We all have hemorrhoidal veins lining the inside and outside of our anus. These veins act as ‘cushions’, to help during the process of passing stool. In their normal state, we are not aware of them, and they perform their normal function in our anatomy unnoticed.
If you detect swelling or itching of the anal area, do not ignore it. These may be signs that you are suffering from an external or prolapsed hemorrhoid pathology. During the initial stages, treatment is simple and effective. If you leave your symptoms untreated, they will only worsen and require more complex remedies.
A hemorrhoidal pathology can develop if your bowel movements are irregular, either because of constipation or diarrhea. Symptoms such as swollen lumps around your anus and itching, are clear signs of inflamed external hemorrhoids. In fact, if this is so, you may already have inflamed internal hemorrhoids, but you probably did not know this. You would not feel any symptoms, because there are no pain receptors in the anal passage. You would not see any signs if you only had mildly inflamed internal hemorrhoids. Only bleeding during the passage of stool might alert you to a more advanced and serious internal hemorrhoidal pathology. In more advanced stages, protruding internal hemorrhoids, called prolapsed hemorrhoids, would be visible outside the anal opening, pushed out by the passing stool during a bowel movement.
The immediate response is to treat the hemorrhoid symptoms with medication and gentle hygiene. You must also make changes in your diet, to improve your digestion and the regularity of your bowel movements. All irritants should be removed from your diet, including peppers, spices, caffeine, and alcohol. Increase your intake of water as much as you can, both if you have diarrhea or constipation. The former will dehydrate you. The latter, constipation, is caused by hardened stool due to insufficient hydration, among other reasons. Drinking more water will soften your stool. If drinking more water does not help you solve an existing constipation situation, use a stool softener in either oral or suppository form. To facility passing the stool, preventively and gently apply vaseline to the anal opening.
Lifestyle changes make a major difference in the recurrence of symptoms of hemorrhoid sufferers. Activities to avoid include sitting for very extended periods while, for example, driving a vehicle or riding a bicycle. Dietary changes which will help include increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, and beans, and incrementing the water you drink to at least 8 glasses per day.