One of the most common diseases among the adult population is hemorrhoids. This is a pathology characterized by varicose veins located in the rectum and anus. In this case, hemorrhoidal nodes are formed (photo below), which can be both inside and outside. Treatment of the disease can be carried out both by conservative and surgical methods.
Development mechanism
There are many vessels in the walls of the rectum, which, when connected, form plexuses called cavernous bodies. Normally, blood flows to them from the lower extremities, after which it outflows into the lower vena cava.
Under the influence of various adverse factors, fluid connective tissue begins to stagnate in the cavernous bodies. Against the background of this process, the walls of the vessels are stretched, some of their sections bulge outward. They are hemorrhoidal nodes.
Causes
According to statistics, about 80% of the adult population aged 25 to 50 years suffer from the disease. Most often it is diagnosed in males.
Predisposing factors for the development of hemorrhoids are:
- Hereditary predisposition. If someone from the next of kin suffers from hemorrhoids, the risk of developing the disease significantly increases.
- Age. Over time, the vessels become less elastic, they form easier to form.
The following conditions are provoking factors for the appearance of hemorrhoids:
- Passive lifestyle. During the performance of any intense motor activity, muscle tissue contracts, which speeds up blood circulation in the pelvis and lower limbs. Moreover, fluid connective tissue does not stagnate in any area. With a sedentary lifestyle, blood accumulates in the veins, resulting in the formation of hemorrhoidal nodes.
- Constipation Failure in the intestines leads to the fact that feces are retained in the body. They accumulate and block the blood flow, squeezing the vessels. During the act of defecation, an additional injury to the mucous membrane occurs, which creates a risk of developing an inflammatory process. In addition, when you empty the intestines, a person has to strain, which further enhances blood flow.
- Unbalanced diet. If the diet does not have enough water and fiber, but at the same time it includes salty, canned, spicy and smoked products, as well as carbonated and alcohol-containing drinks, the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. A natural result is stagnation of blood and the formation of hemorrhoidal nodes.
- Frequent pregnancy, childbirth. During the bearing of the child, the uterus increases in size and begins to squeeze the vessels located in the small pelvis. In addition, during pregnancy, the intestines work, which leads to stagnation of feces. In the process of delivery, women are forced to greatly strain, which can also cause hemorrhoids.
- Lifting heavy objects. The high-intensity physical activities that both men and women are exposed to in the gyms contribute to increased blood flow and create favorable conditions for the formation of stagnation of fluid connective tissue.
- Constant emotional stress or prolonged exposure to stress.
Some people do not even suspect that they develop hemorrhoids. In order to prevent the transition of the disease into a neglected form, it is necessary to consult a doctor if the first uncomfortable sensations occur.
Symptoms
Hemorrhoids have two main symptoms:
- Bleeding before, during, or after the act of defecation. The leakage of liquid connective tissue occurs through microcracks on the mucous membrane. In some cases, bleeding is so intense that it leads to iron deficiency anemia.
- Hemorrhoidal prolapse. Over time, there is a weakening of the connective and muscle tissue, in connection with which the formation begins to shift to the anus. Under the influence of provoking factors, they fall out.
Often, the disease is accompanied by pain, a sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the rectum, itching, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen, burning.
Hemorrhoids can be internal and external. In the first case, pathology can have several stages of development:
- I. Nodes are painless, they do not fall out. After the act of defecation, it is possible to notice a few drops of blood on paper or underwear.
- II. Nodes are increasing in size. When the bowel is empty, they can fall out, but then they are eliminated on their own.
- III. Knots bulge outward. The patient is able to correct them himself.
- IV. Nodes drop out. It’s impossible to fix them yourself. Symptoms at this stage are pronounced.
The disease can be both acute and chronic. In the first case, symptoms sharply arise against a background of pinching or thrombosis of the hemorrhoid. The chronic form develops slowly and is not accompanied by pronounced symptoms.
Diagnostics
If the first symptoms of the disease occur, you must consult a proctologist. It is enough for a specialist to conduct an external examination and a digital rectal examination to make the correct diagnosis.
If the doctor discovers the presence of other pathological structures, he may prescribe additional diagnostic measures:
- Anoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Blood test.
- Fecal analysis.
Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor makes the most effective treatment regimen. Depending on the stage of the disease, he also decides on the advisability of removing hemorrhoidal nodes.
Conservative Therapies
At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is shown that measures are taken that normalize the digestive processes and prevent the occurrence of constipation. In addition, it is important to prevent the transition of the disease to the next stage.
The treatment regimen at this stage includes the following items:
- Drug therapy. The doctor prescribes drugs that improve the microcirculation of liquid connective tissue (for example, Detralex, Proctosedil), relieve inflammation and unpleasant symptoms (Relif suppositories, Hepatrombin G), pain relievers (Lidocaine), and hemostatic agents.
- Dietary adjustment. The patient is forbidden to eat smoked, pickled and canned foods, as well as drink alcohol-containing drinks.
