Most protectants are formulated with ingredients like mineral oil or petrolatum. Protectants may also prevent dryness and help to soothe the affected area. Some OTC treatments may also contain ingredients that can help protect the skin against further irritation. This is usually relatively painless but may be uncomfortable for some people.Ĭreams containing topical preparations of steroids - like hydrocortisone or Anusol-HC - are popular for helping to reduce swelling, redness, and irritation. Your doctor may use this device to examine the interior wall of the rectum and anal canal. This procedure involves an endoscopic device that’s inserted into the rectum. They will take a look at the affected area to help determine the severity of your condition and whether you have internal or external hemorrhoids.Ī physical examination of the lower rectum is necessary for doctors to determine if there are any unnatural growths, like polyps or tumors, that need to be removed or treated.Īnother way to diagnose hemorrhoids is with an anoscopy. They will ask you questions about your symptoms, medical history, and any medication you’re currently taking. Your doctor will likely perform a physical examination. The word "hemorrhoid" is derived from the Greek "haema" = blood, and.Hemorrhoids should be diagnosed by a medical professional.Īlthough it may be uncomfortable to talk about, you should reach out to your doctor if you suspect that you have symptomatic hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are mentioned in ancient medical writings of every culture, including Babylonian, Hindu, Greek, Egyptian, and Hebrew. Considering the combined prevalence of varicose veins and hemorrhoids, venous insufficiency and its manifestations are an extremely common medical problem that every physician should be prepared to treat. The crossroads to the development of varicose veins and hemorrhoids is the loss of vascular integrity. A more recent definition is, "Vascular cushions, consisting of thick submucosa containing both venous and arterial blood vessels, smooth muscle, and elastic connective tissue." While everyone has this tissue, it is the enlargement, bleeding and protrusion that create pathology. The Merck Manual defines hemorrhoids as "Varicosities of the veins of the hemorrhoidal plexus, often complicated by inflammation, thrombosis, and bleeding." It has been suggested this is an oversimplification of the nature of hemorrhoids. Over three-quarters of individuals in the United States have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives, and about half of the population over age 50 requires treatment. In a recent cross-sectional study, the age-adjusted prevalence of varicose veins was 58 percent for men and 48 percent for women. In population studies the prevalence of varicose veins has been reported to be 10-15 percent for men and 20-25 percent for women. The prevalence of these two conditions is astonishing. Two of the most common manifestations of venous insufficiency are varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Oral supplementation with Aesculus hippocastanum, Ruscus aculeatus, Centella asiatica, Hamamelis virginiana, and bioflavonoids may prevent time-consuming, painful, and expensive complications of varicose veins and hemorrhoids.Įvery general practitioner sees a large number of patients who suffer from problems associated with venous insufficiency. Several botanical extracts have been shown to improve microcirculation, capillary flow, and vascular tone, and to strengthen the connective tissue of the perivascular amorphous substrate. The loss of vascular integrity is associated with the pathogenesis of both hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Oral dietary supplementation is an attractive addition to the traditional treatment of hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The costly and uncomfortable nature of treatment options often leads a patient to postpone evaluation until aggressive intervention is necessary. If a non-surgical approach fails, the patient is often referred to a surgeon. Non-surgical modalities require physicians to be specially trained, own specialized equipment, and assume associated risks. Injection sclerotherapy is the non-surgical treatment for primary varicose veins. When conservative hemorrhoid therapy is ineffective, many physicians may choose other non-surgical modalities: injection sclerotherapy, cryotherapy, manual dilation of the anus, infrared photocoagulation, bipolar diathermy, direct current electrocoagulation, or rubber band ligation. Conservative therapies for both conditions include diet, lifestyle changes, and hydrotherapy which require a high degree of patient compliance to be effective. There are several over-the-counter topical agents available for hemorrhoids. Varicose veins are treated with mechanical compression stockings. Both conditions have several treatment modalities for the physician to choose from. Hemorrhoids and varicose veins are common conditions seen by general practitioners.
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