By EKalman September 2, 2024 - 7:30am

Hemorrhoids are unpleasant, ugly, bleed, and make going to the restroom difficult. They're also extremely prevalent. By the age of 50, approximately half of the population has experienced hemorrhoids.

What Is a Hemorrhoid?
A hemorrhoid is simply an enlarged or swollen blood vessel.

Hemorrhoids can be found both inside and outside the body. External hemorrhoids are visible and can be painful. Internal hemorrhoids are neither visible nor palpable, although they can cause bleeding during bowel movements.

The most common cause of hemorrhoids is constipation or straining when using the bathroom. Women are more likely to develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy and after birth due to increased strain on the pelvic floor and hormonal changes that can cause constipation. Children and teenagers can also develop hemorrhoids.

At-home Hemorrhoid Remedies
The most important thing people can do to treat a hemorrhoid is to let it heal by not straining during bowel movements and avoiding constipation. Straining raises pressure and keeps the hemorrhoid from receding.

To treat the underlying problem of constipation and straining, you can try the following tips:
- Eat fiber-rich foods such as bananas, pears, strawberries, avocados, carrots, beets, broccoli, spinach, legumes, lentils, oats, nuts, seeds, and sweet potatoes.
- Increase your water consumption.
- Consider taking an OTC fiber supplement.
- Soak in a warm and shallow sitz bath, which is made by filling a tub with a few inches of warm water and sitting in it for 15 or 20 minutes.

If you consult a doctor for hemorrhoids, they may prescribe hydrocortisone, which can be applied directly or via a suppository. A high-fiber diet, combined with sitz baths and hydrocortisone, works. The bleeding stops, the sensation fades, and that's typically the end of it.

The Three Worst Things You Can Do
1. Spend too much time on the toilet. Good bowel habits include eating a nutritious diet and using the toilet for no more than five minutes.
2. Over Wipe or wipe vigorously. You can clean yourself using plain, unscented, hypoallergenic wipes, wet tissue, cotton balls, or a bidet.
3. You are not calling your doctor when the situation could be more serious. Any type of rectal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor, especially if it is accompanied by unwanted weight loss or anemia. These symptoms could be indicative of something more serious. Listen to your body, and if something doesn't seem right, consult a medical practitioner.

Surgical Options
If you've tried all of the at-home cures and medication choices and are still experiencing hemorrhoids, you should consult a colorectal surgeon. Many operations can be performed in the office, like hemorrhoid banding or hemorrhoid sclerotherapy:
- Banding involves tying a small rubber band around the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink and come off. This technique is painless, quick, and performed in the office.
- Sclerotherapy is similar, but it employs a particular shot to cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid, causing it to fall off.

If your hemorrhoids are severe and recurring, many outpatient, same-day procedures entail anesthesia comparable to a colonoscopy:
- Hemorrhoid ligation is similar to rubber banding but uses a suture.
- Hemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of a hemorrhoid.
- Stapled hemorrhoidectomy, which uses a stapler to remove bigger hemorrhoids.
- Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) is an ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive method for directing blood supply to a hemorrhoid.

Your medical team will work with you to choose which procedure is best for you.

The Bottom Line
The sooner you begin to address the issue, the faster you will feel better. Hemorrhoids can be treated with less invasive treatments, but if left untreated, surgery is necessary. You should consult with a specialist before trying any treatments for hemorrhoids. You may try to find one by googling “hemorrhoid treatment near me” to find professionals in your area.