- Lifestyle adjustment. Treatment of hemorrhoidal nodes will be ineffective if the patient does not increase the degree of his motor activity.
At the second stage of the development of pathology, the use of the following medications is indicated:
- Improving peristalsis. Most often, doctors prescribe Regulax.
- Strengthening the walls of blood vessels (Detralex, Troxevasinum).
- Eliminating painful sensations (Ultraprokt, Nefluan, Proctoglivenol).
- Stopping the inflammatory process ("Relief").
At the third and fourth stages of the disease, conservative methods of treatment are ineffective or do not bring any results. In such cases, the doctor decides on the appropriateness of using minimally invasive methods or performing surgery to remove formations.
Surgical treatment
Currently, two low-traumatic techniques are widespread:
- Latex ligation of hemorrhoids.
- Deserterization.
The essence of the first method is as follows: through an anoscope with a ligator, a ring made of latex is thrown onto the formation. After about 2 weeks, it is rejected at the same time as the dried tissue.
Ligation of hemorrhoidal nodes has contraindications. It is not prescribed for anal fissures, paraproctitis and inflammatory processes in the anus and perineum. In addition, the procedure is not performed for thrombosis of hemorrhoids.
In the presence of the above contraindications, vascular ligation is performed, through which the nutrition of the formations is carried out. Over time, they dry out, decrease in size and are rejected on their own. This method is called "deserterization of hemorrhoidal nodes."
With an extremely advanced form of the disease, surgery is performed. It can be carried out in several ways:
- Excision with a scalpel.
- Radio wave method.
- Laser coagulation.
The choice of method depends on the size of the formations and the individual health characteristics of each patient. If in the future strictly follow the doctor’s instructions, the risk of re-formation of hemorrhoidal nodes after tissue removal in the future is minimized.
Folk methods
The use of alternative medicine prescriptions does not preclude the need to see a doctor. Alternative methods are not prohibited, but it is recommended that you first consult with a specialist. This is due to the fact that some drugs can worsen the course of the disease, provoke the occurrence of an allergic reaction or reduce the degree of effectiveness of medications.
The most effective recipes:
- Take 1.5 tbsp. l chopped St. John's wort leaves, pour 200 ml of boiling water over them. Put the container on fire for 10 minutes. After the specified time, cool the broth, strain. The tool is taken three times a day, 70 ml before a meal. Following the same algorithm, you can prepare a decoction of a highlander, sage or chamomile.
- Take 10 handfuls of birch leaves. Pour them with 5 liters of boiling water. Allow the product to infuse for 15 minutes. After this, the liquid must be poured into a bathtub filled with water. Then you need to immerse yourself in it for 15 minutes. The procedure is recommended to be repeated every other day.
- In a water bath, melt the petroleum jelly candles. Add to them 1 tbsp. l propolis extract (pre-ground). Mix the ingredients thoroughly. From the resulting mass, it is necessary to form rectal suppositories. Then they need to be put on a sheet of parchment and put in the refrigerator. Candles are ready to use after solidification. The course of treatment is 10 days. 1 candle must be inserted into the anus at night.
Judging by the reviews, small hemorrhoidal nodes dissolve against the background of regular use of alternative medicine. Doctors believe that it is advisable to turn to alternative methods only in the initial stages of the development of the disease.
Effects
The presence of both internal and external hemorrhoidal nodes significantly reduces the quality of life of the patient. In addition, in the absence of timely treatment, the risk of developing serious complications increases.
Ignoring the problem leads to destruction of the pelvic tissue. Fecal masses passing through the intestines increase the risk of their infection, since the end products of the human body contain bacteria, microbes and fungi. Often adjacent organs are involved in the inflammatory process.
In addition, hemorrhoids in the absence of treatment leads to the following pathological conditions:
- Thrombosis of nodes. Very often passes into necrosis, which is a danger to life.
- Cracks in the anus.
- Paraproctitis. This is a complication characterized by the formation and accumulation of pus in the rectum.
- Anemia It develops against the background of constant bleeding.
To avoid such complications, you do not need to self-medicate.
Prevention
In order to prevent the development of the disease, the following rules must be observed:
- Prevent constipation. To do this, you need to adjust the diet in accordance with the principles of a healthy diet and do not forget about the drinking regimen.
- Regularly carry out hygiene measures. It is advisable to wash the perineum after each bowel movement. At the initial stage, doctors recommend abandoning the use of toilet paper. It can be replaced by washing with warm water.
- Every week, carry out baths with the addition of potassium permanganate. The duration of stay in the liquid is only 2-3 minutes.
By regularly observing these rules, you can reduce the risk of hemorrhoidal nodes formation to a minimum.
Finally
From varicose veins located in the rectum and anus, the majority of the world's population suffers. Hemorrhoids are a pathology that can develop both slowly and rapidly. At the initial stage, patients, as a rule, do not feel pronounced symptoms. Over time, the intensity of their manifestations increases, hemorrhoids fall out. When the first alarming signs appear, it is recommended to consult a proctologist. Based on the results of the diagnosis, he will make the most effective treatment regimen.