The problem of hemorrhoids has been repeatedly touched upon in medical articles. For interested readers, the main and secondary causes and symptoms of this disease, as well as the treatment methods used, both conservative and surgical, were listed in detail.
At the same time, although general information is also important for understanding the nature of the disease under discussion and the approaches to its clinical therapy, patients often want answers from the proctologist to more specific questions regarding the recommended lifestyle, the advisability of following a diet, prognosis for cure, etc. In order not to Leaving aside nothing that may concern patients suffering from this delicate ailment, detailed answers to the eight most frequently asked questions about anal hemorrhoids will be given below.
Characteristics and symptoms of hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a proctological pathology, which is characterized by the appearance of blood stagnation in the cavernous plexuses of the rectum. Against this background, hemorrhoidal nodes form on the mucous membrane of the rectum and in the anus, which under certain conditions become inflamed and bleed.
The disease manifests itself with characteristic symptoms that disrupt normal life and cause anxiety and inconvenience. In the anal area there is pain, itching and burning. The process of defecation may be accompanied by pain and bleeding.
Hemorrhoids progress quickly, so it is important to carry out treatment correctly and in a timely manner. As the disease progresses, the severity and severity of symptoms increases. In addition, treatment in advanced cases turns out to be longer and more complex: often the only option is surgical treatment.
Among the various means of treating and preventing hemorrhoids, doctors do not ignore sitz baths, which are prescribed for:
- symptomatic therapy: help relieve itching, relieve pain, relieve external manifestations of inflammation;
- prevention of exacerbations;
- preparing the patient for surgery;
- accelerating recovery after surgical/hardware treatment.
Baths for hemorrhoids, as a rule, complement the course of treatment. The doctor recommends the procedure to the patient in accordance with individual indications.
Alcohol
Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages has a destructive effect on the body: immunity decreases, and the body’s ability to resist infections deteriorates. Alcohol disrupts the normal blood supply to the pelvic organs, leads to congestion, and worsens the metabolism of the prostate gland.
Many patients are interested in the possibility of drinking light alcohol, in particular beer. It is also not recommended to drink it constantly and during treatment. Such drinks contribute to changes in hormonal balance and reduce testosterone production. This negatively affects the health of the male gland.
Antibacterial therapy is another answer to the question of why you can’t drink if you have prostatitis. Infectious lesions are the basis for prescribing antibiotics. Almost all drugs in this group are incompatible with alcohol and cause severe adverse reactions that can pose a threat not only to the health, but also to the life of the patient. Excluding alcoholic beverages from the diet is an important factor for success in the treatment of prostatitis.
Types of therapeutic baths for hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids begin to manifest themselves even at an early stage of development. Discomfort in the anal area, characteristic itching and anxiety are the first signs that it is important to pay attention to in a timely manner. It is at this stage that doctors most often prescribe conservative treatment to the patient using topical medications. Sitz baths with medicinal solutions or herbal infusions are also recommended as a complement to therapy.
Baths for hemorrhoids help cope with inflammation and pain. The active substances included in their composition improve tissue regeneration, due to which the healing of damage to the mucosa occurs.
Depending on the symptoms, the doctor recommends the appropriate treatment method to the patient:
- Cool baths: low temperature helps relieve pain and stops bleeding by constricting blood vessels.
- Warm baths: the procedure helps strengthen the vascular wall and speeds up the healing process.
- Hot baths: have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects (require caution).
- Steam baths: relieve pain, have a calming effect (caution is needed, there are contraindications).
For the convenience of carrying out procedures at home, it is recommended to use a special hygiene accessory Mr. Procto. The plastic bath is firmly installed on the rim of the toilet, filled with a medicinal solution and used for its intended purpose. With this device, it is convenient to carry out treatment at home without worrying about water leaks and other troubles.
Recommended for purchase
Smoke baths
One can hardly expect a tangible effect from using this method. The principle of its action is the effect of smoke or steam on the anal area.
This smoke procedure is carried out as follows:
- Take a bucket or other similar container.
- A large flat stone or brick, heated on the stove until hot, is carefully placed at the bottom.
- You can pour any medicinal substance or herbal mixture onto it.
- They sit on the bucket so that the anus area is located directly above the stone.
- The resulting cracks are covered with a sheet or blanket.
This method must be used until the brick has completely cooled. It must be used carefully to avoid burns to the anus. It is unlikely that the patient will want to treat burns in addition to hemorrhoids.
When using such folk methods, one should not forget about consulting a doctor. Only a doctor can tell you whether it is possible to use a smoke bath, whether it is possible to bathe or wash yourself with hemorrhoids.
Benefits of bath therapy
Baths for the treatment of hemorrhoids are an affordable and simple method of treatment. It is distinguished by a number of significant advantages that attract the attention of both doctors and patients. Their benefits include:
- effectiveness: procedures help combat the symptoms of the disease, enhance the effect of medications;
- speed: home procedures help to quickly relieve unpleasant symptoms;
- ease of manipulation: if you have special hygienic equipment, there are no difficulties in carrying out prescriptions;
- accessibility: treatment creates a minimal financial burden on the patient’s budget;
- safety: baths are not harmful to health (subject to strict adherence to the recommendations of the attending physician).
