Hemorrhoids, sometimes called hemorrhoids, are diseases of the anal area. This disease is common – affecting 75% of us – but is usually not serious, and tends to go away on its own. However, this condition can be very painful until it heals on its own. Here are some tips to get rid of hemorrhoids fast.
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Part 1 of 4: Identifying Hemorrhoids
Step 1. Recognize the signs
If you think you have hemorrhoids, it is important to know the symptoms of this disease. Here are the signs of internal and external hemorrhoids.
- Internal hemorrhoids: The most obvious symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bleeding from the anal passage along with bowel movements. You will see bright red blood when cleaning yourself, after a bowel movement. In most cases, this condition is painless.
- External hemorrhoids: External hemorrhoids can cause itching and burning in the anal area. This condition often causes pain, and sometimes bleeds, especially when cleaned after a bowel movement. Sometimes, external hemorrhoids make sitting very uncomfortable.
Step 2. Understand other conditions that may occur
Although hemorrhoids are usually not serious, rectal bleeding can be caused by more serious health conditions, including anal, rectal or colon cancer; diverticulitis; or bacterial infection. If you have a new type of rectal bleeding, call your doctor right away so you can be diagnosed and treated.
Step 3. Understanding hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the anal or rectal area. This occurs due to increased pressure around the pelvis and anal area. Constipation and chronic diarrhea are common causes of hemorrhoids. Women in the later stages of pregnancy are also susceptible to this disease, as are people who are overweight. Anal sex can sometimes also cause hemorrhoids, and the sores can be internal or external.
- Internal hemorrhoids: Internal hemorrhoids occur inside the rectum. If he is large enough, or close enough to the anus, he may protrude when he has a bowel movement.
- External hemorrhoids: External hemorrhoids occur in the area around the anal opening. If the irritation is severe enough and lumps under the skin, over time it can become a very hard lump. This condition is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid.
Part 2 of 4: Getting Rid of Hemorrhoids
Step 1. Learn home remedies for hemorrhoids
In most cases, hemorrhoids can be treated at home, using methods that soothe or reduce pain, inflammation, swelling, itching and pressure. This section describes some steps you can take at home to relieve the disease.
Step 2. Clean the affected area
While it can be painful to wipe the anal area with hemorrhoids, one of the most important steps you can take to begin healing is to keep the area clean. Gently clean with a soft cloth, warm water and a mild soap. Rinse well, and pat to dry using a clean washcloth or very soft toilet paper.
You can also try using damp towelettes, which are much softer than dry toilet paper. Many brands contain aloe vera or other lozenges
Step 3. Use a topical treatment
Some topical treatments can relieve hemorrhoid swelling and pain. Some can be purchased at the drugstore, and some may be in your kitchen. Here are some you should try:
- Creams and ointments: Prepare preparation H, hydrocortisone cream, cream for diaper rash, or products containing a topical analgesic such as lidocaine or benzocaine.
- Using witch hazel: Include a medicated pad called witch hazel, which contains astringent properties. You can also buy witch hazel water and apply it to the anal area using a cotton ball or soft pad.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe vera works to lubricate and soothe. You can buy aloe vera gel at drug stores. If you have an aloe vera plant, break a small piece, massage it until the inner gel comes out, and apply it to the affected area.
Step 4. Apply a paste of Epsom salt and glycerin
Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of Epsom salt with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of glycerin. Apply this paste to the gauze and then apply it to the affected area. Leave it for 15-20 minutes.
You can apply this paste every 4-6 hours until the pain you are experiencing subsides
Step 5. Meet the body's fluid needs
Drinking enough water will soften your stool, making it easier to pass and reducing the urge to push, which can potentially make your hemorrhoids worse. If you suspect hemorrhoids in the anus, increase your water intake, eight to ten glasses of water a day.
Step 6. Eat more fiber
Fiber is another excellent stool softener. You can add it to your diet by eating foods high in fiber, and taking fiber supplements, or both.
- Eat more nuts, whole grains, whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
- Alternatively, you can try a psyllium fiber supplement at a pharmacy such as Citrucel or Metamucil.
Step 7. Soak in a sitz tub
A sitz bath is a warm bath for the perineal area. Warm water also relieves hemorrhoids, provides relief and aids healing. You can buy a small tub (often called a sitz bath) that sits over the toilet seat, or just use your bathtub. Here's how to relieve hemorrhoids using a sitz bath:
- Fill the tub with a few inches of warm water. If you are using a toilet bath sitz, fill it to the point as directed. Make sure the water is warm, not hot.
