A very common disease is external hemorrhoids. Symptoms in women and men are quite common. The disease is an inflammation of the veins of the rectum. Due to the stagnation of blood at the site of inflammation, a lump is formed, which causes inconvenience to the patient.
Hemorrhoids do not go away on their own, at whatever stage the disease is. And the sooner you turn to a specialist, the more effective and faster the treatment will be. In this article, we consider the causes, symptoms. What does external hemorrhoids look like? Photos of patients with pathology can be found below.
What it is
Hemorrhoids are inflammation of the veins in the anus, their overflow with blood and an increase in size. The disease is of three types:
- interior;
- mixed type;
- external hemorrhoids.
Symptoms in women (photos are not a very pleasant sight) and men will be discussed in this article.
With external hemorrhoids, the inflamed hemorrhoids are located outside the anus. Do not confuse with the loss of nodules during the severe stage of internal hemorrhoids. This disease can be distinguished by the following signs: with the internal type, the fallen venous plexuses have a mucous membrane. With the external - nodules located near the anal area are covered with skin.
At the initial stage of the disease, symptoms of external hemorrhoids are disturbed only during trips to the toilet. If untreated, the nodes become larger and begin to disturb the patient at the slightest exertion: sneezing, coughing or laughing, when lifting weights and with sudden movements. That is why it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first sign of an illness.
Causes
Most often, the main reason for the appearance of this disease is considered to be a predisposition to weakness of the venous wall. As an impetus to the development and exacerbation of hemorrhoids are:
- Inactive lifestyle. With a lack of motor activity, venous blood stasis occurs.
- Stool problems. Excessive straining when going to the toilet.
- Improper nutrition. A special influence on the development of the disease is exerted by alcohol and excess acute in food.
- Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Weightlifting and power sports.
- Weightlifting, physical strain.
Under the influence of these causes, filling and stagnation in the veins of the small pelvis occur. Therefore, they stretch, bulge and hemorrhoidal nodules form.
The first symptoms of the disease
At the very beginning, hemorrhoids can be asymptomatic. During this period, in the area of the anus, slight itching and discomfort occurs. But patients may simply not pay attention to it. Also, inflammation of the hemorrhoidal nodules can be indicated by a burning sensation in the anus and a feeling of a foreign object in the rectum. Symptoms of external hemorrhoids in men and women are the same. We highlight the first signs:
- burning sensation and itching of the anus, discomfort;
- Not very severe bleeding may occur during going to the toilet;
- pain at the time of bowel movement;
- prolapse of hemorrhoids ;
- mucus secretion.
Over time, the anus swells and heaviness appears in the groin. Walking and sitting becomes difficult and painful. If the nodule is pinched, the patient may experience severe, sharp pain. When you touch the anus, you can feel the bumps under the skin.
Symptoms of external hemorrhoids
What are the symptoms of external hemorrhoids in women? Photos of the disease can cause unpleasant emotions. With the development of the disease, the symptoms become more pronounced, cause a lot of inconvenience.
- Itching intensifies, mucus is secreted in large quantities, which causes severe burning and irritation.
- The seal at the entrance to the anus becomes painful, increases, an inflammatory process appears. In addition, there may be several seals.
- After defecation, a feeling of incomplete emptying remains.
- Going to the toilet becomes painful, severe pain and bleeding occur.
It should be noted that similar symptoms are characteristic of men.
Conservative treatment
Symptoms of external hemorrhoids are eliminated by three methods:
- conservative treatment;
- minimally invasive;
- surgical
A conservative type of treatment includes measures aimed at eliminating pain and alleviating the patient's condition. It includes drugs, diet, and lifestyle changes. For treatment, such dosage forms as tablets, gels, creams, ointments are used.
The action of drugs to treat symptoms of external hemorrhoids in both women and men is aimed at relieving inflammation, itching, and swelling. Often they contain anesthetics that relieve pain, and substances that promote tissue healing. A positive effect is given by drugs that can thin the blood, they dissolve blood clots, do not allow new ones to form.
