HEMORRHOIDS - Common Medical Advice,

General Information

Hemorrhoids, or piles, are swollen tissues containing veins that are located in the walls of the rectum and the anus. Hemorrhoids are often characterized by itching and pain, which may be accompanied by rectal bleeding, soft lumps felt around the anus and a|slimy discharge from the anus in some cases Piles may become inflamed, bleed, develop a clot or become enlarged and eventually protrude (external Hemorrhoids) Repeated straining during bowel movements, constipation, pregnancy portal hypertension due to obesity or underlying liver disease may cause hemorrhoids.

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain around the anus and lower bowel (rectum)
• Itching around the anus is common with external hemorrhoids
• Thrombosed external hemorrhoids (blood clots within hemorrhoidal veins) may appear as painful lumps outside the anus. Pain is constant and aggravated by sítting or bowel movement. Bleeding may occur from a ruptured clot.
• Prolapsed (protrusion) of a small lump (hemorrhoid) may be telt or seen during a bowel movement.
• Bright painless rectal bleeding on the surface of stool is the first symptom of internal hemorrhoids.

Advice to the Customers

• Soak in a warm bath for 10-15 minutes, three times daily. Soaking helps ease the pain and clean the affected area
• Control constipation with a high-fiber diet. Constipation is one of the major causes of hemorrhoids.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water regularly.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages these beverages cause dehydration making defecation dry and difficult.
• Avoid scrubbing the affected area. Doing so would only irritate the hemorrhoids more.
• Exercise regularly.
• Do not resist the urge to defecate. However, do not try to move your bowel unless there is an urge to really do so.

Prescription Advice

• Instruct the patient on the medication and how to use it properly, i.e.name of the medication, frequency of dosage, etc.
• In cases where the hemorrhoids have not cleared up after a week or are exacerbated, instruct the patient to consult a physician immediately.
• Discus advises the customers thoroughly for more information on the prevention and management of hemorrhoids.