Is Your Pain An Anal Fissure Or Piles? You Need To Know The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids

Usually hemorrhoids are caused by constipation. That of course is a very common problem with many different causes. Allowing for that there are usually several causes you can identify and work on changing. They include

Your lifestyle factors

• Eating a diet too high in refined foods and low in complex carbohydrates and roughage. In other words too many ready meals, not enough fruit, vegetables and cereals.


• A lack of exercise, particularly weight bearing such as walking. Being ill and immobile in bed is also a well-recognised factor causing constipation.


• Failure to drink enough fluids


• Holding it in rather than going to the toilet to open your bowels.


• Both too much and too little weight and a change in your routine of usual eating habits.


• Anxiety and depression are both implicated at times as factors in constipation.

Prescription drugs

All 'good' drugs have side effects. Constipation can be one of them. The main types of drugs involved are

• Aluminium based antacids for your heartburn


• Anti depressants


• Anti epileptics


• Anti psychotics


• Calcium supplements


• Diuretics (water tablets)


• Iron tablets - Usually women obviously.


Pregnancy

Pregnancy is of course a well-known cause of constipation. It is usually in the earlier stages and like most things that occur during pregnancy is due to hormonal changes. The bottom line is your bowel gets a bit sluggish and isn't as effective at moving things along.

These are all the commonest causes and most people can find and identify what may be their particular factors quite easily. This is useful as it makes treating both your piles and constipation more straightforward.

You'll be treating your hemorrhoids with a combination of symptomatic treatment and lifestyle changes. If you think prescription medications are causing your problems you must see your doctor to discuss it. Don't just stop taking them.

To help ease your symptoms the best first line treatment is creams, which you apply each time after you open your bowels. It helps to ease the itching and calms your hemorrhoids. Sometimes having a tub bath several times each day with just warm water helps as well. The combination of these two should get on top of your symptoms enabling you to get on with the lifestyle changes.

The most important thing to do is to eat more fruit and vegetables and increase your roughage intake. Try porridge in the morning or muesli. . It's very important as this will soften your stools and minimize straining.

Drink more fluid each day. Aim for 6 - 8 glasses everyday, spread throughout the day.

Start walking each day for 20 - 30 minutes, which not only gets you fitter but also has a very beneficial effect on your guts.

If these lifestyle changes don't work you may try laxatives. They work by making your stools softer and so easier to pass. Lactulose is often used, as is Metamucil. Don't take them for more than 2 weeks because the idea is to get things moving before your lifestyle changes start to work.

These simple steps will help the vast majority of people conquer their hemorrhoids and prevent any recurrence of their symptoms.

The vast majority of people with hemorrhoids don't need an operation. By implementing the non-surgical strategies such as change of diet, drinking more water, stopping straining,starting gentle exercise and applying local treatments such as creams their hemorrhoids settle down and don't require the application of surgical steel!

Only in severe cases of large hemorrhoids, prolapsing hemorrhoids (sticking out of your anus) and bleeding hemorrhoids do you need surgical treatment. This may be as simple as cutting of the blood supply by putting rubber bands round their base so they fall off. Only the most serious cases need a formal hemorrhoidectomy operation.

So if you do all you can to minimise the symptoms you will avoid the surgeons knife in all probability.