How to Avoid and Treat Hemorrhoids Over the Holidays
Hemorrhoids are swollen and protruding veins in the lower part of our anus. They are usually caused by a buildup of pressure that affects blood flow and causes your veins to swell. They can also occur from intense pushing during a bowel movement, a physically straining activity, obesity and pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are commonly reported around the holiday season because of the unhealthy foods that are eaten over this time. To learn more about how to treat and prevent hemorrhoids over the holidays continue reading.
Hemorrhoid Prevention
To prevent hemorrhoids before they occur, one of the most crucial keys is to keep your constipation under control. Constipation is one of the biggest causes of hemorrhoids. Unhealthy eating habits over the course of the holiday season will cause many to experience constipation. Try to choose the healthier options at a holiday dinner. Instead of digging into a pile of roasted or mashed potatoes, choose the green options like green beans or Brussel sprouts that have fiber and can get your bowels moving. Another common cause of constipation is dehydration. Upon the arrival of the holiday season, begin increasing your fluid intake. Avoid liquids like alcohol and caffeinated drinks that can dehydrate you. Finally, exercising and making more of an effort to move around can help get your bowels moving. It helps by decreasing the time it takes for food to pass through the large intestine which limits how much water gets soaked from the stool into your body. It can also help stimulate the natural contraction of your intestinal muscles which will help stools move out quickly.
Pain Relief
External hemorrhoids can be especially painful. Oftentimes they occur because a blood clot forms which can be sudden and severe. Once the clot dissolves it can leave extra skin that can cause itchiness and irritation to occur. You can try an over the counter cream that is designed to relieve irritation and itch caused by hemorrhoids. Putting an ice pack on the affected area can serve the double purpose of numbing the pain and reducing the swelling caused by hemorrhoids. Even if the area is itchy, make sure not to scratch it because scratching will only make the irritation worse and cause it to take longer to heal. Regular painkillers like Advil or Tylenol can help relieve some of the pain.
Eliminate Existing Hemorrhoids
For non-severe hemorrhoids, generally, the recommendation is to wait it out. As time passes the hemorrhoid will shrink and shrivel up, eventually disappearing. For prolapsed hemorrhoids, you can talk to your doctor about hemorrhoid surgery. There are a few different types of hemorrhoid surgery options. Banding surgery is used to treat internal hemorrhoids. A procedure is done in which a tight band is placed around the hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. Sclerotherapy is a procedure in which a chemical is injected to the hemorrhoid which causes it to shrink and stop bleeding. Coagulation therapy is is a treatment in which an infrared light cause the hemorrhoid to retract and shrink. Finally, Hemorrhoidal artery ligation closes off the blood vessel that is causing the hemorrhoid using an ultrasound.
Although the holiday season is one of the most common times in which hemorrhoids are reported, don’t spend this Christmas in pain. Try our steps that can help you prevent and treat hemorrhoids to ensure that you have a merry holiday.
