Hemorrhoids — A Summary of the Condition and Its Treatments
Hemorrhoids is a condition in which the blood vessels around the anus get engorged, inflamed, and get very painful and itchy. This is an extremely common condition, which approximately 90 percent of the world will experience at some point. There are plenty of methods of relief, however. You can opt for over the counter remedies, home remedies, or surgery. All of these techniques have varying degrees of effectiveness, but the good news is that hemorrhoids are among the easiest of health conditions to cure.
Good home remedies include creams and suppositories that reduce the swelling and relieve pain. Some creams contain hydrocortisone, which will reduce inflammation. You can also relieve discomfort by sitting in warm baths, and adding some apple cider vinegar to the bath will help increase the efficacy of the treatment. Grape seed oil is also an excellent topical treatment that relieves pain and itching.
Surgical methods involve cutting and cauterizing the affected veins, or banding them off until they wither away on their own. You can also get laser surgery that vaporizes the hemorrhoids without any loss of blood or need for a hospital stay. This is the most desirable surgical option, as it’s the least painful and offers the quickest recovery period. However, some cases of hemorrhoids are severe and require more invasive procedures to fix. If you have to go this route, it will be for the best, because you’ll likely be at the point where defecation is extremely painful, and your hemorrhoid may be bleeding. You don’t want that, so if you need invasive surgery, you’ll ultimately be glad you got it, in spite of the longer recovery period and more post-operative pain.
Preventive measures, however, are always the best. Eating a diet high in fiber and drinking lots of water to prevent constipation are highly effective at keeping hemorrhoids at bay. Constipation and the straining that accompanies it, is the biggest cause of hemorrhoids. Exercise can also help prevent this condition by keeping things moving in your bowels. Prevention is always best, so do your best to stop hemorrhoids before they start and you’ll never have to deal with this troublesome problem yourself.