When the veins in the rectum become enlarged, hemorrhoids can occur, causing pain to occur. The various causes of hemorrhoids include constipation and straining during bowel movements, pregnancy, and even liver disease. These conditions can put increased pressure on the veins, which sometimes causes hemorrhoids to occur. They are often found most commonly in people over fifty, but they can actually occur at any age. Another symptom of hemorrhoids includes bright red blood streaks on the stool, or blood on the toilet paper because of the rectal bleeding, although the bleeding generally stops easily. Blood clots can also form in a hemorrhoid, which can cause additional pain and swelling.
There are a number of different home hemroid treatments that can be effective for simple cases, which are often used to relieve the pain. A hot sitz bath several times a day, and especially after bowel movements, can be effective. This helps to reduce the swelling, and can also be effective at relieving itching and pain, which can bring the patient relief.
It is also possible to alleviate some of the problems caused by hemorrhoids by making some simple dietary changes. Drinking plenty of water and fluids can be helpful, as can including foods in the diet that are naturally high in fiber and water. The stool is softened by making these dietary changes, which in turn helps to prevent bowel movements from aggravating the hemorrhoids. Mild stool softeners can also be used, but avoid any types of harsh laxatives. There are some ointments, creams and suppositories that are available as over-the-counter medications that can also help to alleviate some of the pain and swelling of hemorrhoids.
Medical attention for hemorrhoids should be sought under some circumstances. Clots sometimes form in hemorrhoids, which can be quite painful, and cannot be treated with home methods. A doctor can then surgically remove the clot. This can generally be performed under local anesthesia, in the doctor's office. To remove the clot, the doctor will make a small incision into the hemorrhoid, remove the clot, and then apply a small bandage, which prevents further bleeding. The patient will then experience less pain after a clot has been removed than they were experiencing before.
Medical attention should also be sought out when a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid occurs. In this type of case, after the hemorrhoid has been pushed out of the anus, a doctor's medical attention is often required in order to push the hemorrhoid back in, or to reduce the swelling by means of a surgical method.
Sometimes it becomes medically necessary to remove the hemorrhoids, if they are causing the patient too many problems, or if they are causing too much pain. There are medications that the doctor can use in order to shrink the hemorrhoids, or they can use a hemorrhoid treatment that involves a rubber band, which cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid. These are generally simple medical procedures, and as such, they can usually be performed in the doctor's office without any problems or complications.