Pathology is most often treated with preparations in the form of creams and ointments, since they are easy to apply, and the result is much faster than after applying candles. The most popular are:
- "Relief". This ointment contains oil from shark liver. The tool has anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects. It quickly heals tissues, relieves itching, and stops bleeding.
- "Aurobin." The composition contains prednisone. This is a hormone. In this regard, it is recommended to use it as directed by a doctor.
- "Posterized." Restores tissue, increases vascular tone.
- Proctosed. Due to its composition, it has antibacterial, analgesic and antithrombotic effects.
- "Hepatrombin." Reduces edema, normalizes blood flow, fights inflammation, prevents the formation of blood clots.
- Heparin ointment. Reduces the inflammatory process, relieves pain, fights blood clots.
The choice of drugs depends on the symptoms of external hemorrhoids. The doctor prescribes drugs based on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease. In addition to ointments and creams, tablets for oral administration are often used. These include:
- Ginkor Fort. Relieves painful symptoms, tones veins, fights blood clots, normalizes blood circulation.
- Detralex Reduces the extensibility of veins, strengthens capillaries.
- Asklesan A Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, normalizes blood circulation.
- Pilex. Relieves puffiness, has a healing and anti-inflammatory effect.
In the treatment of symptoms of external hemorrhoids, non-steroidal drugs are used to relieve inflammation that is taken orally. Such drugs include: "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac", "Indomethacin". Any doctor should prescribe any remedy.
Surgical intervention
In order to cure hemorrhoids quickly, it is necessary to apply radical measures. These include minimally invasive interventions.
- Scletotherapy - a substance is introduced into the hemorrhoidal nodules, which leads to their resorption.
- Infrared photocoagulation - this treatment is effective only in the initial stages of the pathology.
- Fixation of varicose nodules with latex rings.
- Thrombectomy - excision of nodules is done under local anesthesia.
Surgical method
This method is resorted to if the manifestation of symptoms of external hemorrhoids cannot stop conservative treatment, the disease progresses, and exacerbations occur constantly. In this case, an opening of the hemorrhoidal nodule and removal of the thrombus is prescribed.
This type of treatment is called thrombectomy. Often this method is the only option to combat the disease. Thrombosis of nodules is dangerous because over time it can cause tissue death and blood poisoning, which in turn is a threat to human life.
Treatment of symptoms of external hemorrhoids in both women and men through surgery involves the removal of blood clots from nodules. The operation takes place under local anesthesia, takes several minutes and is considered uncomplicated. After it, the patient is sent home on the same day, and he can return to his usual life.
How is the operation performed:
- anesthesia is done first;
- after the surgeon makes an incision of the thrombosed node;
- saline is injected through the incision, which softens the blood clot;
- a blood clot is completely removed;
- after the doctor restores the vessel and sutures the wound.
After surgery, the patient has a rapid improvement. Pain passes, swelling subsides, inflammatory processes. The wound heals in a few days.
During the recovery period, the patient is strictly recommended to observe the rules of hygiene of the anal area after going to the toilet, as well as apply dry, sterile dressings in the wound area. As a rule, after surgery, there are no serious complications. In the early days, pain is possible, which are relieved by painkillers.
Complications
Common complications of this disease include:
- Thrombosis of nodules. The formation of a blood clot in the dilated blood vessel. The clot interferes with normal blood circulation, causes stagnation and leads to swelling, in the end it can cause tissue necrosis.
- The occurrence of anal fissures.
- Purulent paraproctitis - inflammation and death of tissues near the anus, which can lead to blood poisoning and death of the patient.
It is important to note that the symptoms of the disease are the same in women and men, it does not depend on age. There is a difference in the reasons: women have symptoms of external hemorrhoids after childbirth more often than for other reasons, and for men due to improper lifestyle and work.
Pregnancy
Treatment of pathology during pregnancy is carried out with extreme caution and requires an individual approach. When choosing medicines, all contraindications and the duration of pregnancy are taken into account so as not to harm the fetus. With such a disease, it is imperative to consult a doctor while carrying a baby, you should not self-medicate.
