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What if preparation h does not work: The Best and Worst Things You Can Do for Hemorrhoids

by alexxlab

The Best and Worst Things You Can Do for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are uncomfortable, they’re unattractive, they bleed, and they make going to the bathroom a challenge. They’re also very common. In fact, about half of people have had a bout with hemorrhoids by the time they reach 50 years old.

What Is a hemorrhoid?

“A hemorrhoid is essentially an engorged or swollen blood vessel,” says Sameet Shah, D.O., a gastroenterologist at Mountainside Medical Group.

Hemorrhoids can be inside or outside your body. With external hemorrhoids, you can see them and they tend to hurt. With internal hemorrhoids, you don’t see or feel them, but a symptom might be bleeding during a bowel movement.

The most common cause of hemorrhoids is due to constipation or straining while using the toilet. Women are prone to hemorrhoids during pregnancy and after giving birth because of the increased pressure on the pelvic floor and hormonal changes that can lead to constipation. Children and adolescents can also get hemorrhoids.

At-home Hemorrhoid Remedies

“I tell my patients that the most important thing they can do for a hemorrhoid is to let it heal by not straining when having a bowel movement and avoiding constipation,” says Dr. Shah. Straining increases pressure and prevents the hemorrhoid from shrinking.

To deal with the underlying problem of constipation and straining, Kulvir S. Nandra, M.D., a colorectal surgeon at Mountainside, offers a few tips:

  • Eat foods high in fiber, such as bananas, pears, strawberries, avocados, carrots, beets, broccoli, spinach, legumes, lentils, oats, nuts, seeds and sweet potatoes.
  • Increase your water intake.
  • Consider taking an over-the-counter fiber supplement.
  • Soak in a sitz bath – a warm and shallow bath – by filling a tub with a few inches of warm water and sitting in the water for 15 or 20 minutes.

If you see a doctor for hemorrhoids, they might prescribe hydrocortisone that can be applied directly or in the form of a suppository. “For most of my patients, a high-fiber diet plus sitz baths and hydrocortisone works,” says Dr. Shah. The bleeding stops, the sensation goes away and that’s usually the end of it.

The Three Worst Things You Can Do

  1. Spend too much time on the toilet. “Having good bowel habits means eating a healthy diet and spending no more than five minutes on the toilet,” says Dr. Nandra.
  2. Over-wipe or wipe aggressively. Use plain, unscented, hypoallergenic wipes; wet tissue; cotton balls; or a bidet to clean yourself.
  3. Not call your doctor when it could be something more serious. “Any kind of rectal bleeding should be checked out by a doctor, especially if it is associated with unintended weight loss or anemia,” says Dr. Shah. These symptoms could be a sign of something more serious. It’s important to listen to your body, and if something doesn’t feel right, it’s best to get evaluated by a medical professional.

Surgical Options

If you’ve exhausted at-home remedies and medical options, and still have issues related to hemorrhoids, the next step may be to see a colorectal surgeon. Many procedures can be performed in the office, such as what’s called hemorrhoid banding or hemorrhoid sclerotherapy:

  • Banding involves wrapping a small rubber band around the hemorrhoid, which causes it to shrink and fall off. “This procedure is painless, quick and done in the office,” says Dr. Nandra.
  • Sclerotherapy is similar but involves a special injection that cuts off blood supply to the hemorrhoid, which causes it to fall off.

If hemorrhoids are severe and keep coming back, several outpatient, same-day procedures are available that involve undergoing sedation similar to a colonoscopy:

  • Hemorrhoid ligation, which is similar to rubber-banding but with a suture.
  • Hemorrhoidectomy, which is where the hemorrhoid is cut out.
  • Stapled hemorrhoidectomy, which involves using a stapler device for larger hemorrhoids.
  • Transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD), which is an ultrasound-guided minimally invasive technique to target the blood supply to a hemorrhoid.

Your medical team will work with you to decide which procedure is right for you.

The Bottom Line

“The sooner we treat the issue, the sooner you will feel better,” says Dr. Nandra. It is possible to treat hemorrhoids with simpler methods, but waiting too long could lead to surgery.

Next Steps & Resources

  • Meet our sources: Sameet Shah, D.O., Kulvir S. Nandra, M.D.
  • To make an appointment with Dr. Shah or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

5 Signs it’s Time to Seek Care for Hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids seem to have a stigma to them, but the truth is, we all have them. It’s not uncommon for them to become inflamed and cause pain, itching, or bleeding. Many times, hemorrhoids go away on their own, but sometimes a trip to the doctor is necessary for faster relief, peace of mind, and tips to prevent them from coming back.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are vascular cushions in the rectum that help us to control bowel function. When increased pressure causes the veins in your lower rectum and anus to swell, they can become inflamed and painful. Often this occurs as a result of:

  • Low-fiber diets
  • Straining during bowel movements
  • Prolonged sitting
  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity
  • Lifting something heavy with incorrect form

There are two types of hemorrhoids:

Internal hemorrhoids, which are located inside the rectum and often less painful than external hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids, which are found under the skin around the anus and are generally more painful.

Learn more about hemorrhoid symptoms.

When is it time to seek medical care for hemorrhoids?

