Many suffer them but few speak of them. Hemorrhoids are a common ailment that can be easily relieved with a few tips. Take note!
Suffering hemorrhoids can be a real headache. For those who suffer from them, activities as normal as sitting, walking or going to the bathroom are uncomfortable and painful. So calming hemorrhoids is a must when they appear.
Hemorrhoids, also known as hemorrhoids, are small veins that are found in the anus and are a normal part of the anatomy. Thus, the function they have is to protect the anal skin from the passage of feces. The complication occurs when these veins become inflamed in the anus or inside the rectum.
Relieving and calming hemorrhoids can be very simple and quick with a few tips. However, these tips must be approved by a doctor and under no circumstances should they replace specialized criteria.
What causes hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are a very common problem. More than 50% of adults suffer from them and nothing else in the United States estimates that they spend 770 million dollars a year to treat them, without including prescription drugs.
Thus, we can differentiate two types. When they are internal, that is, they swell inside the anus and the rectum, they do not usually hurt, although they can bleed and cause itching. When they are external, they protrude outside the anus and are more problematic, as they itch, hurt and bother with the contact of clothing or pressure when sitting.
It is not known for sure why hemorrhoids occur, however, there are some factors that trigger them.
- Constipation and straining when defecating cause inflammation of the veins of the rectum and anus. Diarrhea can also lead to hemorrhoids.
- Sitting for long periods can favor the appearance of hemorrhoids. This is especially true when you are sitting on the toilet for longer than necessary.
- Pregnancy. The extension of the uterus causes pressure on the veins and can cause hemorrhoids.
- Obesity puts more pressure on the anus and can be a risk factor for hemorrhoids.
- Anal sex can promote hemorrhoids due to friction and pressure.
How to calm hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids can be easily relieved, although if they occur frequently, do not heal, or are clotted or prolapsed, it is best to visit a specialist, who can determine the best way to cure them.
Although science continues to investigate the effectiveness of some remedies, these are the popular treatments that tend to be most effective:
Warm water baths
Warm water calms pain and helps reduce inflammation. It is recommended to fill the bathtub with warm water up to about 15 cm and sit for periods of 15 minutes 3 times a day. Symptoms will be alleviated instantly and the hemorrhoids will deflate within a few days.
If you do not have a bathtub you can use a container for sitz baths to calm the discomfort of hemorrhoids.
Ice bags
Cold helps to reduce inflammation, so it is recommended to apply ice packs. If you don’t have a special ice bag for treatments, you can put ice in a plastic bag and wrap it in a thin cloth. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
Aloe to calm hemorrhoids
The aloe vera gel or Aloe vera is highly recommended for almost all skin treatments for hemorrhoids. The use of this plant is recommended to help deflate hemorrhoidal veins.
You can get the gel in health food stores or in pharmacies. To extract it directly from the plant, cut an aloe leaf lengthwise, open it, and scoop out the clear gel. It can be applied directly to the anus in small amounts. The rest of the aloe extracted from the leaf can be stored in the fridge.
If you have never used aloe before, try first applying a little to the skin of another part of the body to see if it causes allergies. Leave it for 24 hours to see if it causes irritation.
Witch hazel leaves
Witch hazel leaves, or witch hazel, are known for certain properties to alleviate problems of varicose veins, blood vessels and urticaria. Thus, an infusion can be prepared by following the steps below:
- Make an infusion by boiling for 10 minutes a glass of water with two tablespoons of witch hazel leaf.
- Let cool and wet a cotton ball.
- Gently apply to the anus several times a day.
- The leftover infusion can be stored in the fridge.
The Hamamelis can be achieved in health food stores and even found in some preparations and ointments in pharmacies.
Eating fiber foods to prevent and relieve hemorrhoids
The fiber foods facilitate the evacuation and soften the stool, for that reason are recommended not only to relieve pain on defecation but to prevent the occurrence of hemorrhoids.
In addition to foods with fiber, fiber supplements can be used when hemorrhoids are present. Other types of laxatives should be avoided since many of them encourage the use of the bathroom more frequently than normal. Drinking plenty of water will also help you have softer stools.
Walk
Walking or doing light exercises also favor bowel movements that help you go to the bathroom without having to put much pressure. You have to be careful with the type of exercise that is practiced when you suffer from hemorrhoids since some physical activities put pressure on the rectum although we are not aware of it.
To relieve hemorrhoids: regulate the use of the bathroom!
Going to the bathroom only when you feel like it is a way to take unnecessary pressure off your rectum and anus. However, you should not hold back the desire for later. Retracting them also causes pressure on the anus.
Once you go to the bathroom, there is no need to wait longer or with any distraction, as this also presses on the rectum. “The bathroom is not the place to read or do crossword puzzles,” some doctors warn.
Not scratching
They will surely itch and scratching or rubbing will give immediate relief, but the effect is counterproductive. By touching and pressing the hemorrhoids they become more irritated and risk opening. In this case, saying that the remedy is worse than the disease applies well.
It is necessary to consult a doctor when there is bleeding, as it could not be caused by hemorrhoids but by another complication. In this and in all cases in which health is compromised, medical judgment and diagnosis are essential in the prevention and treatment of different pathologies.