The human body is a complex network of arteries and veins. The former carry the blood to various points of the body, the latter bring it back to the heart. The veins found in the rectum and anus sometimes dilate and swell with blood, thus forming hemorrhoids. This disorder can be very painful and in some cases the vessels rupture resulting in blood loss. Learn about the causes of hemorrhoids and try to treat the problem at home. however, if your symptoms don't go away and your bleeding doesn't stop, you need to know when to see your doctor.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Homemade Care
Step 1. Immerse yourself in warm water or use a sitz bath
To decrease irritation, find pain relief, and relieve pressure on the veins, sit in warm (not hot) water for 15-20 minutes 3 times a day. If you don't want to fill the bathtub, use the bidet or a sitz bath, a kind of plastic basin of which there are models that you can insert into the toilet bowl. Soak your butt and pelvis while sitting. This way you can reduce irritation, spasms of the rectal muscles and itching.
- You can also add 50g of sea salt to the water and sit for half an hour at a time. Salt is an excellent antibacterial and is used to aid in wound healing and drainage of infections.
- You can also dissolve some witch hazel, which is known for its soothing and cooling properties in cases of hemorrhoids. In this case, you should dive into the water at least once a day and stay there for 15-20 minutes.
Step 2. Apply an ice pack
Put an ice bag in the freezer until it is completely frozen. Do not place it directly on the hemorrhoids, but wrap it in a clean cloth or towel before gently pressing it on the painful area. Don't leave the ice on for too long, as it can damage the surrounding skin. The best thing to do is apply it for a few minutes, remove it, wait for the area to return to body temperature and then put it back on again.
This procedure limits pain and swelling by reducing inflammation; it also causes blood vessels to contract in order to stop bleeding
Step 3. Apply topical cream
A phenylephrine-based ointment triggers the contraction of blood vessels and may reduce bleeding. You can also apply a cream to relieve pain, irritation, and itching (which in turn can trigger bleeding). Remember, however, that this second type of cream does not block the leakage of blood; in fact it contains hydrocortisone, aloe and witch hazel (herbal extracts) and vitamin E.
If you have decided to use hydrocortisone, spread it in the morning and evening, but don't use it for more than a week. Excessive absorption could cause an imbalance between the hormones of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
Step 4. Use soft toilet paper and resist the urge to scratch
Rough paper can scratch delicate mucous membranes and / or irritate the area even more. To relieve pain and reduce irritation, use wet wipes. You can also use medicated tampons that contain hydrocortisone, witch hazel, aloe, or vitamin E. Don't be too abrupt while cleaning yourself so as not to aggravate the situation and make the bleeding worse; try to gently pat the anal region.
Scratching will only make the bleeding and irritation worse, stressing the already painful hemorrhoids even more - not to mention the fact that you could trigger an infection
Step 5. Take supplements to reduce bleeding
Many of these products are not found in pharmacies, so you will need to go to health food stores or search online. Always talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements, especially if you are already on another drug therapy. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your gynecologist for advice, as many of these products have not been tested for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Traditional medicine supplements or products for hemorrhoids are:
- Extra Fargelin: it is a traditional Chinese medicine that is not easy to obtain in Italy. You will have to do some research on the internet to find a site where to buy it. You can take 3-4 tablets a day to strengthen the venous walls and reduce bleeding.
- Oral flavonoids: This type of supplement has been shown to be effective in reducing bleeding episodes, itching, and relapsing hemorrhoids. It works by improving the tone of the vascular walls, so as to reduce leaks from the capillaries.
- Dobesilate (trade name Doxium): take it for 2 weeks following the dosage indicated in the leaflet. This drug reduces blood leakage from capillaries, prevents blood clots and improves blood viscosity. All of this helps to decrease the tissue edema that causes hemorrhoids.
Step 6. Reduce the pressure on the hemorrhoids
This way you can reduce the discomfort or limit the stress on the area. Eat a high-fiber diet to soften stool and fight constipation. Try to consume fruits and vegetables, whole grains or take supplements (25g per day for women and 38g for men). You should also avoid sitting for a long time, as this position increases the pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins until they bleed. Exercise and walking reduce this type of stress.
Use a donut pillow to better distribute your body weight and prevent it from burdening the painful area. To use it, sit down so that your anal area is exactly in the center of the donut hole. However, be aware that this pillow in some cases increases the pressure on the rectum, so stop using it if your symptoms get worse, the bleeding doesn't stop, or it starts again after it stops
Method 2 of 3: Medical Care
Step 1. Undergo a hemorrhoidectomy for internal or external hemorrhoids
This procedure is typically reserved for cases of external hemorrhoids. The surgeon removes them using a variety of tools, such as surgical scissors, scalpels, or LigaSure (an instrument that emits electric current and cauterizes bleeding veins). You will be given a sedative and local anesthetic, or you may be undergoing general or spinal anesthesia.
- Hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective and decisive technique for treating a serious or relapsing disorder. Convalescence is painful, but you will be prescribed medications, baths and / or ointments.
