A trip to the doctor’s office is not always the best option particularly when you can easily treat the problem at home. One of the conditions that usually doesn’t require medical intervention is hemorrhoids. There are several home remedies that can cure hemorrhoids naturally so you don’t have to spend a lot of money unnecessarily looking for relief as you can easily find these remedies in your kitchen or the local drug store. Find out all you need to know about hemorrhoids and how you can cure them at home below:
Hemorrhoids are clumps of swollen or distended vessels in the rectum or anus. They are categorized into internal and external hemorrhoids where the former are found in the rectum while the latter in the anus. Other types of hemorrhoids include prolapsed and thrombosed hemorrhoids. Prolapsed hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids that protrude out of the anus while thrombosed hemorrhoids are hemorrhoids that have clots in them.
The symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
Hemorrhoids form when too much pressure is subjected to the veins in the anus and rectum. This can happen because of:
Constipation
Constipation puts a lot of pressure on the blood vessels in the anal and rectal regions so it may result in hemorrhoids.
Excess Body Weight
When you’re overweight or obese, your anus’ and rectum’s blood vessels are put under a lot of pressure so hemorrhoids are likely to develop. In fact, a study revealed that an increase in the Body Mass Index (BMI) led to a 3.5% increased risk of getting hemorrhoids.
Pregnancy
Just like excess body weight, pregnancy in the third trimester strains the blood vessels in the anus and rectum. For many pregnant women, therefore, hemorrhoids are a big problem.
Diarrhea
Passing stool too frequently because of diarrhea may lead to hemorrhoids. This is because it strains the muscles and blood vessels in the rectum and anus.
Aging
As you get older, the muscles and tissues in the anus and rectum get weaker. For this reason, when the anus and rectum are subjected to even the slightest pressure, they distend.
You can avoid getting hemorrhoids or them recurring by taking the following steps:
Eat More Fiber
Fiber helps a lot with adding bulk to stool and softening stool so that it passes down the digestive tract quickly and prevents constipation. Foods that contain lots of fiber include wholemeal grains, legumes, nuts, vegetables, and fruits so you should eat more of them.
Drink More Water
Drinking plenty of water helps in softening stool so that you don’t have a hard time passing it. Take at least 6 glasses of water daily to prevent constipation and hemorrhoids.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising on a regular basis keeps food moving down the digestive system quickly so it prevents constipation. It also helps you lose weight and take extra pressure off the anal and rectal vessels.
Don’t Strain
Forcing stool to come out can lead to hemorrhoids so wait for the natural urge to come and then do your business. Straining also takes time so you’ll be sitting on the toilet for too long and it will cause your vessels to stretch out and swell.
The natural home remedies you can use to treat hemorrhoids include:
Aloe Vera
Freshly-extracted aloe vera gel is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound. It will soothe the pain, irritation, and reduce the swelling of hemorrhoids. However, test it on a small part of your skin in case you’re allergic to it.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has several benefits that are useful in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Firstly, it’s anti-inflammatory so it will reduce the swelling. It’s also n analgesic so it will relieve the pain and irritation. Its antibacterial properties will prevent infections from developing and speed up the healing of the hemorrhoids. Lastly, it can be applied as a lubricant on the anus to help you have an easier time passing stool.
Ice Pack
Make a cold compress using an ice pack wrapped in cloth. The cold temperature reduces swelling, pain, bleeding, and irritation by restricting blood flow to the area. Press the cold compress on the hemorrhoids for about 15 minutes until you feel better.
Warm Bath
Warm water is very good at soothing pain and irritation and it also improves blood circulation in veins. You can treat hemorrhoids by soaking your anus in warm water after bowel movements for 15-20 minutes and you’ll feel better. Add Epsom salts into the water to improve the soothing effect.
With home remedies, you should start to see improvements within a week and it should take a few weeks for the lumps to completely disappear. If are not getting any better after these interventions, you should see a doctor for further treatment.
In the case of bleeding, it should only last a short time. If it goes on beyond 10 minutes, you should seek medical attention immediately. It could be a more serious problem like colorectal cancer.
When you can, avoid going to the doctor to get unnecessary procedures done on your hemorrhoids. The home remedies are sufficient but be sure to get a go-ahead from your doctor to use them on the hemorrhoids.