Treatment of symptoms of external hemorrhoids in women during pregnancy consists of the use of ointments and gels. Most commonly used:
- Fleming;
- "Posterisan"
- ointment with sea buckthorn;
- Relief gel and ointment;
- Bezornil cream.
Also, for the treatment of pathology in pregnant women, tablets with a venotonic effect are used. Such remedies include: Phlebodia, Venarus, Detralex, they contain hesperidin and diosmin, which help to eliminate stagnation and strengthen veins.
These drugs can be taken during the entire period of pregnancy, but only under the supervision of a doctor who will establish the necessary dosages and duration of the course. Tablets, as a rule, are used during periods of exacerbation of symptoms of external hemorrhoids, they positively affect the entire circulatory system. But under certain conditions, drugs negatively affect pregnancy, so only a doctor can prescribe them.
Treatment of hemorrhoids during this period requires a competent approach. Therefore, before using folk remedies, it is best to visit a proctologist. Timely contacting a specialist will help to avoid many problems.
Folk remedies
Conservative treatment of pathology can be combined with the use of traditional medicine. Before starting treatment with folk remedies, it is best to consult a doctor.
Traditional medicine is an effective measure to accelerate recovery. But a complete cure is possible only when combined with medications prescribed by a specialist.
- One of the most common remedies is sea buckthorn oil. To treat the disease, they impregnate a gauze swab and apply it to the affected area.
- To strengthen the walls of blood vessels use infusions of wild rose, horse chestnut or hazel.
- The pain symptom is removed with the addition of a decoction of chamomile, sage, and onion husk.
It must be remembered that treatment with folk remedies must be agreed with the doctor, it should not contradict his prescriptions.
Diet and nutrition rules
In order to quickly recover from symptoms of external hemorrhoids, you must follow a special diet. Fixing foods should be excluded from the diet:
- pomegranate, pears, mountain ash, raisins, grapes;
- pasta;
- eggplant;
- boiled meat, broths, eggs;
- cottage cheese;
- carrot;
- White bread;
- bagels;
- crackers;
- semolina and rice porridge;
- black tea, compote;
- mashed potatoes;
- chocolate;
- decoctions of - chamomile, bird cherry, oak bark, mint.
In the daily menu, you must include laxative products:
- beets;
- cauliflower;
- pumpkin;
- broccoli;
- zucchini;
- apricots
- dried apricots;
- figs;
- apples
- peaches;
- prunes
- cereal or cereal bread;
- plum juices, apricots and pulp vegetables;
- White wine.
In order to replenish the body with the necessary trace elements and vitamins, the menu includes:
- Vitamin P: rosehip, green tea, blackcurrant, chokeberry, oranges, buckwheat;
- Vitamin K: liver, green vegetables and plants, cabbage, spinach, soybean oil, tomatoes, walnuts;
- magnesium: tomatoes, olives, green leaves, nuts, parsley, pumpkin, plums, oats, rye bread, bran;
- Vitamin C and B: tomatoes, berries, cabbage, green onions, sorrel, blackcurrant, strawberries, citrus fruits, kiwi, bell peppers.
A quick way to develop hemorrhoids is weight lifting, low activity and frequent constipation. So that the cured disease does not return, the prevention of constipation is necessary. It is necessary to ensure that the intestines are released daily, without retaining stool.
Prevention
Effective treatment and prevention of the onset of the disease is again impossible without proper prevention, which includes:
- tracking the regularity of going to the toilet, bowel movement depends on the proper nutrition and physical activity;
- daily washing of the anus with cool water;
- decrease in physical activity;
- active lifestyle, increased motor activity, if the work is sedentary;
- proper nutrition - eliminate the use of spicy food, it promotes blood flow to the pelvic area, resulting in blood clots;
- the use of drugs whose action is aimed at tonicity of blood vessels.
If you follow these instructions, you can forget about the disease for a long time.