At an early stage of the development of the disease, baths help stop the exacerbation and serve as a measure to prevent the spread and aggravation of the pathology. If the disease is advanced, then procedures are carried out to alleviate the condition and prepare for doping or surgical treatment with a laser.
Risks of the procedures
Antihemorrhoidal treatment should be selected individually. Only a doctor can qualifiedly assess the severity of the patient’s condition and select suitable treatment methods for him. As a rule, baths only complement the main therapy. If you use them without first consulting your doctor, the risk of side effects and complications increases. It is also possible that an allergic reaction to drugs and components of the medicinal solution may occur.
Doctors' advice when using baths
To prevent this disease, medicinal baths can be prescribed in the initial stages of hemorrhoids. Naturally, it is unlikely that the doctor will advise using only this method. Its use in complex therapy will help quickly relieve exacerbation, reduce inflammation and delay the need for surgical interventions. To achieve the best effect, it is recommended to use some rules.
These include:
At the doctor's appointment
- Before carrying out water procedures, it is necessary to carry out hygienic measures. It is unlikely that a full intestine will help reduce hemorrhoids.
- After a bath, you should not go outside for several hours; cold air can worsen the course of the disease.
- This method is not contraindicated during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- There are no side effects or allergic reactions. It is unlikely that ordinary water will cause any side effects.
- If necessary, you can add solutions of any medicinal substances.
- You should not take a bath if bleeding begins or if hemorrhoids worsen.
Patients often ask the question whether it is possible to use laundry soap for chronic hemorrhoids, whether this will worsen the course of the disease.
There are several ways to use it in this situation:
- Place a bar of soap in hot water and vigorously dissolve it until the liquid cools.
- Grate the soap on a coarse grater and add to the bath, whisking thoroughly until foam appears.
Such baths are especially effective in the postoperative period; it is unlikely that the absence of surgery can have a similar therapeutic effect.
Rules for performing procedures at home
Hemorrhoids are a complex disease, the symptoms of which have their own specific characteristics. The degree of their expression largely depends on the stage of the process, as well as the state of the body. The use of baths for hemorrhoids requires an analysis of the clinical picture, according to which the following is selected:
- medicine for preparing a medicinal solution;
- suitable water temperature;
- frequency of manipulations.
Hot/warm baths
Hot baths for hemorrhoids (solution temperature 36-40 degrees) are a way to cope with the inflammatory process and prolong the period of remission in the case of a chronic disease. The choice in their favor can be made only in the absence of bleeding, as well as any injuries or damage to the mucous membranes of the rectum. This is due to the fact that hot water causes blood vessels to dilate and increases blood circulation.
Surgery, doping, acute inflammation are direct contraindications to thermal effects.
Cold water treatments
Using cold solutions (water temperature no higher than 20 degrees) for sitz baths helps relieve pain and discomfort in the anal area. After the procedure, the pain subsides due to the antiseptic effect, improved blood flow, and a decrease in the volume of nodular formations.
Before carrying out manipulations, it is important to make sure that there are no contraindications, which include:
- inflammatory diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems;
- high risk of deep vein thrombosis and nodes;
- probable risks of developing an allergic reaction to the medicinal solution.
Is it true that hemorrhoids are a lifelong diagnosis?
No it is not true. Hemorrhoids are indeed regarded by medicine as a recurrent disease, but this statement also has its own nuances.
In particular, sometimes the expansion of hemorrhoidal veins is caused not by external factors (weight lifting), but by internal problems with the venous system. Weakness and thinning of veins throughout the body can lead to a number of diseases, the list of which includes hemorrhoids. Completing a full course of vascular therapy will help solve this problem.
Recipes for baths for hemorrhoids
To combat symptoms, you can use baths with medicinal solutions prepared according to various recipes: from pharmaceutical preparations, infusions of medicinal herbs, potassium permanganate and other substances.
Herbal baths
To treat and prevent exacerbations of hemorrhoids, you can use infusions prepared from plants. Plants have valuable medicinal properties: they fight inflammation, swelling, itching, strengthen the vascular wall, and improve regeneration. Regular procedures have a local calming effect, alleviate the condition, and complement the course of treatment. The infusion is prepared in advance according to the specified recipe.
Calendula infusion
Calendula is a well-known and widespread plant that has a whole range of medicinal properties. Its active components have an anti-inflammatory effect, eliminate burning and itching of the skin, and improve regeneration. These valuable properties are ideal for treating hemorrhoids.
Dried flowers of the plant are used to prepare a medicinal infusion. Approximately 4 tablespoons of the herb are poured into a glass or enamel container and poured with a liter of boiling water. The container is tightly closed with a lid and additionally wrapped in soft cloth for insulation. The infusion becomes suitable for use after 50-60 minutes. Before the procedure, it must be filtered and diluted with water to the required volume. Calendula baths should be done daily 1-2 times for 15 minutes. The course of treatment is up to 2 weeks.