- Add sedatives and healing agents, if you wish. Warm water alone will be soothing, but you can also find additional sedation by adding table salt, Epsom salt, chamomile, yarrow, and calendula which are known to heal hemorrhoids.
- Soak for about 20 minutes. Do a sitz bath 20 minutes after a bowel movement. If you can, do two or three baths a day until the hemorrhoid heals.
- Gently dry the perineal area with a soft towel.
Step 8. Apply an ice pack or cold compress
Cold will reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. Place an ice pack or compress on the rectal area for 15 minutes. Repeat two to three times a day.
Part 3 of 4: Preventing Hemorrhoids
Step 1. Prevent hemorrhoids from reappearing
Once hemorrhoids have healed, you can take steps to prevent them from coming back. Some of the treatment suggestions also apply to prevention, such as maintaining a high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of water. Here are some other ideas.
Step 2. If you feel you have to poop, do it right away
Sometimes there are times when you experience the wrong time to defecate. However, delaying this can cause problems. When you delay it, your stool dries up and pools in your rectum, which can cause additional pressure. Then, when you use the toilet, you will strain. So when you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, don't wait. Find a toilet and don't procrastinate anymore!
Step 3. Don't spend too much time on the toilet
Spending long periods of time sitting on the toilet puts pressure on the anal area. Don't spend more than 10 minutes on the toilet straining. If you are constipated, clean up, rest, drink water, go for a walk, and try again at another time.
Step 4. Lose weight
If being overweight is the cause of your hemorrhoids, losing weight can help. Talk to your doctor for recommendations on the weight you need to lose and healthy ways to do it.
Step 5. Get more exercise
Exercise stimulates bowel function, which makes it easier to pass stool. Try 20 minutes a day of simple aerobic exercise; walking is a great place to start. If you have a regular job, find a starting point to get up and walk around a few times every hour. Doing more exercise can also help you lose weight.
Step 6. Make dietary changes to help soften your stool
Softer stools mean less straining, less pressure on the anal area and less time spent sitting on the toilet. Dietary changes mean adding and eliminating or reducing the intake of certain foods. You may need to experiment with your diet before finding a balance that works for you. Here are some examples:
- Foods to add: lots of water, prunes or prune juice, crushed flax seeds, foods with omega fatty acids, leafy greens, raw vegetables and fruits
- Foods to stop or reduce: fried foods, refined carbohydrates, dairy products, sodium.
Step 7. Make dietary changes to support the health of your blood vessels
Consume foods and spices that contain compounds to support venous health by strengthening the walls of blood vessels. Some of the following foods and spices also reduce inflammation, and provide additional benefits. Examples include:
- Flavonoids (found in citrus fruits, blackberries, cherries and other fruits and vegetables)
- Butchers broom
- Horse chestnut
- Gingko biloba
- Calendula.
Part 4 of 4: When to Seek Medical Help
Step 1. Know when to call the doctor
Home remedies will cure most hemorrhoids. However, there are times when helping yourself is not enough, you need medical attention. Pay close attention to your symptoms to determine if you should seek medical help. Look for the following signs:
- Duration of symptoms: Bleeding and pain usually resolve after 2-3 days. Call your doctor if these symptoms last longer than a week.
- Timing of symptoms: Bleeding hemorrhoids usually only occurs with a bowel movement. If you experience rectal bleeding at any other time, call your doctor.
- Changes in symptoms: Changes in your symptoms may mean your condition is worsening. It also means that there is something else that needs to be investigated. If the color of your hemorrhoid bleeding changes from light to dark red, call your doctor as soon as possible.
- Severity of symptoms: If you have applied home remedies, your hemorrhoids should be getting better. If symptoms worsen, or become severe, call your doctor.
Tips
Some people with hemorrhoids find sitting on a pillow or donut-shaped pillow to help relieve pain
Warning
- If you pass stools that are maroon or black in color, call your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of another serious problem in your digestive tract.
- Diabetics should not use Preparation H, or other products containing vasoconstrictors such as phenylephrine.
- If you have diabetes, do not use products that contain hydrocortisone, as this steroid can increase blood sugar levels.
