According to statistics, a fifth of the world's population suffers from hemorrhoids. And this is only the part of people who turned to the doctor for help. At the first signs of hemorrhoids, you should immediately consult a doctor, and not wait for the development of complications.
What it is?
Hemorrhoids - pathology of the anus, caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the blood network of the rectum with the formation of nodes. In the process of disease progression, they can become inflamed, infringed, clogged by blood clots. All this brings a lot of suffering to the patient.
Why does pathology arise
The signs of hemorrhoids depend on the causes that caused the pathology. They were divided into vascular and mechanical.
The basis of vascular causes is an increased flow of blood to the anal region through the arteries, as well as a violation of the outflow of blood through the veins. This causes hypertrophic changes in the corpora cavernosa and an increase in nodes.
The vascular causes of hemorrhoids occur due to a sedentary lifestyle, a violation of the diet. Constipation, alcohol abuse lead to the development of pathology.
Another reason is mechanical. It implies hypertrophy of hemorrhoidal nodes under the influence of unfavorable factors, which causes dystrophic changes in the muscle fibers of the longitudinal intestinal muscle. As a result, the nodes are displaced and fall out of the anus.
The growth of hemorrhoidal nodes refers to multifactorial pathologies. It can lead to:
- Diarrhea and constipation.
- Prolonged sitting.
- Hard physical labor.
- Improper nutrition.
- Pregnancy, childbirth.
- Obesity.
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- Hypothermia.
- Tumor-like formations in the pelvis.
What types of hemorrhoids exist
Signs of hemorrhoids depend on the type of pathology. Proctology distinguishes acute and chronic species. Each of them has its own characteristics. Also, the ailment can be combined, internal, external. In a special category, hemorrhoids in pregnant women are distinguished.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids have four stages. For the first stage, the characteristic signs of hemorrhoids in women and men are the allocation of arterial blood from the anus. At this stage, hemorrhoidal prolapse is not observed.
At the second stage, nodes fall out. At the same time, they are set on their own. Signs of hemorrhoids in women and men are accompanied by bleeding, but can occur without it.
At the third stage, hemorrhoidal formations are not resolved on their own, but they can be manually adjusted by the doctor. Bleeding may be absent, but may be present.
The fourth stage is characterized by the impossibility of setting nodes. In this case, the treatment is only surgical.
First clinical manifestations
The first signs of hemorrhoids in men and women are similar, but with them people rarely go to the doctor. At the initial stage, the ailment responds well to treatment, the main thing is to strictly follow all the recommendations of the proctologist.
Clinic of external hemorrhoids
And what are the signs of hemorrhoids indicate the presence of an ailment? The alarming first manifestations of pathology are:
- Discomfort, there is a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the area of the anus. Patients complain of incomplete bowel movement, itching, burning. From the anus, mucus, blood can be released.
- After prolonged work, while in a sitting position, with the act of defecation, a feeling of heaviness appears, the nodes swell.
- During bowel movements there is an unpleasant sensation, constipation, diarrhea can be observed.
- After the toilet, the nodes can fall out, and then set on their own.
- After intense physical exertion, traces of blood remain on the laundry. Also, blood is observed with an act of defecation. This is due to a violation of the integrity of blood vessels, overflow nodes.
If, with these signs of hemorrhoids, therapy is not started, then the ailment proceeds to the next stage. The general condition is aggravated. In men and women, the treatment of hemorrhoids is carried out depending on the location of the nodes, their number, size.
Internal hemorrhoids
This pathology is similar to the external, but has some features. The first signs of internal hemorrhoids are manifested by the appearance of a burning sensation, itching, discomfort and heaviness in the anus. Sometimes bleeding occurs as a result of bleeding of hemorrhoidal vessels, which are damaged when the feces pass through the intestines.
The main difference between external hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids is the location of the nodes: they are located in the upper intestines, due to which they cannot fall out. In the future, they become invisible to the patient, the pathology progresses. It is possible to detect an ailment only as a result of an instrumental examination method.
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy
Signs of hemorrhoids in women (photo of the disease is not for the faint of heart) develop due to compression of the intestinal veins by the uterus. Because of this, there is a violation of blood circulation in the hemorrhoidal vessels: the veins are filled with blood, expand, nodes increase.
Hemorrhoids can also occur as a result of constipation. In this case, there is a strong expansion of the intestine. During the movement of feces in the rectum, hemorrhoidal vessels are injured.
A sedentary lifestyle in the last weeks of pregnancy can lead to the development of an ailment.
The signs and treatment of hemorrhoids in pregnant women are similar to other groups of patients. They also have bleeding, burning, itching, pain in the anus. Nodes can fall out, set, bleed.
