Hemorrhoids, contrary to what is commonly believed, are not a disease at all. We all have them from birth. We don't know about them until they get bigger. This is when inflammation occurs, which can make life very difficult. The most common causes of hemorrhoids are constipation, lack of exercise, obesity, heavy lifting, pregnancy and childbirth.
Each of us hashemorrhoids(also calledhemorrhoids ) in the anus. They are made up of tiny pillows filled with blood. Their function is specific - together with the muscles of the sphincter, they seal the canalof the anus . Thanks to this, the feces do not fall out of the rectum, and gases do not come out of it. As a bowel movement approaches, the sphincter muscles relax, the blood from the hemorrhoids flows back into the arteries, and there is room for the stool.
Hemorrhoidal disease
This is an inflammation of the hemorrhoids that grow in size, overfill with blood and do not empty themselves completely when passing stools. As a result, they become irritated and lose their elasticity. It is quite a common ailment, it affects 60% of people. people over 30-40 years of age. The most common causes of problems with hemorrhoids are constipation, as well as the habit of sitting in the toilet, lack of exercise and hereditary tendency to obesity. It all causes pressure and irritation of the hemorrhoids. In addition, the disease is favored by cycling, horse riding, professional car driving, and heavy lifting. Other causes include a general weakness of the connective tissue, the use of laxatives, and pregnancy and childbirth.
ImportantHemorrhoids took their toll on many famous people, but only Bonaparte, who loved fatty foods, hated fruit and vegetables, only admitted it. He blamed his ailment for the defeat at Waterloo. As he confessed to his secretary, instead of thinking about a strategy, he dreamed of getting off the saddle.
Inflammation of the hemorrhoids
The first sign of the disease is rectal bleeding during bowel movements - the flaccid walls of the swollen hemorrhoids cannot withstand the pressure. Blood can be seen on underwear or toilet paper. Burning and itching are other symptoms of inflammation. In the advanced stage, acute pain occurs, and when passing stools, the hemorrhoids protrude and do not return to their place as the disease progresses. The only way is to push them with your finger. Otherwise, it is impossible to sit or walkall symptoms can signal neoplasm. Therefore, a referral to a proctologist should be requested from the primary care physician. The rectal examination (through the anus) can detect rectal or colorectal cancer at an early stage.
When hemorrhoids start bothering you
First of all, you need to regulate your bowel movements. It is necessary to change the lifestyle from sedentary to active (you need to start exercising). We must drink plenty of fluids (2.5 liters a day), eat fruit, wheat bran and vegetables (they contain a lot of fiber), and avoid spicy spices, sweets and alcohol. Let's discuss the diet with a doctor who will help us adapt it to our lifestyle, work and any other ailments. We also cannot sit on the toilet, and it is also important to eliminate inflammation. Creams, ointments, suppositories and sitz baths (not longer than 15 minutes) in an infusion of oak bark, chamomile or potassium permanganate are used to irritate the mucosa in the area of the anus. The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees C.
Surgical removal of hemorrhoids
It happens quite often that a change in lifestyle and local treatment (e.g. with suppositories decongesting nodules) are not enough. Then it is necessary to decide on the surgical removal of the altered hemorrhoids.
- Sclerotherapy. It consists in making many mini-injections under the skin around the sick lump. A blood clot forms in the vessels that make up its walls. The hypoxic and malnourished nodule comes off. The procedure cannot be performed if there is inflammation in the anus or in the intestines.
- Photocoagulation. The light of halogen lamps (emits infrared rays) penetrates into the mucosa, where it turns into thermal energy. This one destroys overgrown tissue. A scar forms under the swollen nodule, which cuts off its access to blood, and thus also nutrients. Then the swollen part of the hemorrhoid dies and falls off. After a few days, she is expelled during a bowel movement. The procedure takes a few seconds, but no more than two lumps can be removed at a time. Another after 3-4 weeks. Complications are rare, but over time the operated part may deform again and become inflamed.
- Cryotherapy. He has more and more followers among patients and doctors. She is considered safe. It consists in painless freezing of the tissue, which causes its necrosis. A new, he althy hemorrhoid surface forms under the dead tissue that is removed from the body. Unfortunately, quite severe pain is felt after cryotherapy. Until the frostbite wounds heal, which takes up to six weeks, mucus with a very unpleasant odor is secreted from the anus.
- Rubber wedding rings. At the base of the sick personthe lump, a rubber band (so-called garter) is tightened with the help of a device called anoscope. The lump dies. After 5-7 days, it comes off along with the rubber band and is expelled. The resulting scar prevents weakening of the mucosa in the future. For an experienced surgeon, the procedure is easy to perform, and its effectiveness is estimated at 80-90 percent.
- Operation. Surgical excision of enlarged nodules is performed under general or local anesthesia. It is always associated with a lot of stress and postoperative pain. The sphincter muscles may also be damaged, which then requires another suturing of the muscles.
- Combined therapy. It combines the ring method with photocoagulation. Thanks to irradiation, the nodule comes off faster. The procedure takes about 10 minutes and we can go home right after. Approx. 90 percent people who underwent this therapy and changed their lifestyle, did not relapse after 10 years.
- Longo method. The hit of recent years. Before the procedure, the area around the anus is anesthetized. Hemorrhoids are removed with a stapler, which cuts a strip of rectal mucosa over the affected hemorrhoids and automatically sutures the site at their base. Everything takes 8-10 minutes. All diseased nodules are removed during one treatment. After 2-3 hours we go home. We feel no pain and we don't have to worry about the first bowel movement. It can be quite painful when using other methods.
We are ashamed of the problems with hemorrhoids and try to treat them on our own. However, if the bleeding is heavy and the symptoms are unpleasant, it is better to consult your doctor. If only to adjust the treatment to the degree of disease development.
Preparations available at the pharmacy
- Local anesthetics temporarily Aesculan (ointment and suppositories) and Neo-Aesculan (gel) - anti-inflammatory, inhibit bleeding Hemorol (suppositories) - anesthetizes Rectosec (ointment) - anti-inflammatory, drying and astringent Titanorein (cream and suppositories) - soothes the condition , isolates the diseased places from the stool
- Long-acting topical Anusol (ointment and suppositories) and Rectosol Cream (cream) - astringent and anti-inflammatory Procto-Glivenol (ointment and suppositories) - eliminates pain, relieves itching and burning, heals inflammationEmorect (gel) - anti-inflammatory Analen (liquid and ointment-cream) - for hygiene around the anus Ruskolex (ointment) - has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-swelling and anti-itching properties.
- With hydrocortisonePosterisan, Posterisan H (ointment and suppositories) - increase resistance to infections, relieve pain, itching and burning.
What are hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are the widening of the veins in the rectum, at the end of the anus. Each of us has these veins. However, the problem begins when there is increased pressure in the system of these veins, when there is blood stagnation in this area or abnormalities in the structure of the vessels. What causes hemorrhoids? Can their appearance be prevented? These questions are answered by our expert - surgeon Jacek Waligóra from Medicover Hospital in Warsaw.
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