Hemorrhoids: prevention and treatments

Food

Gradually increase the amount of  fiber in your diet. This is the best prevention possible . Fruits and vegetables, cereals and whole grain breads are excellent sources of fiber. It is better to gradually integrate them into the diet. The fibers soften the stools and increase their volume, which facilitates their smooth expulsion.

Drink plenty of water  and other fluids during the day.

Take the time to eat in the morning. The bowel has the reflex to empty after meals, especially after  breakfast .

Regular physical exercise

Twenty minutes of  walking a day at a good pace can stimulate intestinal transit. Do not sit for long hours. If you can not do otherwise,  get up occasionally, for 1 or 2 minutes.

Intestinal hygiene

Go to the bowel  regularly . Do not delay the time to defecate if the need arises. The longer we wait, the more the stools become dry and hard. At the time of defecation,  avoid forcing while holding your breath. Hemorrhoids treatment singapore

Do not sit on the toilet seat longer than necessary ( avoid reading ). In this position, the muscles of the anus are released, causing an influx of blood

Prevent recurrence

If necessary, take  fiber supplements , such as psyllium (Metamucil®, Fibropur®, Prodiem®, etc.) or other types of fiber (Fibramax®). They are found over the counter in pharmacies. They can be taken long-term without problem. Make sure to drink a lot to avoid clogging of the digestive tract.

Life habits

In order to regulate intestinal transit , doctors suggest, above all, to respect as much as possible the rules of hygiene and the habits of life described in the Prevention section.

pharmaceuticals

To relieve itching , you can use an over-the-counter product: ointment, cream or suppository. The majority of these products contain hydrocortisone or benzocaine. The specialty products sold as Preparation H contain neither hydrocortisone nor benzocaine, but rather shark liver oil . These products have little effect against pain.

If the pain is unpleasant or intense , it is possible to calm her with a drug painkiller taken by mouth , such as acetaminophen. One can also use a topical analgesic (applied topically). Some are offered over-the-counter. This is the case, for example, with lidocaine-based anesthetic preparations. It is also possible to obtain a prescription based on nitroglycerin or nifedipine, which relieves pain by reducing the pressure in the veins.

Warning and contraindications

Do not use the drug products with hydrocortisone or benzocaine for more than one week, unless the doctor recommends it. Also, refrain from using them in case of local infection.

If you have hemorrhoid pain, avoid taking ibuprofen (Advil ®, Motrin ®) or aspirin , which may increase bleeding. Also avoid narcotics and drugs that contain codeine (this is the case with many cough suppressants), as they can cause constipation.

To urgently treat external hemorrhoids

It is possible to relieve acute pain caused by external thrombosed hemorrhoids (in which a blood clot has formed) by surgery , under local anesthesia. A small area of ​​skin around the anus is removed, including the affected veins. This reduces the risk of recurrence. Few people use it because other solutions are usually effective.

The procedure should be performed within 72 hours after the onset of symptoms. Subsequently, the discomfort caused by surgery may exceed the relief it provides. It is practiced in certain clinics and in hospital emergencies.