Hemorrhoids: causes, symptoms and treatments

SUMMARY :

What are hemorrhoids?
What are the causes and factors favoring this proctologic disease?
What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?
What treatments are available to cure hemorrhoids?
When to opt for surgery?
How to prevent the appearance of hemorrhoids?
In which cases should you consult?

THE hemorrhoids constitute a vascular network located at the level of the canal of the anus. This blood network “nourishes the anal margin and its muscle, which is the orifice through which stool exits“, says Dr. Handschuh, specialist in general medicine in Paris.

This arterio-venous network is superficial and it can become irritated easily. The term hemorrhoids is more commonly used to refer to the hemorrhoidal disease that affects these vessels.

What are hemorrhoids?

It’s a “dilation of a rather venous nature that is around the anal margin, which swells and can itch and bleed“, explains the doctor.

They can appear:

inside the body, under the anal mucosa: we then speak ofinternal hemorrhoids ;
outside, at the level of the anus: these are the external hemorrhoids.

Nevertheless, as Dr. Handschuh specifies, “the hemorrhoidal nature is no different”.

What are the causes and factors favoring this proctologic disease?

Everyone can be affected by an attack of hemorrhoids during their life and at any age, although they appear most commonly between 40 and 65 years old.

Several factors can favor their occurrence:

sedentary lifestyle, and therefore sitting still for a long time ;

the constipation, “Iwhen it leads by constraint to the obligation to push very hard and come out of stools that are too hard or that don’t want to come out. If the pressure exerted on the sphincter comes into opposition with irritated veins, this exerts an overpressure, which prevents venous return and swells the hemorrhoids“, says Dr. Handschuh;
the fact of not drinking enough (which goes hand in hand with constipation);
THE overweight ;
the consumption ofspicy, hot foodsas well as strong alcohols. “What burns the mouth and the back of the throat can burn the behind“, summarizes the doctor.

Certain periods of life are also more conducive to the appearance ofhemorrhoids:

pregnancy (which increases pressure on venous return, and therefore can promote the appearance of hemorrhoids), childbirth and postpartum;
advancing in age, because the tissues relax, which facilitates the appearance of procidental hemorrhoids (which protrude from the sphincter, and are therefore partly external).

What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?

The signals can vary depending on the individual, and appear continuously or suddenly in the event of a crisis.

THE common symptoms of hemorrhoids are :

a feeling of embarrassment, very unpleasant, which can give the impression of sitting on a bottle;
the appearance of a bulge, when the hemorrhoids are procidentate;
painful irritation that bleeds;
a sensation of pulsation (of heartbeats), because it is an area that brings together arteries and veins.
unbearable pain when the varicose vein becomes necrotic. As Dr. Handschuh points out: “It will exclude itself, by dint of being prevented from returning to circulation. The tissue that surrounds it dies, leaving a scar called the marisque..” However, the doctor specifies that the Internal hemorrhoids never necrotize because they reintegrate into the bloodstream. Squeezing the buttocks drives out the blood which rises again.

As for the bleeding, they are usually observed on the toilet paper. However, traces may appear on clothing or in the toilet bowl when the vessels explode. Dr. Handschuh points out that it’s not more serious when the hemorrhoid bleedsbut you must nevertheless be careful if it is recurrent, because they can cause anemia.

What treatments are available to treat hemorrhoids?

When hemorrhoids do not cause bothersome symptoms, there is no need to treat them.

It front of protruding hemorrhoidsDr. Handschuh recommends: “take hemorrhoidal cream and to massage the bead by bringing it inside half a centimeter, to allow it to reintegrate the venous circuit, and to tighten the buttocks at this time.” He advises to practice this act after each stool, because the flow of fecal matter lowers the bead.

The practitioner also advises taking veinotonic tabletswhich contribute to overcoming the crisis.

It is also possible to take paracetamol in case of pain.

When the hemorrhoids are caused by constipation, it is important to treat this pathology to slow down and stop the crisis. Nevertheless, Dr. Handschuh advises against products made from plants, such as senna: they can be aggressive for the digestive tract, and therefore increase hemorrhoids. The doctor recommends give priority at this time to mild and weight laxatives.

When to opt for surgery?

I’surgical intervention remains an exceptional act, performed on very large hemorrhoids or on hemorrhoids that persist despite the usual treatments. It is performed by a proctologist.

This health professional can carry out different interventions, such as sclerosis, which consists of “inject a product into the vessel to collab (glue) the 2 edges of the vessel which is bothering and painful“, explains Dr. Handschuh.

How to prevent the appearance of hemorrhoids?

Apart from pathologies and particular circumstances, hemorrhoids are favored by the hygiene of life.

It is then recommended to:

hydrate a lot;
consume green vegetables and grain products ;
moderate the consumption of strong alcohol;
of limit spicy productswhen it has been found that they promote the occurrence of hemorrhoids;
practice regular physical activity.

In which cases should you consult?

Do not hesitate to go to your general practitioner from the first pain or discomfort. Many people delay consulting, which worsens the symptoms experienced.

Dr. Handschuh also recalls that the vessels that go to the pelvis are historically called “shameful vessels”. This terminology reflects this discomfort, which must nevertheless be overcome to consult a health professional and be relieved as quickly as possible.

Moreover, even in case chronic hemorrhoids, it is strongly advised to consult a doctor when they lead to bleeding. Dr. Handschuh reports that he “hemorrhoids should not suppress the warning signal of digestive bleeding.“ This loss of blood can, in fact, be the sign of a polyp, or even of a future cancer.

Although they don’t cause serious complications, hemorrhoids can be bothersome and painful. It is therefore advised to consult your doctor as soon as possibleto receive appropriate treatment and advice to adapt their lifestyle habits.

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