- Compared to hemorrhoidectomy, the stapler procedure carries a greater risk of rectal prolapse, a situation in which part of the rectum protrudes from the anus.
Step 2. Get an elastic ligation, in the case of internal hemorrhoids
Doctors insert a probe through an anoscope (a plastic device that slips into the anus to see the rectum). During this procedure, a surgical device similar to a rubber band is attached to the base of the hemorrhoid, which cuts off blood circulation and heals the hemorrhoid.
You may feel some discomfort after the surgery. You can find relief by using the sitz bath, soaking in hot baths, or applying ointments
Step 3. Get injections (sclerotherapy) for internal hemorrhoids
The doctor will insert a plastic device (anoscope) into the anus to visualize the rectum and use it to insert a needle and inject chemical solutions such as 5% phenol in oily solution, vegetable oil, quinine, hydrochloride into the base of the hemorrhoid. of urea or a hypertonic saline solution. All of these substances cause the veins to narrow.
Sclerotherapy is considered less effective than elastic ligation
Step 4. Undergo laser or infrared radiation treatment
Doctors use an infrared or radio frequency laser to coagulate the veins near the hemorrhoids. When performing the infrared procedure, a probe is applied to the base of the hemorrhoid for 1/5 of a second to a maximum of 1 second, depending on the intensity and wavelength of the instrument. If using radio frequencies, the surgeon has a ball electrode connected to a radio wave generator. It will rest the electrode on the hemorrhoidal tissue by coagulating it and making it evaporate.
Infrared cures have a higher relapse rate compared to elastic ligation
Step 5. Consider cryotherapy for internal hemorrhoids
The doctor uses a probe that can reach very low temperatures and applies it to the base of the hemorrhoid; thus it destroys the tissues. However, this is a little used procedure, as hemorrhoids often recur.
Step 6. Learn about the stapling technique
The surgeon uses a device to secure hemorrhoids that have slipped or prolapsed outside the anus with surgical staples inside the rectum. This procedure cuts off blood flow and eventually the tissue dies, stopping bleeding.
Recovery times are generally quick and post-operative pain is less than with hemorrhoidectomy
Method 3 of 3: Recognize and Inspect Hemorrhoids
Step 1. Know the causes
Chronic constipation, straining and long periods spent on the toilet are all associated with this disorder, because they increase the pressure on the veins in the anal area, preventing them from flowing blood properly. Pregnancy is another condition that increases the pressure in these sites, especially during childbirth, when pushing can cause hemorrhoids.
- Hemorrhoids are more common among older and overweight people.
- Hemorrhoids can be both internal (inside the rectum) and external (around and outside the anus). The internal ones do not cause pain, unlike the external ones; however, both can bleed if they rupture.
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of this disorder
If you have internal hemorrhoids, then you may not have any symptoms, as they probably don't cause pain. If you have external ones, however, you will suffer from various annoyances including:
- Painless bleeding during bowel movement. The blood is bright red and in small quantities;
- Itching or irritation of the anal area
- Pain or discomfort
- Swelling around the anus
- Presence of a painful or sensitive lump near the anus
- Faecal incontinence.
Step 3. Check for hemorrhoids
Look at your butt in the mirror for lumps or growths, small protrusions around the anus. They may be your normal skin color or a darker red. If so, you probably have external hemorrhoids. Check for blood on toilet paper after you evacuate. The blood that comes from the hemorrhoids is bright red and not black (in which case it comes from elsewhere in the digestive tract).
It is not at all easy to see internal hemorrhoids without the right tools. Make an appointment with your doctor who will ask you a few questions to draw up a medical history and find out if there are other factors that could cause the bleeding, such as cancer and colon polyps
Step 4. In some cases it is advisable to seek medical attention
If your symptoms do not subside or you are still in pain after a week of home care, then you should get examined. Bleeding should not be underestimated, especially if you are at risk for other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer. You should go to the doctor even if the blood is dark red or the stool has a tarry black color; both are signs of haemorrhage higher up in the intestine or a bleeding mass.
Find out how much blood you've lost. If you start to feel anxious and fatigued, your skin turns pale, your lower and upper limbs get cold, your heart speeds up, and you feel confused after losing blood, then you should go to the emergency room immediately. You must also go to the hospital if the amount of blood lost has increased
Step 5. Know what to expect from the doctor's visit
The doctor will make a diagnosis by looking at the anus and doing a rectal examination with one finger. After lubricating the index finger, he will insert it into the anus to feel the presence of masses or bumps on the rectal walls and to find traces of blood. If there is a suspicion that it is internal hemorrhoids, he could insert an anoscope (a hollow plastic tube) through the anus to the rectum; then he will look inside by illuminating it with a torch to look for bleeding, swollen or distended veins.
- Your doctor might perform a guaiac test for fecal occult blood, which involves preparing a small piece of paper with a smear of fecal material. In this way it is possible to identify microscopic blood cells inside the stool that can be a sign of various diseases such as hemorrhoids, polyps and colon cancer.
- If you are tested for guaiac it is vital that you avoid eating raw red meat, turnips, radishes, cantaloupe or broccoli within the previous three days, as they can cause false positive results.
