Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Sitting Pretty: Treatment Of Hemorrhoids

By Ai Qin

Seventy five percent of the population suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in their adult lives and very often, they do not even know it! In spite of this, doctors have not really been able to put their finger on what exactly causes hemorrhoids.

Pregnant women, people suffering from obesity, people who consume large amounts of caffeine or alcohol, and those who do not get enough dietary fibre and moisture are most likely to fall victim to this painful condition. Prevention is just a matter of a healthier lifestyle.

Having said the above, you can protect yourself from falling victim to this painful condition with a simple change in lifestyle. You should drink around eight glasses of water each day, include fibre rich foods, vitamin supplements and herbs in your diet, avoid sitting for prolonged periods, and exercise at least three times a week.

Treatment for hemorrhoids varies from applying external creams and ointments to ease the pain in the case of external hemorrhoids, to surgery in the case of acute distension.

Hemorrhoid s are of two types: External hemorrhoids that occur outside the rectum and under the anus; and internal hemorrhoids that occur inside the anal canal. Internal hemorrhoids often go undetected, as there are no pain receptors in this region. Due to this, when left untreated, internal hemorrhoids tend to become distended and get pushed outside the anus - causing a condition known as prolapsed or strangulated hemorrhoid.

Most surgical procedures to remove hemorrhoids are simple and work on the principle of cutting off arterial blood flow to the inflamed vein, which causes the haemorrhoid to shrivel and fall. Doppler filigation, rubber band litigation, sclerotherapy and hemorrhoidectomy are the most common surgical procedures used to remove hemorrhoids and are all relatively safe and simple surgeries.

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