People experiencing hemorrhoids are often afraid to admit that they are suffering
from such an uncomfortable and intimate condition. However, patients should not be
shy about talking with their doctor about the condition because ensuring that you get
hemorrhoid treatment is very important. There are a lot of medications that can provide
relief from the pain of hemorrhoids, but do not cure the basic problem. You can’t rely
only on over the counter medications to make the problem go away.

Suffering from hemorrhoids can be incredibly uncomfortable. Everything you do, from
walking to sitting to using the bathroom, becomes an arduous task of avoiding pain and
discomfort. Some people experience powerful itchiness, and of course to scratch would
be embarrassing as well as dangerous.

While hemorrhoids do not present a serious health risk on their own, the risk of
infection to external hemorrhoids is not to be discounted lightly. “Good hygiene is …
very important since fecal matter or mucus drainage irritates the skin and hemorrhoid
area. Too much wiping can worsen discomfort.” (1) The American Gastroenterological
Association even offers the advice of taking a shower instead of wiping if the pain from

hemorrhoids is too intense. Needless to say, if you have a job or other obligations,
going to take a shower after using the bathroom could be pretty challenging.

Getting a proper diagnosis may also be very important. While some blood on toilet
paper after wiping, or blood on the outside of stool, is a normal symptom of internal
and external hemorrhoids, it can also be a sign of much more serious diseases. Colon,
rectal, and anal cancer can all present the symptom of blood in stool or on toilet
paper after wiping. If you see blood in your stool, be sure to contact your doctor for an
appointment, just to be sure that you are not showing signs of a more serious disease
or condition.

You may also find being diagnosed reduces the fear factor. Sometimes simply knowing
what the problem is can help you to determine the best course of action and speed
healing and recovery.

There are a number of natural and simple ways that you can help yourself to avoid
hemorrhoids and to prevent a recurrance. While treatment can be topical, a cream or
ointment applied directly to the hemorrhoids, a lasting cure can be equally dependent
on diet, exercise, and good overall health. You may find a lot of advice online from
other hemorrhoid sufferers who have found relief from the pain of hemorrhoids through
dietary adjustments or even physical activity.

The truth is that many people who suffer from hemorrhoids, although certainly not all
patients, are overweight or have problems getting adequate exercise and a healthy
diet. The main reason that people get hemorrhoids is due to straining during bowel
movements. And straining is what you do when you are constipated or have diarrhea.
Patients may find that dealing with the causes of diarrhea or constipation can ensure
that they never experience the discomfort of hemorrhoids again.

The long term treatment and cure for hemorrhoids can be as simple as eating better
and taking walks every evening. However most hemorrhoids sufferers want to know
what they can do right now to ease their pain and discomfort. There are quite a variety
of natural options, OTC and prescription medications that can provide relief from
hemorrhoids. Most hemorrhoid medications have a soothing base and often contain
anti-inflammatories such as witch hazel, which can shrink the inflamed vein and provide
relief.

Medications can be a mixed blessing, for hemorrhoid relief as well as for many other
conditions and diseases. Suffering from the pain of a physical ailment prompt you to
take better care of yourself. Patients who take pain killers for chronic conditions learn

to ignore pain, and as a result they can incur more damage. Pain is a message from
the body that what you are doing is not good. Listening to the messages that your body
sends you is very important and those messages can provide clues for treating your
body well.

Then again, the indignity of the pain of hemorrhoids should not be suffered for too long.
Finding a lasting solution is probably a top priority for most patients, and as long as
sufficient steps are taken to ensure that hemorrhoids do not recur, pain medication and
topical ointment use are perfectly appropriate.

Many questions may remain for those seeking pain relief from hemorrhoids, or for the
loved ones of patients who have been diagnosed and are seeking treatment. Below
are a simple list of commonly asked questions with the simplest answers that science,
doctors, and laypeople can all agree with and understand. The first step to a cure is
understanding: take the time to learn about your condition and then take the steps to
make yourself better so you can go on with your life.

Chronic sufferer Joey Farkas (2) says “I was a little over 290 lbs. and my doctor says
being overweight put me at a greater risk for developing hemroids. He says most people
who develop hemroids experience them because of straining during bowel movements,
which cause the veins inside and around the anus to swell up, and since constipation

is sure enough common among people who are not so active or eat unhealthy or have
unbalanced diets. I wasn’t so active because of an old football injury, but my doc got me
into the swimming pool with no excuses. My doc says I used to fit the model combo of
a lousy diet, not enough exercise, and just not drinking enough water. It’s a common
lifestyle model in America. He says there are millions of Americans with hemroids
looking for treatment and relief.”

For people who are having temporary difficulty with constipation, prunes are usually
enough to get bowel movements to be regular again. Continue to drink water regularly
between meals, a glass or two between meals is recommended. Drinking a small
amount of tea or coffee after a meal may also keep you from experiencing constipation,
although too much caffeine can cause dehydration as well and caffeine should be used
with moderation.

it won’t be visible, however there might be blood on the stool or visible on the toilet
paper after a bowel movement. Internal hemroids cause less pain and itchiness. If you
do suspect you have hemroids, do make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
There are some very serious diseases that also cause blood to be present after a bowel
movement, including rectal or colon cancer where early diagnosis is very beneficial. Of
course your physician would like to rule out those possibilities, and put a high priority on
your hemroids treatment and relief”.

This may sound uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it is important that you get a
diagnosis if you have hemorrhoids. Treatment will be much easier if you know what
disease or condition you are up against and knowing what you are suffering from will
allow you to do the right things to feel better.

Once you know you have hemorrhoids, treatment may involve a number of simple, non-
invasive, natural steps that should be easy to adopt in your everyday life. Drinking water
regularly between meals and including more fiber in your diet can be enough to keep
you from straining while having bowel movements. If you can take the proper dietary
steps you may be able to avoid recurrance of hemorrhoids in the future.

If you are experiencing discomfort due to hemorrhoids and you want to treat the existing
symptoms, there are a number of medications that may help. Most medications involve
the use of skin protectants which soothe and lubricate irritated tissues. Treatments
containing steroids should be used with caution. Unfortunately most medications are
only good for temporary symptomatic relief and will not cure hemorrhoids.

Luca Stocchi, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic. A patient may need to stay overnight in the
hospital to monitor bleeding, although most patients go home the same day.

A newer stapling method has been developed which staples the vein to a muscle
of the anus or rectum. The short term results have been good, but the long term
likelihood of recurrence is still unknown. Overall, having surgery for hemorrhoids is only
recommended when all other natural remedies have been tried.

There are also a number of non-surgical methods for removing hemorrhoids. Injection
sclerotherapy is used for small, bleeding hemorrhoids and involves the injection of a
solution which is meant to shrink the tissue. Injection sclerotherapy tends to have mixed
results. Rubber band ligation is used often for larger hemorrhoids, and uses a small
rubber band to cut off blood supply to the hemorrhoid. Infrared photocoagulation is used
on small internal hemorrhoids that cannot be treated with rubber band ligation, and
involves using infrared radiation to burn the hemorrhoid.

However, all these non-surgical as well as the surgical options are not a guaranteed
way to stop hemorrhoids from recurring. Any procedure that removes hemorrhoids may
temporarily relieve symptoms, but it is always possible that symptoms will return if you
do not make lifestyle changes as well. Joey Farkas: “I started swimming a couple times
a week and dropped 17 lbs over 6 months. Sure I feel healthier and all, but the biggest
relief is my hemroids are a thing of the past”.