Hemorrhoids: symptoms, causes and remedies from nutrition to drugs
Hemorrhoids are vascular channels present in the anus, important in stool continence, but it is also the generic name given to a particular disorder, hemorrhoidal disease, which is an inflammation and swelling of the affected channels. A very widespread disorder, equally between males and females, which has very specific causes, such as lifestyle habits and nutrition, and fortunately also has its remedies, including drugs and natural remedies, including a certain attention to what you eat. The symptoms of hemorrhoids are the ones that obviously create problems and even embarrassment. Let's see everything in detail.
Symptoms of external and internal hemorrhoids: when to start worrying
Hemorrhoids are of two types, external or internal, and in both cases they present a common symptom: the appearance of blood or small bleeding at the time of the expulsion of the stool. In addition to this, the hemorrhoids present symptoms such as anal itching, incontinence or anal prolapse. In general, both external and internal hemorrhoids are not painful, and cause blood loss, but they also become very painful when thrombus, clots of blood that complicate the situation, are created in the inflamed vascular channels. bleeding, however, it is good to consult a doctor, above all overcoming the embarrassment and addressing the problem before it gets worse.
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What are the causes of hemorrhoids?
There is no proven certainty on the matter, but it is thought that among the causes of hemorrhoids there are lifestyle habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, that is the lack of physical activity, and a "diet low in fiber. Among other causes, there could also be particular abdominal strains, hereditary predisposition and aging. Hemorrhoids in fact become more frequent among elderly men and women, or in any case adults, with a peak between 45 and 65 years of age. A particular case is that of hemorrhoids in pregnancy: often pregnant women develop this problem, and it is thought to be due to a link between the typical abdomen.In many less severe cases, however, a series of natural remedies and measures can be adopted that affect daily life and change of habits.
Hemorrhoids: the diet to follow and the foods to avoid
There are natural remedies for hemorrhoids, before moving on to drugs and, in severe cases, to surgery. They are above all precautions to be taken to change one's lifestyle, to circumvent the triggering causes of this disorder. If it is true that one of the causes is habitual constipation, caused in turn by a "diet low in fiber, then it is necessary to eat constipation both from frequent diarrhea, which cause hemorrhoids more easily. There are also foods to avoid, for don't run into these problems:
- overly spicy or spicy foods
- aged cheeses
- sausages
- shellfish
- too much coffee
- spirits
50 high-fiber foods for a hemorrhoid diet
Here are 50 high-fiber foods for proper nutrition that will help prevent hemorrhoids by improving digestion and stool removal. Fiber helps you by fighting both constipation and frequent diarrhea, one of the main causes of hemorrhoidal disease.
See Also: 50 High-Fiber Foods To Eat Regularly
Natural remedies for hemorrhoids, from habits to herbal ointments
To prevent or treat hemorrhoids you must then have some care: do not strain the abdomen too much at the time of defecation, which can be facilitated precisely with nutrition, and avoid excessive efforts in general, such as lifting weights. A sedentary lifestyle is the worst enemy: avoid sitting too much, and do physical activity. You don't have to be an Olympian, but taking the stairs and walking a lot are good habits to adopt as soon as possible, then combining everything with a sport of your choice, which also in this case must not involve excessive effort. In short, swimming is better than weight lifting.
In addition to this, among the natural remedies we can also include herbal, non-pharmacological solutions, which exploit the properties of plants. Let's find out the main ones, which mainly translate into ointments to be applied on the suffering part, therefore suitable only for external hemorrhoids:
- horse chestnut: has healing principles against hemorrhoids, relieves pain and itching and is used mainly as an ointment
- cypress: cypress extracts are rich in flavonoids, which improve blood circulation by preventing the formation of thrombosed hemorrhoids, the most difficult to treat. An ointment with cypress extracts has a preventive utility
- helichrysum: the ointments based on this plant exploit the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, also preventing the formation of edema
- aloe vera: perfect for many things, thanks to its soothing and disinfectant properties. It is in fact suitable for treating all forms of skin irritation, even mosquito bites
Medicines and surgical treatment
In the most serious or difficult cases to treat, such as internal, bleeding or thrombosed hemorrhoids, it is advisable to consult a doctor, who, according to the cases, will opt for drugs or, in extreme cases, will recommend surgery. Topical drugs, which are applied to the suffering part, are above all specific ointments and suppositories, the use of which, however, cannot last too long. Often the recommended drugs contain combined active ingredients, such as anti-inflammatories and vasoconstrictors, but there are still no topical drugs that alone solve the problem. If the disease persists, in fact, you can decide for an outpatient operation, or a real surgery. In cases of hemorrhoids during pregnancy, the patient waits after the birth, to understand whether to intervene only if the problem persists.
