External Hemorrhoids – Simple Treatments You Can Do At Home
Posted by Karen Berk
Between internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids, the external variety are easily the worst. Their symptoms are far more unpleasant and harder to ignore. These symptoms include bleeding, itching, burning and pain.
External hemroids are caused by heavy lifting, pregnancy, constipation, chronic diarrhea and sitting too long each day. All of these causative factors create pressure on veins in the anal area. When the pressure gets to be too much or persists for too long, the pressure causes the veins to bulge until it creates a raised area on your behind. It just happens that the area that is affected most is packed with nerve endings so the pain produced by the hemorrhoids there can be very intense.
One advantage of external hemoroids is that they can be more easily treated with creams and other topical applications. Unfortunately most creams don’t do such a great job of solving the problem.
Among the more useful topical applications is a cold pack. Wrap some ice in a towel and apply it the affected area. You can also use a package of frozen peas. This will contour to the shape of your butt better than a bunch of ice cubes.
Hot water is another useful treatment for external hemorrhoids. Sit in a few inches of water that’s as hot as you can bear. Do this for twenty minutes three to five times a day. Besides relieving the pain, this will also help clean the area without soap which can lead to dryness. Proper cleanliness minimizes irritation.
Topical applications containing witch hazel or aloe vera have been found helpful in relieving the pain. These astringents help dry up the area. Other commercially available applications contain anti-inflammatory ingredients and pain killers.
Some products contain the vasoconstrictor phenylephrine. This will shrink the swollen vein. Don’t use these if you have heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, thyroid conditions, or are on antidepressant medication. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Once you’ve had hemorrhoids, you are likely to get them again. If you are pregnant, you are likely to have your hemorrhoid problem until you give birth. Palliative measures are all you can do. For the rest of us, preventative steps must be taken to reduce the chance of recurring hemorrhoids. Changes in diet and additional activities to get us off our butts are likely to be required to keep external hemorrhoids from returning.
Click Here to learn how you can cure hemorrhoids quickly and naturally and prevent them from coming back even if your doctor says surgery is inevitable.