Hemorrhoids are far more common than people think. But when the illness emerges, most people are too embarrassed to seek medical assistance. Some of them will permit the ailment to run its course. Others will rely on home remedies to fight the problem. But many doctors have warned against the use of home remedies whose efficacy is still in question. They encourage patients with severe hemorrhoids to visit a health professional because, in some situations, prescription drugs are the best solution.

 

What Causes Hemorrhoids?

The term refers to swollen veins that appear around the anus. They can also appear inside the rectum. While you are more likely to see hemorrhoids in older adults (45-65), younger individuals contract the illness all the time.

Internal hemorrhoids are technically the least problematic because they are not as painful as external hemorrhoids. However, internal hemorrhoids can also morph into a more serious complication if they manifest beyond the anus. External hemorrhoids are very uncomfortable. They can even form blood clots. Even though the clots eventually dissolve, the excess skin they leave behind will continue to itch. Doctors have traced hemorrhoids to factors such as constipation, sitting, and prolonged straining resulting from difficult bowel movements.

 

How To Treat Hemorrhoids?

If you think you have hemorrhoids, you should visit a physician. They will perform an exam to determine the exact nature of your illness. For many patients, simply studying the area around the anus is enough. But your doctor may choose to carry out an anoscopy, a procedure that involves pushing an anoscope into the anus.

While the notion sounds unpleasant, it is actually painless. The physician will only push the instrument a few inches into your body. Depending on what they find, they may choose to carry out a colonoscopy.

The physician will also ask you some questions. They will want to know when you first noticed your symptoms; if you took any medication in response; and whether any specific activities cause discomfort.

Whether you visited a doctor and they prescribed a special treatment or you chose to treat this ailment yourself, these are the most common hemorrhoid solutions you will encounter on the market:

☑ Fiber

One of the most effective ways of not only treating hemorrhoids but also keeping them away is to eat foods that are rich in fiber. This will improve your bowel movement. In other words, fiber supplementation will protect you from the sort of strain that can either cause or exacerbate hemorrhoids when you’re on the toilet. And it works. You should pursue fiber supplementation regardless of whether or not a doctor has prescribed drugs for you to take.

☑ Bath

Sitz baths are somewhat controversial. As the name suggests, this is a bath filled with warm water. You can also add drugs to it if you want. Apparently, you can relax the muscles in the areas surrounding the anus by sitting in the water. However, studies have shown that sitz baths do not alleviate hemorrhoids. You can ignore this home remedy. It won’t help.

☑ OTC Drugs

Hemorrhoids are so painful that many patients are rarely tempted to try home remedies. They prefer to self-medicate with OTC drugs, which is why you find so many of them reading online pharmacy reviews in the hopes that they can find a drugstore that can ship hemorrhoid pills to their doorstep as quickly as possible.

OTC medicine works. It fights the pain and pressure caused by the disease by tightening the blood vessels.

This causes the skin tissue to shrink. Some of the best OTC drugs for hemorrhoids include Doctor Butler’s hemorrhoid and fissure ointment, Naticura Hem-Control, Hilph Perineal Ice Packs, and Motherlove Rhoid Balm, to mention but a few. Depending on your symptoms, a pharmacist may recommend pain relievers and lotions that can alleviate itching.

☑ Surgery

Some cases involve internal hemorrhoids that are so large that a doctor needs to surgically remove them. Though, on occasion, the physician may recommend non-surgical procedures like sclerotherapy, coagulation therapy, and rubber band ligation.

 

Do You Need Prescription Drugs For Hemorrhoids?

Many patients do not seek medical assistance because they have smaller hemorrhoids that tend to fade on their own. But if you have larger, more severe hemorrhoids, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications like topical nitroglycerin, topical nifedipine, and hydrocortisone.

If you have thrombosed external hemorrhoids and you cannot stand the pain, a doctor can inject botulinum toxin into the anal sphincter to provide immediate relief. Prescription drugs can produce results if home remedies and OTC therapies have failed.

But you should see a doctor before you take such treatments. Even though you need a prescription to buy prescription medicine, the internet is full of websites that sell prescription pills without asking for a prescription.

Many online pharmacy reviews have encouraged consumers to avoid such drugstores because the quality of their drugs is always questionable. if you think you need prescription medications, talk to a doctor.

 

Is Hemorrhoid Medicine Safe?

Every chemical product on the market has side effects of one kind or another. With hemorrhoid therapies and gels, you can expect side effects like rectal bleeding, headache, nausea, irritation around the rectum, hives, rashes, and other allergic reactions.

This is another reason why you should see a doctor before you self-medicate. Online pharmacy reviews have warned against self-medication because the people that practice the habit rarely consider the allergic reactions that could occur.

 

Will Hemorrhoids Go Away Without Treatment?

It depends on the severity. If yours are small, you don’t have to worry. More than likely, they will be gone in a few days. Larger hemorrhoids are a bigger concern. They require a doctor. That is also true for smaller hemorrhoids that have refused to clear up.

 

Conclusion

For the most part, hemorrhoids are not serious. But people fear the illness because of the pain it causes. The ailment is linked to constipation, diarrhea, prolonged straining, and sitting. Anything that elevates the pressure on the abdomen could cause hemorrhoids.

You can overcome the disease using prescription drugs and OTC medications that fight inflammation, relieve pain, and tightens the blood vessels. Even though it is embarrassing, you should always consult a doctor before you use prescription and OTC treatments.