Hemorrhoids: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Prevention and Treatment
Hemorrhoids are a common anorectal disease that is widely found in people of all ages. It not only causes physical discomfort to patients, but may also cause a series of complications, seriously affecting the quality of life. However, due to the relatively private location of hemorrhoids, many patients often feel embarrassed when facing this problem, and even choose to endure it silently, thus delaying the best time for treatment. Therefore, correctly understanding the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment methods of hemorrhoids is of great significance for improving the quality of life of patients.
1. Definition and causes of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, also known as hemorrhoids, refer to the varicose and dilated venous plexus in the anorectal area, forming a soft venous mass. It is mainly divided into three types: internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids and mixed hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids occur above the dentate line and are usually not easy to detect, but may be accompanied by bleeding; external hemorrhoids occur below the dentate line and are prone to thrombosis, causing pain and swelling; mixed hemorrhoids are the situation where internal and external hemorrhoids exist at the same time.
The formation of hemorrhoids is related to many factors. First of all, long-term bad living habits are one of the important causes of hemorrhoids. For example, sitting or standing for a long time can block the blood circulation in the anus, leading to increased venous pressure, which in turn causes the venous plexus to expand. In addition, long-term constipation or diarrhea can also increase the pressure in the anus, making the venous plexus more susceptible to varicose veins. When constipated, patients often need to strain to defecate, which can increase the burden on the anus and cause the venous plexus to rupture or expand; and when diarrhea occurs, frequent defecation can also irritate and damage the anus.
Eating habits also play an important role in the formation of hemorrhoids. Long-term intake of high-fat, low-fiber foods can lead to slower intestinal motility, prolonged retention of feces in the intestines, excessive absorption of water, and thus become dry and hard. In this case, patients need to strain when defecating, which in turn increases the pressure in the anus and induces hemorrhoids. On the contrary, foods rich in dietary fiber can promote intestinal motility, keep feces soft, and reduce the force required during defecation, thereby reducing the risk of hemorrhoids.
In addition, genetic factors may also play a role in the onset of hemorrhoids. Some people may have a weaker structure of the anal venous plexus due to family genetic tendencies, making them more susceptible to expansion and varicose veins. In addition, as people age, their tissues and organs gradually age, and the venous walls in the anus become loose and less elastic, which also increases the incidence of hemorrhoids.
2. Symptoms of hemorrhoids
The symptoms of hemorrhoids vary depending on the type and severity, but common manifestations include anal discomfort, bleeding, pain, and prolapse of tumors.
The main symptom of internal hemorrhoids is painless blood in the stool. When patients defecate, the feces rub against the surface of the hemorrhoids, causing the hemorrhoids to rupture and bleed. This bleeding is usually intermittent and bright red, and may appear on toilet paper or drip into the toilet. As the disease progresses, internal hemorrhoids may gradually increase in size and even prolapse outside the anus. When hemorrhoids prolapse, patients may feel a foreign body sensation in the anus, especially after defecation. If the prolapsed hemorrhoids cannot be retracted in time, blood circulation may be blocked, causing pain and swelling.
The symptoms of external hemorrhoids are mainly pain and swelling. When external hemorrhoids thrombosis occurs, patients will suddenly feel severe pain in the anus, and the pain will intensify when touched. The surface of thrombosed external hemorrhoids is usually dark purple, hard in texture, and easy to rupture and bleed. In addition, external hemorrhoids may also be accompanied by anal itching or increased secretions, which is caused by irritation or infection of the skin on the surface of the hemorrhoids.
Mixed hemorrhoids have symptoms of both internal and external hemorrhoids. Patients may experience blood in the stool, pain, and prolapse of the tumor at the same time. The condition is more complicated and the symptoms are more severe.
3. Diagnosis of hemorrhoids
When patients experience the above symptoms, they should seek medical attention in time for accurate diagnosis. Doctors usually determine the type and severity of hemorrhoids through medical history inquiry, physical examination and necessary auxiliary examinations.
Medical history inquiry is the first step in diagnosis. The doctor will ask the patient in detail about the symptoms, onset time, eating habits, bowel movements, and family history. This information helps the doctor to preliminarily determine the type and possible causes of hemorrhoids.
Physical examination mainly includes anal inspection and anal digital examination. Anal inspection is to observe the skin and mucosa around the anus to understand whether there are external hemorrhoids, thrombosis, anal fissures, etc. Anal digital examination is to touch the inside of the anus with your fingers to check the presence, size, texture, and bleeding of internal hemorrhoids. In addition, anal digital examination can also help doctors understand the functional status of the anal sphincter and rule out other anorectal diseases.
If necessary, the doctor may recommend an anoscopy. An anoscope is a device specifically used to examine the inside of the anus and rectum. It can clearly show the location, size and shape of hemorrhoids, helping doctors to assess the condition more accurately. Anoscopy is an important diagnostic method for patients with complex symptoms or suspected other anorectal diseases.
