How to Treat Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a pain in the butt. Literally. Nearly 5% of the adult population suffer from them, mostly in embarrassed silence, and endure the discomfort and pain of a condition which generally can be helped.

The first thing that needs to be done when you find blood on your stool or dripping from your bottom end into the toilet after a bowel movement is consult your registered health professional, and in particular your GP.

They will be able to ascertain whether or not the blood is a symptom of other, far more serious conditions, and determine whether or not they are able to offer you any medical intervention which will help to relieve the problem.

So – you have hemorrhoids – what now?

If the reason for your discomfort is hemorrhoids, and they do not require surgical intervention, you will most likely be offered a prescription for medication which involves the use of some local anesthetic to ease the pain and an astringent which helps to shrink the piles, all mixed up in a protective barrier which, once inserted into the anus and lower rectum, dissolves and lines the anal canal, leading to relief when you next have a bowel movement.

You will also be told that you should increase the amount of water you are drinking, and eat more fibre.

How bad is your diet?

The average Amercian diet contains more or less half the recommended amount of dietary fibre, and is considered to be a major cause of piles in the population. One effect of lack of fibre in the diet is excessively hard stools which require straining to expel from the body when going to the toilet.

The muscular straining presses blood into the area of the anal canal, and causes the tissues to become swollen and distended. When the movement (finally) happens, the hard stool causes trauma to the distended tissues, making the swelling worse and sometimes causing them to bleed, often profusely.

Other causes are excessive straining during bouts of diarrhea, obesity, which places severe stress on the lower muscles in the pelvis, and strain on the lower abdominal muscles when carrying heavy weights. One example of the latter is pregnancy.

Developing the strength in the lower pelvic muscles seems to be effective in helping to support the tissues in the anal canal.

Practicing Kegel exercises, which involve tightening up the lower pelvic floor – those muscles which support the anus and lower rectum, strengthens them and better supports the tissues around the lower organs, including the bladder and in the case of women, the uterus. This helps prevent incontinence as well as relieving unpleasant hemorrhoids.

Keeping your body moist, so that the stools you pass are softer is probably the kindest thing you can do to your sensitive back-end.