Chamomile baths
The herb and chamomile color are an excellent natural antiseptic. For hemorrhoids, the infusion improves the tissue tone of the problem area, disinfects, relieves inflammation in the anal area, reduces itching and burning. To prepare the product, dry raw materials are used at the rate of 3-4 tablespoons per liter of water. The herb is poured with boiling water and infused in a warm place for about one hour. The treatment procedure is carried out 2-3 times a day until the symptoms disappear.
Oak bark decoction
For the treatment of external hemorrhoids, baths with a decoction of oak bark are effective. The product has the ability to relieve itching and inflammation, has an anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect.
To prepare a medicinal decoction, you need to use 50 grams of raw materials per 1.5 liters of water. The prepared container is placed in a water bath and simmered over low heat for up to 50 minutes. After this, the broth is left covered for 2-3 hours. The finished infusion is filtered and used to prepare cold and warm baths.
Infusion of succession
The herb has the properties of relieving irritation, reducing inflammation, and protecting against the spread of infections. Baths with a series of hemorrhoids complement the treatment and serve as a prevention of exacerbation of the disease.
To prepare the infusion, take half a glass of dried herbs per liter of boiling water. The mixture is infused under the lid for 30-40 minutes. The finished product is filtered and cooled to room temperature. Procedures using it are carried out for 15 minutes before bedtime for 10-15 days.
Baths with a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate)
Sitz baths with potassium permanganate provide effective disinfection and reduce the risk of inflammation and the spread of infection. In addition, the product effectively dries, eliminates itching, and accelerates healing in the presence of external cracks in the anal area. The solution should be prepared from a concentrate prepared in advance, which is diluted in water to the required consistency (from slightly to intensely pink).
Baths with sea salt/soda solution
The procedure provides antiseptic treatment, relieves swelling, pain, and itching. To prepare the solution, you need to use 400-500 grams of salt and 3 tablespoons of soda per 3 liters of water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and used warm. After the procedure, the skin of the anus is carefully brushed and lubricated with vegetable oil or ointment for hemorrhoids.
What not to eat if you have prostatitis
Patients often ask why acute treatment for prostatitis is not allowed or whether there are other prohibitions. Since the male gland is closely connected with the urinary or gastrointestinal tract, a number of dietary restrictions are expected. The diet for illness must be based on a reasonable balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Fiber, vitamins and minerals should be present in sufficient quantities.
- During periods of exacerbation, doctors recommend refraining from foods that promote gas formation: cabbage, legumes, radishes.
- You should limit your intake of foods that contribute to the development of constipation. This includes fatty meats, fried foods, smoked foods, dried fish, baked goods, white flour products, and mayonnaise.
- Excess salt and acid content in food can have an irritating effect on the genitourinary system. To reduce the load on the kidneys, during the treatment of prostatitis, the use of pickles, marinades, vinegar, spices, and hot seasonings is prohibited. Avoid drinking strong tea and coffee.
How to carry out procedures at home
To obtain the expected therapeutic effect, it is necessary to perform procedures regularly 2-4 times a day. The duration of the manipulations ranges from 10 to 25 minutes. The bath solution should be prepared immediately before use, for example, dilute the drug, dissolve salt or concentrate. It is better to prepare the herbal infusion in advance for several procedures.
Before the bath you should take a hygienic shower. Instead of a basin, it is convenient to use a special toilet attachment. Liquid is poured into the container, and the patient is comfortably placed on it to undergo the procedure. After completing the manipulation, it is enough to rinse the bath with clean water and put it away for the next use.
Intense physical effort
Although a sedentary lifestyle is one of the causes of congestion in the pelvis, active physical activity during inflammation is contraindicated. Stimulation of blood circulation in the perineum can intensify the process of inflammation, increase pain, and lead to swelling.
In the acute phase, it is recommended to refrain from the following types of stress:
- lifting and moving heavy objects;
- squats with additional weight;
- horseback riding;
- a ride on the bicycle;
- body-building.
Is it possible to cure hemorrhoids using traditional methods?
Herbal baths, decoctions and compresses are appropriate only as part of combined conservative therapy for uncomplicated hemorrhoids. We are not aware of cases in which these isolated measures would be truly effective. Traditional methods of treating hemorrhoids should be treated especially carefully and from a critical point of view. Still, we are talking about a serious pathology of the rectum, often with cracks, prolapse of nodes and even thrombosis. Self-medication can be dangerous.
A separate group of proctologist patients are those whom doctors treat for complications after treatment with traditional methods.
They will definitely not help with hemorrhoids:
- ice candles
- fresh potato paste
- aloe leaf
- cucumbers from the garden
- steam baths
- leeches
Treatment of hemorrhoids without surgery: what therapy does the doctor prescribe?
Hemorrhoids are a collective name for diseases of the rectum with a corresponding set of symptoms. The classification of hemorrhoids is extensive, so adequate treatment is prescribed after examination, and recommendations for a treatment regimen are strictly individual.
Generally speaking, treatment for hemorrhoids without surgery includes:
- Correction of diet and diet to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Herbal medicines;
- Drug therapy;
- Physiotherapy;
- Minimally invasive non-surgical treatment methods: sclerotherapy, coagulation or ligation of hemorrhoids.
