There are many illnesses that the human body can suffer from, and one that is both common and very uncomfortable is hemorrhoids. It can happen to anyone at any time in their life, although it is far more common from middle age onwards. Having hemorrhoids is not dangerous, nor is it caused by bacteria or a virus so it is not contagious. They can be very problematic to some people though as they can often bleed and become inflamed, and painful. When they get this bad they can cause additional medical problems such as depression. These days there are a number of hemorrhoids home remedies available, and it may be worth trying some of them before paying for medical advice.
Image courtesy of pixabay.com under CC0 License
So what actually are hemorrhoids? They can often be referred to as piles, and they can be found in the anus and rectum areas and involve the blood vessels. These blood vessels are a normal part of the human anatomy and are where the arteries split into the smaller vessels. Problems occur when these blood vessels grow out of control due to injury caused by a number of factors. The anus is split into two sections by the pectinate line. Whether the hemorrhoids are internal or external depends on where they are located in relation to the pectinate line. If they are internal then they are located above the pectinate line.
What Causes Hemorrhoids
Most people will suffer from a hemorrhoid problem at some point in their life, whether it is anal bleeding, pain or itchiness. In a lot of cases they will clear up within a few days. One problem in the west is the overuse of toilet paper which can be a cause of external hemorrhoids due to the damage to the area that rubbing does. Statistics show that those people who use a bidet suffer a lot less from external hemorrhoid problems.
Causes of internal hemorrhoid problems can be numerous. A low fiber diet can cause issues when passing loose stools, while having diarrhea often can be a major cause of hemorrhoids. Two other problems that can cause them is being pregnant, and posture. A bad posture can force the large intestine to behave abnormally. One of the biggest problems in the world at the moment that is causing hemorrhoids is obesity.
Some Home Remedies To Try
- Keep the area around the anal area clean. This means washing it after each visit to the toilet. Use a soap that includes a moisturizer to keep the area soft. Never leave the area wet, dry it by patting it with toilet roll.
- Never wipe the area with dry toilet roll. If a bidet is not available then use moist toilet tissue which can be purchased from a chemist.
- For painful hemorrhoids a simple ice pack can help.
- A long soak in a warm bath can give a lot of relief to sufferers.
- Over the counter cream can relieve itchiness and pain.
- Painkillers such as Paracetamol can give some relief.
These hemorrhoids home remedies are simple to follow, and in most cases will be a great help for people who have short term hemorrhoids. If they last longer than a month then professional medical help should be sought.