Preventing Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids aren't dangerous. They don't lead to cancer or other serious conditions. They rarely bleed enough to cause anemia. In fact, they often cause no symptoms at all. Still, they can be extremely uncomfortable, and most people would just as soon not have them in the first place. Here are steps you can take to stop hemorrhoids before they start.Soften It
If eating more fiber-packed food and increasing water intake aren't enough to solve a severe constipation problem, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking a laxative known as a stool softener (such as Colace or Correctol) or one that contains a natural bulking agent (such as Metamucil and Effer-Syllium). These are only short-term solutions, however -- the best way to add fiber is through food. Do not -- repeat, do not -- use laxatives that act on the muscles of the colon and rectum unless specifically directed to by your doctor; prolonged use of such products, which typically contain bisacodyl, senna, cascara sagrada, or castor oil as their active ingredient, can cause permanent malfunction of the bowel in addition to severe irritation of the anal area. Avoid mineral oil, as well, since it can interfere with the absorption of some essential nutrients, such as vitamin A.
Try a Different Position
It has been suggested that squatting is a more natural position than sitting for moving one's bowels; unfortunately, Western toilets are not designed to make this possible for most people. Some people find that propping their feet up on a small footstool and pulling their knees in the direction of their chest helps.
Avoid Sweat and Strain
Don't try to move your bowels unless you feel the urge to do so. And don't spend any more time on the toilet than it takes to defecate without straining. Once your bowels have moved, don't strain to produce more.
Heed the Call of Nature
On the other hand, don't wait too long before responding to the urge to eliminate. The longer the stool stays in the lower portion of the digestive tract, the more chance there is for moisture to be lost, making the stool hard and dry.
Keep It Clean
Keep your rectal area clean at all times. Residual fecal matter can irritate the skin, but so can vigorous rubbing with dry toilet paper. Use plain water to rinse the area, then pat it dry and dust with cornstarch powder. More convenient, but also more expensive, are premoistened wipes designed for anal care. These wipes cause irritation in some people. If you want to try them, they are available without a prescription at pharmacies and drugstores.
Schedule a Walk
Regular exercise helps your digestive system work more efficiently. Strenuous exercise isn't necessary, however; a lengthy walk at a brisk pace will do quite nicely.
 Regular exercise can help your digestive system work more efficently. |
Take a sitz bath for 30 minutes, three or four times a day: Sit in six inches of warm water on your doughnut cushion or on a towel twisted into a circle big enough to support your bottom. Even if you can't manage a full-scale sitz bath, a washcloth moistened with warm water can soothe the painful area.
Watch the Soap
Soap residue can also irritate the anal area, so it's important to rinse well. If you find that, even with thorough rinsing, soap still irritates the anal area, look for a special perianal cleansing lotion in your drugstore. Follow the package directions.
Soften Your Seat
If your job demands that you sit all day, try sitting on a doughnut shaped cushion -- an inexpensive device that takes the pressure off the sensitive area. And be sure to take short walking breaks several times a day.
Over-the-Counter Hemorrhoid Medications
Drugstore remedies for hemorrhoid discomfort usually achieve part of what they promise: temporary relief of pain and itching (of the skin in the anal area, that is; rectal nerves can't sense pain). Claims that they can shrink hemorrhoids or reduce inflamed tissue, however, don't hold up when put to the test.
Over-the-counter aids are available in several forms: cleansers, suppositories, creams, and ointments. The cleansers, although effective, are more costly than ordinary warm water, which works very well. Suppositories may be of little help because they can slide into the upper rectum, bypassing the area they are meant to soothe. Ointments are greasy and tend to retain moisture, which can lead to increased irritation. Creams, especially hydrocortisone creams, are effective, although their prolonged use may lead to dependency and can also cause thinning of the skin.
Some of these products, however, should not be used by individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, so you'll need to check the label of any product you are considering. In addition, many preparations contain a number of ingredients, including anesthetics, astringents, counterirritants, and skin protectants, which may cause an allergic reaction in some persons that is far worse than the discomfort of the hemorrhoids themselves.
The Food and Drug Administration has also made some specific rulings about products marketed for hemorrhoid use.
- Boric acid is no longer allowed. While it's safe enough for ordinary skin, it is toxic if absorbed by the mucous membranes.
- Painkilling ingredients for use in the rectum or on internal hemorrhoids (which originate in the lining of the lower rectum) are out, too, because rectal nerves sense pressure but not pain; therefore, such ingredients are unnecessary. (Painkilling agents may soothe discomfort from external hemorrhoids, which originate in the anal skin, because the nerves in anal skin sense pain as well as pressure.) For a list of precautions to take when using over-the-counter analgesics, click here.
- Lanolin alcohols, cod liver oil, and Peruvian balsam are banned as ineffective rather than unsafe.
- Product labels must say "If your condition worsens or does not improve in seven days, consult your doctor."
- Product labels claiming to shrink tissue must also caution: "Do not use this product if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or difficulty in urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland unless directed by a doctor."
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
