Hemorrhoids - Research Paper Example

Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids is a condition that is caused by the presence of swollen veins in the anal canal. Although the swellings in the anal canal are normally painful hemorrhoids is not a serious health condition. Hemorrhoids are also referred to as “piles”. Individuals with this disease normally experience discomfort, pain, and much embarrassment due to the constant itching of the swollen veins. Physicians assert that hemorrhoids is a minor medical predicament that can be remedied easily without causing much pain to the patients (Jacoby & Youngson 807). The word “piles” is used to refer to several health complications that affect the anal canal, each with different symptoms and causes. In most instances, “piles’ is used to refer to hemorrhoids which is the inflammation of the blood vesels in the rectum. These swellings often lead to irritation. Further, “piles” is also used to refer to anal fissures, thrombosed external hemorrhoids and anal skin tags (Jacoby & Youngson 807). Before discussing much detail about the hemorrhoids disease, it is important to know the location of the anal canal in the human body. The anal canal is a short tube, about 38 cm long. The tube links the rectum (the last part of digestive system) to the outside. The wall of the anal canal is lined with a mucous membrane. The lining with the mucous membrane is similar to other linings found throughout the gut. In addition, the lower part of the anal canal is lined with cells that are sensitive to painful stimuli. The upper part is normally not sensitive to painful stimuli. Further, the anal canal has special types of muscles known as anal sphincter. These muscles contract and relax thereby leading to bowel movement in the anal canal as explained in the excretory system (Jacoby & Youngson 807). Conditions and their symptoms Hemorrhoids are classified into two: internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. First, internal hemorrhoids occur when there is inflamation of the veins in the upper part of the anal canal. The swellings normally become larger as several years pass by. The swellings have been attributed to long durations of strain experienced when passing small, hard feces. The swellings can also be made worse by pregnancy. Physicians have asserted that internal hemorrhoids are interconnected with several spongy tissues rich in small blood vessels. The first symptom that can be noticed involves bright red bleeding. The bleeding can be experienced after passing out feces and does not cause much irritation and discomfort (Jacoby & Youngson 808). Patients with less severe internal hemorrhoids have mild symptoms. In cases where the swellings become larger, and more bleeding occurs, they may come out of the anal canal and be seen as a lump. These types of hemorrhoids are painful and can last for several days. The severe pain from hemorrhoids is referred to as an “attack of piles”. Hemorrhoids are normally not painful but may become painful when they are strangulated, or pressed by a tight anal canal (Jacoby & Youngson 808). An anal fissure refers to the split in the skin of the anal canal. The split normally happens in a longitudinal direction. The major cause of this has been attributed to strain experienced during constipation. Pain and discomfort arise when an individual passes feces. The pain can cause much discomfort to an extent that the patient fears to defecate. Anal fissures can heal without medical attention. However, there are cases where physicians have been forced to perform minor operations in order to treat the condition. Thrombosed external piles refer to the situation where small blood vessels burst at the edge of the anal canal. Severe pain is experienced by individuals with this condition after defecation. In some case, painful lumps emerge and become red, sore and inflamed (Khubchandani, Paonessa & Azimuddin 14). Treatment Several different forms of treatment are adopted by physicians when treating internal hemorrhoids. The physician needs to scrutinize the lower component of the rectum to ascertain that no other sources of the bleeding exist. If the physician finds out that the hemorrhoids are small, he or she may inject the hemorrhoids with a substance that makes them dry up. Physicians put the injection into the upper part, which is insensitive, so that no more pain is experienced by the patient (Balch 476). Physicians also use other methods of treatment. One such example of treatment involves the use of a special freezing instrument referred to as a cryoprobe. The cryoprobe shrinks the hemorrhoids and can also be used to put tinny rubber bands around the swellings so that their blood supply can be cut off. None of treatments discussed here are painful to patients, physicians recommend their uses to even the outpatient department of the hospital. On nutrition, physicians recommend the consumption of a higher fiber diet. This is due to the fact that lack of fiber in the diet is one of the major causes of hemorrhoids (Balch 476). The treatment of an anal fissure depends on several factors. Such factors include whether the fissure is small, has just occurred and has not taken several days, or is larger and has taken several moths without being given medical attention. In less severe cases, physicians recommend the use of local anesthetic cream in treatment. In addition, physicians recommend high fiber diet to be consumed by individuals because they ease the defecation process and may allow the fissure to heal (Khubchandani, Paonessa & Azimuddin 14). In severe case of anal fissure, there may be much discomfort and the physician may be forced to recommend the use of general anesthesia before examination. In cases where the fissure is found to have occurred, the physician will have to perform a canal stretch. A canal stretch involves the stretching of the muscle string surrounding the anal canal so that it can contract strongly. The contraction of the muscles allows patients to defecate more easily without experiencing much discomfort. In addition, it helps patients because the fissure is able to heal faster (Balch 476). Physicians recommend the treatment of thromboses external piles using local anesthesia. This is done by cutting through the skin. After cutting through the skin, the surgeon removes the blood clot. The removal of the blood clot results to an instant pain relief. On anal tags, physicians recommend a small operation even though they do not usually demand a specific type of treatment (Khubchandani, Paonessa & Azimuddin 14). Home remedies In case where hemorrhoids appear externally, physicians recommend that patients take a warm bath with a some salt dissolved in water. Further, in cases whereby the hemorrhoids are strangulated, physicians advice the patients to consider using a plastic bag full of crushed ice applied to the enlarged hemorrhoids. This application of a plastic bag full of crushed ice helps to ease pain among patients (Balch 476). There are some foods that should not be consumed since they can lead to hemorrhoids. Human beings are advised not to consume any food that may lead to constipation since they are likely to cause hemorrhoids. Foods rich in high fiber substance such as fruits, vegetables and nuts are highly recommended in the prevention of hemorrhoids (Balch 476). Conclusion Hemorrhoid is not a serious health condition as seen in the discussion above. However, every individual needs to be careful with regard to the type of food that they eat since most cases of hemorrhoid are attributed to lack of fiber in the diet. Due to the fact that the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids may be mild, patients are expected to consult the services of physicians before the condition leads to more pain and discomfort. Early treatment and diagnosis of hemorrhoid is necessary in ensuring that the patient does not develop more complications. External hemorrhoids can be treated using home remedies without going to the physician. There is no need to panic over the disease since it can be treated easily using locally available resources. Works cited Balch Phyllis. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. New York. Penguin. 2006. Print. Jacoby David. Encyclopedia of Family Health. London. Marshall Cavendish. 2004. Print. Khubchandani Indru Paonessa Nina & Azimuddin Khawaja. Surgical treatment of Hemorrhoids. New York. Springer. 2008. Print. Read More