What Is The Best Over The Counter Treatment for Hemorrhoids What Are Hemorrhoids or Piles? Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and the anus. They are also called piles. Hemorrhoids are caused due to increase in venous pressure, when there is a strain during bowel movement, resulting in bleeding and rupturing of the vein. The inflamed rectal area bleeds and the patient experiences pain, irritation, burning sensation and itching due to difficulty in cleaning the area. Hemorrhoids may be external and visible or internal. Its occurrence is more common in people of 45 to 65 age groups. Continue to read to learn what is the best over the counter treatment for hemorrhoids. What Are External Hemorrhoids? These are swollen veins that can be felt under the skin on the outsides of the anal canal. They appear like a small bulge and are of the same color as the skin. External hemorrhoids sometimes develop a blood clot inside of them ("thrombosis"), often after a period of diarrhea or constipation. In that case, it produces a sudden firm and painful swelling or lump around the rim of the anus. What Are Internal Hemorrhoids? As the name suggests, these kinds of hemorrhoids are swollen veins that arise from inside the anal canal. When these hemorrhoids become large, they protrude out through the rectum. The most common symptom in this kind is bleeding when bowel is passed. Eventually, these kinds develop into thrombosed
hemorrhoids, which contains a blood clot and cause painful and burning sensation along with an intense urge to scratch the area. Bleeding Hemorrhoids Bleeding in hemorrhoids is one of the prominent symptom of the condition. It occurs both in the case of external and internal hemorrhoids. However, the cause in both the conditions is different. In the case of external hemorrhoids, bleeding is generally caused when they are rubbed after the bowel movement while in the case of internal hemorrhoids, bleeding is caused by hard, pallet like stool. Hemorrhoids Symptoms The common hemorrhoid symptoms are as follows: •
The affected person may notice a small amount of blood during bowel movement. The bleeding may be painful for some, while not for others.
•
The anal region may itch and cause great irritation.
•
The person can also feel a lump forming near the anal region, which may be sensitive and painful to touch.
•
Anal swelling is common, and so is leakage of feces.
•
The rectal area may be painful while cleaning it.
Causes of Hemorrhoids The main factors and causes of hemorrhoids include: Constipation
It is a known fact that constipation typically causes lot of discomfort during bowel movement. The reason being the stools have become very hard and so it becomes very difficult to remove them from the rectum. The constipated person has to really put a lot of pressure on the lower part of intestine in order to push fecal matter out of the body. This straining during bowel movement is bound to cause the veins to swell. Obesity Too much fat in the body that makes a person overweight can also lead to the development of hemorrhoids. Usually, obese people show excess fat buildup that is more concentrated in the abdominal area. This puts extra pressure on the pelvic and the rectal area. This can increase the strain on the veins running through the rectum and the pelvis, eventually causing hemorrhoids. Spending Too Much Time in Sitting Sitting in the toilet for a considerable amount of time can also cause hemorrhoids. The sitting position during bowel evacuation is stressful to the veins in the anal canal. Unnecessarily sitting on the toilet bowl even when there is no sign of bowel movement is strenuous to the veins in the lower rectal area. This habit of sitting on the toilet for substantial amount of time paves way for hemorrhoid formation. Also, in today's corporate world, employees tend to sit on their desk for long periods of time. In other words, people in jobs that require long sitting hours may also fall prey to hemorrhoids. Pregnancy
The protruding belly that increases in size with each passing day during pregnancy puts too much pressure in the lower part of the body. Along with legs, especially knees, the lower part of the rectum faces the brunt of abnormally high strain. Besides knee pain, pregnant women may also complain about pain in the anal canal during bowel movement, which is due to formation of the hemorrhoids. Chronic Diarrhea Chronic diarrhea is yet another reason why one can get hemorrhoids. It is a known fact that every time we go to the toilet for bowel evacuation, the veins in the anal cavity do experience some amount of strain. So frequent visits to the toilet in a day is bound to increase the pressure in the rectal area. This happening over a period of time due to chronic diarrhea may cause hemorrhoids. Excessive Abdominal Pressure Although excessive abdominal strain that cause hemorrhoids has been attributed mainly to pregnancy and obesity, they are not the only factors. Even carrying heavy objects is said to be quite stressful to the abdominal part of the body. The strain does not remain confined to the abdomen but is also passed to the pelvic and rectal area. Coughing that is common in lung infections can also be responsible for straining the veins in the anal canal and thereby increase the risk of hemorrhoids. Home and Natural Remedies to Cure Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids can be effectively controlled and treated with some lifestyle changes and home treatments. There are several tips that
