Many people have heard of hemorrhoids, but they do not know what they are all about. It's not a topic that people like to discuss. Furthermore, many people prefer not to think too much about hemorrhoids until the problem have developed to the point where they are quite uncomfortable. Here are some useful facts that can help you deal with hemhorrhoids no matter what stage of development they are at.
If you have come down with a case out hemorrhoids one of the best things you can do is apply a hydrocortisone cream or ointment to it. This will greatly reduce the amount of pain, itching, and inflammation. Hydrocortisone creams are available at nearly every pharmacy as a commercially available OTC product.
There are several uncomfortable symptoms that can come about as a result of this issue and it is important that you face each of them head on. The most common and perhaps first sign of developing hemorrhoids is bleeding during bowel movements. This is always a sign that something is not working properly.
If you are having trouble sleeping at night, apply petroleum jelly to the surface of your skin. This jelly contains mineral oil, which can reduce the irritation, dryness and soreness that you may experience due to your condition. This ointment will help to control hemorrhoids and prevent it from getting worse.
Your job or lifestyle may have an effect on your hemorrhoid symptoms. If you have a desk job or spend a lot of time sitting while you're at home, make sure to give yourself some relief by walking around for a few minutes every hour. This takes the direct pressure off your hemorrhoids. Also, if your job involves a lot of heavy lifting, try to exhale as you bear the brunt of the load. Holding your breath exerts pressure on the hemorrhoids and may cause them to become more painful.
Eat high-fiber foods to soften your stool. Try eating plenty of fruits such as blackberries, blueberries, grapes, papaya, raspberries and watermelon, as well as high-fiber vegetables like artichoke, beans, broccoli, cabbage, guava, kangkong (water spinach), okra, peas and prunes. Try to drink eight to ten glasses of water a day.
Don't depend solely on some over the counter drugs such as laxatives. These are not a cure for constipation, and are meant to just be taken every once in awhile. Many times these types of drugs will help for one bowel movement, and then will end up leaving you more constipated after that.
If you consume a lot of salt, you will be at a higher risk for contracting hemorrhoids. Consuming too much salt will lead to a swelling in your body, and that includes the swelling of any hemorrhoids. Stop adding extra salt to any food that you are eating, and you will be better off.
Hemorrhoids are usually caused by a swelling of some flesh around the rectum. A good dosage of ice and compression can help to reduce the swelling because it simultaneously numbs and shrinks the size and severity of the hemorrhoid. Like any other injury in the body, ice, compression and leaving it alone can help it to heal.
A great way to get rid of the pain associated with hemorrhoids is to soak in a warm bath with about 2 cups of Epsom salt. You may think salt would burn the hemorrhoid, but it actually draws the moisture slowly out of it, reduces the swelling, and ultimately helps to eliminate the pain.
Applying ointment directly to a hemorrhoid is a good way to help shrink the size of it. A hemorrhoid is a swollen, possibly ruptured vein, so a medicine like Neosporin can help to heal the sore partially. It will not completely remove the hemorrhoid, but it will help in reducing the size.
Overweight individuals are at a bigger risk for hemorrhoids, so you should lose weight if you want to reduce your risk or reduce the swelling of a pre-existing hemorrhoid. A larger waist and abdominal area means that you are putting g a lot more weight on the veins in your rectum.
Keep it as clean as possible. If your hemorrhoid breaks open and bleeds, and then becomes dirty, it could get infected. You could eventually get an abscess in the are, requiring medical attention or surgery. Use a damp, clean cloth to gently clean the area when you bathe, so as not to inflame it.
Take a fiber supplement to treat your hemorrhoids. This will soften your stool and allow you to use the restroom with less discomfort. Fiber supplements are particularly useful if you do not like to eat vegetables and need another way to find relief. Be sure to drink plenty of water when taking them.
Straining when using the bathroom often contributes to hemorrhoids. If this has been the case, a good suggestion is to take a stool softener. These medications keep your stool soft so that they may more easily be passed, and as such will help prevent you from getting hemorrhoids.
A great tip for your painful hemorrhoids is to try soaking in the tub with Epsom salts added to the water. This is a natural way to try to heal up the area, thanks to the proven healing properties of Epsom salts. Repeat throughout the day as needed.
Hopefully this article has provided you with useful information that you can use to beat hemorrhoids and the unpleasantness that may come along with them. Many people have the problem, and some of these suggestions have been tried successfully.