4.Treatment of hemorrhoids
The treatment of hemorrhoids requires a personalized treatment plan based on the severity and type of the disease and the specific situation of the patient. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prevent further development of the disease as much as possible.
For patients with mild hemorrhoids, symptoms can usually be relieved through conservative treatment. Conservative treatment mainly includes improving lifestyle and drug therapy. Improving lifestyle is the basis for treating hemorrhoids. Patients should try to avoid sitting or standing for a long time, and get up and move around every once in a while to promote blood circulation in the anal area. At the same time, bowel movements should be kept smooth to avoid constipation or diarrhea. Intestinal function can be improved by increasing dietary fiber intake, drinking more water, and exercising appropriately, so that the stool remains soft and the force required for defecation is reduced.
Drug treatment can relieve the symptoms of hemorrhoids and promote recovery. For example, the use of suppositories or ointments containing anti-inflammatory and analgesic ingredients can directly act on the anus to relieve pain and swelling. In addition, oral medications can also help improve intestinal function and reduce bleeding. Some Chinese medicine preparations also have the effects of clearing away heat and detoxification, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and can be used under the guidance of a doctor.
For patients with severe symptoms or ineffective conservative treatment, surgical treatment may be a necessary option. The purpose of surgical treatment is to remove hemorrhoidal tissue and restore the normal structure and function of the anus. Common surgical methods include hemorrhoidectomy, stapler hemorrhoidal circumcision (PPH), etc. Hemorrhoidectomy is a traditional surgical method that achieves the treatment purpose by directly removing hemorrhoidal tissue. This method is effective, but there may be some pain and recovery time after surgery. PPH surgery is to circumcise the hemorrhoidal mucosa to shrink the hemorrhoidal tissue, thereby alleviating symptoms. This surgical method is less invasive and recovers faster, but it may not be suitable for all types of hemorrhoids.
No matter which treatment method is chosen, patients should maintain a good attitude during the treatment and actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment. At the same time, postoperative care is also very important. Patients should pay attention to keeping the anus clean and avoid infection. Avoid excessive force when defecating, and use stool softeners when necessary. In addition, patients should also have regular checkups to promptly detect and deal with possible complications.
5. Prevention of hemorrhoids
The key to preventing hemorrhoids is to develop good living habits and eating habits. The following measures can effectively reduce the risk of hemorrhoids.
First of all, keeping the stool unobstructed is an important part of preventing hemorrhoids. Constipation or diarrhea should be avoided as much as possible, and intestinal function can be improved by increasing dietary fiber intake, drinking more water, and exercising appropriately. For example, eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other foods rich in dietary fiber can promote intestinal peristalsis, keep stool soft, and reduce the effort during defecation. At the same time, it is also important to develop a habit of regular bowel movements and avoid holding back for a long time, so that the feces do not stay in the intestines for too long, and the water is overabsorbed, leading to constipation.
Secondly, pay attention to the cleanliness of the anus. Wash the anus with warm water every day, and avoid using irritating lotions or soaps. After defecation, wipe from front to back to avoid bringing bacteria around the anus into the urethra and causing infection. In addition, long-term use of sanitary napkins or pads should be avoided, because these items may increase the humidity of the anus and provide favorable conditions for bacterial growth.
In terms of living habits, you should try to avoid sitting or standing for a long time. If your work requires you to maintain the same posture for a long time, you should get up and move around every once in a while, and do some simple stretching exercises to promote blood circulation in the anus. At the same time, you should avoid coughing or holding your breath for a long time, because these actions will increase abdominal pressure, leading to increased venous pressure in the anus, thereby inducing hemorrhoids.
In addition, maintaining a healthy weight is also important for preventing hemorrhoids. Obesity can cause abdominal fat to accumulate, increase abdominal pressure, and then increase the burden on the anus, leading to dilation of the venous plexus. Therefore, controlling weight through a reasonable diet and proper exercise can not only prevent hemorrhoids, but also improve overall health.
Finally, regular anorectal examinations are also an important measure to prevent hemorrhoids. Through regular examinations, potential problems in the anorectal area can be discovered in time, and intervention can be carried out in the early stage to avoid worsening of the disease. Especially for people with a family history of hemorrhoids or long-term bad living habits, regular examinations should be paid more attention.
Although hemorrhoids are a common disease, through correct understanding, active prevention and scientific treatment, patients can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life. In daily life, we should focus on developing good living habits and eating habits, keep the anus clean and hygienic, and seek medical treatment in time when symptoms occur, so as to obtain correct diagnosis and treatment. Only in this way can we stay away from the troubles of hemorrhoids and enjoy a healthy and comfortable life.
