Hemorrhoids Treatment at Home

Hemorrhoids are a common and very uncomfortable condition caused by swelling of the veins in the anus. When these veins are scraped by hard stools they will bleed, which produces the most common symptoms of hemorrhoids, anal bleeding. Blood that is present on the stool, on the toilet paper after wiping, or that drips into the toilet is a sign of hemorrhoids. Itching, burning, pain, and swelling are also symptoms of hemorrhoids and while they are not usually serious they can be very uncomfortable and cause most people to seek some type of treatment. Although hemorrhoids are very uncomfortable they are seldom serious and will heal on their own if you change your diet to produce softer stools. Rarely hemorrhoids will cause more serious complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhaging, or anemia. In these cases your only option is to consult a doctor but if treated early while the right diet changes hemorrhoids rarely become serious.

There are many over the counter medication you can use for Hemorrhoids treatment including medicated wipes, pads, and creams. These remedies will usually help with the symptoms of pain, swelling, and itching, and can even help your hemorrhoids to heal, but the best way to treat hemorrhoids is through diet change. These over the counter treatments are usually best suited for treating the symptoms of external hemorrhoids although some creams can be applied to the anus internally.

Because hemorrhoids are usually caused by straining while having a bowel movement and hard stools, adding more fiber to your diet to produce softer stools is the best type of hemorrhoids treatment. Eliminating processed foods and increasing your intake of fresh vegetables and fruit is the best thing you can do. Many people's diets are lacking these important elements and the large amount of processed foods, refined sugar, fats, and other unhealthy elements cause many people's stools to be hard. Foods that are high in fiber such as broccoli ad other green leafy vegetable, lima beans, alfalfa, and flax seeds will help you to produce softer stools. Other foods such as prunes and prune juice will also help your hemorrhoids to heal by producing softer stools.

Sometimes diet change alone is not enough to cure hemorrhoids, especially if they are hereditary or you naturally produce hard stools. In this case over the counter stool softeners can help to soften stools and will allow hemorrhoids to heal. Laxatives should be avoided, unless they are recommended by your doctor because they can often irritate the lining of the bowels and actually worsen hemorrhoids. Most of the time hemorrhoids will clear up on their own, especially if you make the necessary diet changes or take the necessary medication to produce softer stools. Very rare cases of hemorrhoids will require medical intervention such as surgery to remove, and usually only external hemorrhoids require this type of intervention. Even though hemorrhoids are usually not serious, if your symptoms persist for more than a few weeks it is a good idea to consult a doctor to get advice on your best course of treatment.