How Do You Treat Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are often painful and uncomfortable. They’re also somewhat more common than you might think. There are two main types of hemorrhoids: external and bleeding. External hemorrhoids are more uncomfortable than internal hemorrhoids. Your overlying skin becomes more irritated, and may start to erode. If your hemorrhoid develops a blood clot internally, you may experience sudden and very severe pain. Bleeding hemorrhoids occur when the irritation and inflammation of your hemorrhoidal tissues ruptures. This causes extreme pain, and you should seek medical help immediately if it ever happens to you.
Here are some of the ways you can try to soothe these conditions.
Treating External Hemorrhoids
Use water for therapeutic purposes. Water can soothe your itchy, inflamed, painful hemorrhoids. Temporarily relief may also be experienced by applying cold compresses to the area. You may also use warm water to soak your rectal area for ten minutes or so at a time.
Consider substituting your regular toilet paper with moist wipes. This may help lessen the pain and avoid further irritation. You can switch back to regular toilet paper after the hemorrhoids have been dealt with.
Ask your doctor about using over the counter products for quick relief.
Add more fiber in your diet. A diet filled with foods high in fiber can help reduce the pain you feel during bowel movements. Eating legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods can provide fiber and have the added benefit of decreasing your risk of obesity, heart disease, and colon cancer. Studies have also shown that the acai berry can provide you with a good amount of fiber.
Stay hydrated. Drink six to eight glasses of water every day. Note that this means drinking pure water, not soda, tea, coffee, or any other drink. Those beverages may make you need to use the bathroom more often, which can actually dehydrate you.
These ways may help relieve the symptoms you experience. These may also help reduce your risks by preventing the primary causes of hemorrhoids. Consider trying out some of these home remedies if you can’t make it to the doctor for a few days and don’t want to go to the emergency room.
Treating Bleeding Hemorrhoids
Soak in warm water. Soak in a tub filled with warm water for three times a day for ten to 15 minutes at a time. This will soothe the hemorrhoid and keep the area clean. As a nice benefit, you may also feel more relaxed while resting in the warm water. The pain and stress that comes from dealing with bleeding hemorrhoids may lessen for a few minutes while in the bath. You might even want to light a few soothing candles or incense and try to make the best of the situation.
Alleviate the irritation and swelling by applying cold compresses. This will lessen the pain and stimulate your body’s natural defenses. These will help by shrinking your swollen hemorrhoid so it will not rupture and lead to bleeding hemorrhoids. This can also help lessen the development of the lesions on your inflamed tissues.
Apply topical creams or take medications if necessary. This may reduce your pain and treat the irritation or bleeding that you are encountering. However, before you try anything, it is still best to consult your doctor. It will also be safer for you if you follow the instructions on the medication. Do not forget to read labels if the product is safe to use in bleeding hemorrhoids.
You may also boost your immunity with a powerful antioxidant such as the acai berry. Research has shown that this fruit and the supplements made from it may contain a good amount of vitamins and minerals. It’s always good to make sure you’re getting all of the vitamins you need, especially when your body is fighting off an infection or injury.
Avoid giving in to the itch. Do not scratch even when it becomes too itchy or overwhelming. This will just increase the irritation and the bleeding. It may also lead to an infection. Keep in mind that the temporary relief you can get may lead to more pain.
Be open to surgery. If the bleeding is really severe, medications, creams, and home remedies may no longer work. Your doctor may require surgery before any further infection occurs. Don’t turn down this option just because you’re scared of surgery.