Drinking more water, eating more fiber, and taking over-the-counter medications may help hemorrhoids to resolve on their own at home. However, often a doctor can help you get effective relief faster than you might on your own. And, in some cases, your symptoms could indicate a condition more serious than hemorrhoids. That’s why it’s always better to be safe than sorry and get your hemorrhoids evaluated sooner rather than later.

If you notice bleeding before, during, or after bowel movements.

If you notice blood before, during, or after bowel movements, you should seek medical care. Bleeding during bowel movements may be associated with hemorrhoids, but it could also be a sign of something more serious, such as colon or anal cancer. Call your doctor so you can get an accurate diagnosis and rule out anything life-threatening. Your doctor can help you identify and address the cause of your bleeding. And if it’s hemorrhoids, they can offer treatment, relief, and suggestions to help you prevent hemorrhoids from recurring.

If discomfort from hemorrhoids isn’t resolved within a week.

When you’ve had persistent discomfort, pain, or itching for a week, it’s time to talk to a doctor. While some symptoms of hemorrhoids resolve on their own, others do not and can be treated by a doctor, so you don’t have to live with the daily symptoms. Your doctor can recommend treatments that range from the conservative, like dietary and behavioral changes, or in-office procedures, such as rubber band ligation, to more invasive approaches like surgery.

If your symptoms continue worsening.

While many home remedies may provide temporary relief of inflammation, pain, or discomfort caused by hemorrhoids, they don’t necessarily cure the issue. That’s why it’s important to seek medical care for hemorrhoids, especially if your symptoms get worse. On top of treating your hemorrhoids, your doctor can help you reduce the chances of another hemorrhoid flare-up by discussing things like your diet, staying hydrated, and changing your bathroom habits.

If you notice a bulge, you may have a prolapsed hemorrhoid.

If an internal hemorrhoid becomes severely inflamed, it can prolapse, or fall outside of the anus. Many times it will retract on its own but not always. If it can’t easily be pushed back in, or it causes pain or bleeding, early hemorrhoid treatment from a doctor is important.

If you’re not certain your discomfort is caused by hemorrhoids.

When you have bleeding, discomfort, or pain in the anal region, it could be a sign of an inflamed hemorrhoid. Or, it could indicate that something else is wrong. This is especially true if you don’t have a history of hemorrhoids. That’s why it’s always better to play it safe and see a doctor, as they can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms. It’s much better to have an expert confirm that you don’t have something more serious like cancer than to avoid a hemorrhoid treatment just because you’re uncomfortable seeking care.

We all have #Hemorrhoids, but if yours become painfully inflamed, a doctor can help. On the #LiveWellHealthy blog, colorectal surgeon Dr. Nicole Chaumont shares 5 signs that indicate you should seek care for hemorrhoids: https://bit.ly/2OQFntt.

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What to expect at your doctor’s visit.

Whether you see a primary care doctor or a colon and rectal specialist, you can expect that your medical provider will conduct a thorough evaluation that includes:

  • A review of your medical history
  • Discussion of your symptoms
  • Physical examination

During your appointment, your doctor will ask you detailed questions about what makes your symptoms better or worse. It’s important to be honest and direct so that they can identify what’s causing your inflamed hemorrhoid.

In most cases, the physical exam will require an internal exam of your anus and rectum. If that does not clarify the cause of your symptoms, or if you are at a high risk for cancer, your doctor may need to perform a colonoscopy to make sure your pain or bleeding isn’t caused by a more complex health issue.

Regardless of what sends you to the doctor for hemorrhoid treatment, know that it’s as common as getting other routine care. Prompt treatment can alleviate unnecessary pain and discomfort so if you think you have hemorrhoids, don’t delay your care.

Do you have a hemorrhoid that’s causing you discomfort?

Request an appointment with a MedStar Health specialist today.

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Gastroenterology

“Preparing Windows. Do not turn off your computer”

Hello everyone! Almost every person has encountered a problem – when turning off or restarting the computer, a window hangs for a very long time with the message: “Preparing Windows. Don’t turn off your computer.” As a rule, this phrase signals that the system is preparing to install an update.

It all depends on how big the update was downloaded while the system was awake. It’s one thing if it’s a couple of gigabytes, but there are also major updates for 5 or even 10 GB. Also, do not forget about the performance of the system, the amount of RAM (and its speed) and the installed system on an SSD or HDD.

If the computer is old and weak, then this inscription can hang for quite a long time: from 20 to 40 minutes. After that, you will see the update installation process. Focus on the circles that will spin around and signal that the system has not hung. If you see that the screen is static, the circles are not spinning, then you should restart the computer using the “Reset” button and try to install the update again, similarly when rebooting.

NOTE! If you have a laptop and there is no “Reset” button, try holding down the “Power” key until the device turns off. Then turn it on again.

If you see the “Working with updates – do not turn off the computer!” window again during the next reboot! That means there are issues that need to be addressed. That’s what I’ll talk about in the article below.

Contents

  1. Method 1: System Restore
  2. Method 2: DISM and SFC
  3. Method 3: Update Module 9 Comprehensive Repair0020
  4. Nothing helped, what should I do?
  5. Ask the author of the article