you can follow for healing hemorrhoids naturally fast at home. These are as follows: High Fiber Diet A high fiber diet consisting of whole grains, flax seeds, green vegetables and fresh fruits, etc. help digest the food properly. This type of diet can reduce the irritation due to hemorrhoids. Water Water is the most important part of the piles treatment at home and offers an easy way of healing hemorrhoids naturally. You are expected to drink adequate quantity of water to avoid constipation. Sufficient amount of water can help digest the food properly. Essential Oils Various essential oils like castor oil, olive oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, almond oil, etc. can reduce the effect of constipation. These can be applied externally too, to relieve the itching sensation. Warm Tub-Water Bath You can sit in a tub full of warm water for 10 minutes to relieve the pain and itching sensation. Use of Cotton Clothing You should wear cotton underwear to avoid itching sensation. Avoid wearing tight underwear too. Hygiene
You should clean the anus after each bowel movement by patting gently with moist toilet paper or moistened pads to avoid further infection. Exercise You should not lift heavy objects but you are expected to follow some specific exercises for hemorrhoids, every day so as to improve the digestive system and to improve the strength of the muscles. Exercises such as jogging, walking, swimming and climbing stairs will help a lot. Certain yoga techniques are very effective in preventing hemorrhoids. These mainly include stretching and bending exercises, involving the abdomen and the thighs. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking etc You should avoid alcohol, tobacco, sodas, junk, fried, processed or fast food and you should opt for a healthy and balanced diet so as to keep yourself fit and active. Triphala The ayurvedic herb triphala can relieve constipation and is used as a bowel tonic. Aloe Vera Aloe Vera gel, when applied to the area surrounding the anus, can soothe the burning sensation. Ice You can always apply ice packs to relieve the pain, causing numbness.
Apple Cider Vinegar Either by direct application or incorporation in diet. It acts as an astringent and reduces bleeding of hemorrhoid. Witch Hazel You can apply witch hazel thrice a day, with an aseptic cotton pad and it will work as an astringent to decrease the bleeding, swelling and pain caused by the hemorrhoids. Fenugreek Seeds Soak one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in water for 5-6 hours, add them to a cup of water and then boil the water for 5 minutes. Add sugar or honey for taste and drink it three times daily. This works great for hemorrhoids. Bioflavonoids Bioflavonoids help to strengthen the walls of the affected blood vessels and thus they can help decrease the inflammation by stabilizing the walls of the vessels. Most citrus fruits like lemon and orange are packed with bioflavonoids. So, these were some of the natural remedies for treating hemorrhoids. However, they should only be taken after consultation with your doctor. People are too embarrassed to discuss hemorrhoids. Please do not be. You have the right to live a healthy pain free life. Discuss any issues you have with your doctor regarding rectal pain and bleeding and start treatment as soon as possible. What Is The Best Over The Counter Hemorrhoids Treatment/Medication
There are many over the counter treatments available to cure hemorrhoids and it is difficult to identify what is the best over the counter hemorrhoids treatment. Choosing what is the best overthe-counter hemorrhoids treatment for you depends on the type of hemorrhoids you have and your symptoms. The type of medicine you choose will be different, depending on whether your hemorrhoids are internal or external but sorting through a vast selection of hemorrhoids preparations can be confusing. In addition, not all medications are safe or effective for all people. Before trying an over-the-counter hemorrhoids treatment or medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor to recommend the right treatment for you.
Click Here to Know What Is The Best Over The Counter Treatment for Hemorrhoids