Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, is a painful medical condition characterized by swollen veins in your lower rectum and anus, according to the Mayo Clinic. You may experience itching, irritation, swelling and painless bleeding, especially during a bowel movement. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) states that hemorrhoids can result from straining during a bowel movement, aging and chronic bouts of constipation or diarrhea. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, there are many available treatment options.
Medications
You can go to your local pharmacy to obtain over-the-counter treatments to soothe your hemorrhoid flare-ups. The Mayo Clinic states that such treatments include creams, ointments and suppositories. These items contain ingredients such as cortisone and witch hazel to temporarily relieve your rectal or anal pain and itching. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve your pain.
Home Remedies
You can also soak yourself in a warm bath for approximately 10 minutes several times a day to relieve your anal pain and itching. According to the NDDIC, increasing fiber-containing foods (vegetables, breads and fruits) in your diet and drinking six to eight glasses of water a day can lead to softer stools that decrease the need for straining.
Surgery
The Mayo Clinic states you can opt to have surgery to treat your hemorrhoids. A hemorroidectomy involves removing the anal or rectal tissue that causes your bleeding. Risks include urinary tract infections and problems emptying your bladder. Another procedure is called stapling. In this procedure your surgeon will staple your hemorrhoids to prevent blood flowing into them, allowing the hemorrhoids to shrink. Unfortunately, this procedure can lead to hemorrhoid recurrences and rectal prolapse (condition where the rectum falls through the anal opening).
Other Techniques
According to the NDDIC, hemorrhoids can be removed through rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy and infrared coagulation. Rubber band ligation involves cutting off your hemorrhoid's blood supply by putting a rubber band around its base. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical near the hemorroid to destroy it. Infrared coagulation involves burning the hemorrhoid. You should talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you.