Usually, pregnant women rarely pay attention to the clinic of hemorrhoids, attributing it to the features of the course of pregnancy.
General principles of treatment of the disease
The proctologist selects a method of treatment depending on the severity of the clinic and the stage of the disease.
There are two types of treatment: conservative and surgical.
Conservative therapy involves the use of medications of systemic and local action in the initial stages of the development of the disease. This type of treatment includes:
- The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics. These medicines are used to relieve the inflammatory process, pain in the anus.
- Venotonic. They tone the venous vessels.
- Hemostatic drugs. They are necessary to stop bleeding.
- Antispasmodics. Ointments are usually prescribed.
- Means for the prevention and resorption of blood clots.
- Laxatives that help relieve bowel movements.
- In some cases, the use of antibiotics, hormonal drugs may be required.
The surgical method of treatment involves partial or complete removal of nodes, blood clots. Usually this method is used only if drug therapy is ineffective.
Surgery practices minimally invasive methods for treating hemorrhoids. Patients may be prescribed:
- Therapy with infrared radiation.
- Vascular sclerosis.
- Ligation.
- Coagulation, electrocoagulation.
In the most difficult cases, a complete removal of the nodes is performed - hemorrhoidectomy. This method is used to treat the fourth stage of the disease.
Chronic hemorrhoids
By the signs of hemorrhoids in men and women, a chronic recurrent form is most often determined. This type is found in almost eighty percent of all patients.
At first, patients note discomfort, itching, weak soreness in the anus. Then, during bowel movements, blood droplets appear. This condition can last quite a long time - up to several years. Periodically, the condition goes into remission.
Gradually, the pathology progresses, new signs of hemorrhoids appear in men and women. These can be severe pain during bowel movements, which become even stronger with the slightest deviation from the diet. During bowel movements, blood begins to flow constantly, changing the intensity - from spotting to heavy bleeding. This leads to iron deficiency anemia. Internal nodes may begin to fall out of the anus.
The degree of increase in hemorrhoidal nodes, as well as the onset of dystrophic changes in the fibro-muscular skeleton, affect the stage of chronic hemorrhoids:
- The first is characterized by bleeding without loss of nodes.
- The second occurs with an increase in the nodes, their loss only during bowel movements, and after it they fall into place.
- Third stage. On it there is a loss of nodes, there is a need for their reverse reduction.
- At the fourth stage, the nodes come out not only during bowel movements, but also when sneezing, coughing, minimal physical exertion. Send them back does not work.
Chronic treatment
At the first signs of hemorrhoids, you should immediately consult a doctor to begin treatment. Only in this case can you quickly cope with the disease. As a rule, with the first clinical symptoms, treatment is carried out by conservative methods. The doctor selects medicines, recommends alternative methods of therapy.
The first sign of hemorrhoids, manifested in the form of soreness during bowel movements, is a signal of the need to start therapy as soon as possible. For treatment, external preparations are selected in the form of ointments, gels. It can be Proctosedil, Hepatrombin, Relief. All these remedies eliminate pain, relieve swelling of the nodes, improve blood flow, and dissolve blood clots. Also, these drugs relieve burning, itching, dry tissues. With internal chronic hemorrhoids, candles are used.
And how to treat the signs of hemorrhoids in men and women with folk remedies? Usually herbal medicine is used in the form of sedentary baths. For their preparation, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory herbs, candles with propolis, lard, potatoes, honey are used. Also used are preparations based on mummies, birch tar.
If conservative methods of therapy do not bring the desired results, then minimally invasive methods are necessarily prescribed in the form of cryotherapy, IR photocoagulation. Doping of nodes with latex is carried out. If these methods do not help cope with chronic hemorrhoids, then doctors recommend removing the nodes.
Acute form of pathology
As a result of thrombosis of hemorrhoidal nodes or during their infringement, acute hemorrhoids occur. Signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids in women and men are the appearance of severe pain, a feeling of the presence of a foreign body, and an increase in body temperature. With an acute form, nodes sharply increase in size, becoming dense. Doctors distinguish three types of pathology in the acute stage:
- The first stage is thrombosis without inflammation. Signs of hemorrhoids in men whose photos are not very pleasant, as well as in women are characterized by the absence of an inflammatory process. The doctor determines the external nodes, not greatly increased in size. On palpation, they are moderately painful, and by consistency they are tightly elastic. Patients complain of burning, itching, which intensifies during bowel movements. Swelling, mild hyperemia can be observed.
- The second stage is thrombosis with inflammation of the nodes. Patients have severe hyperemia around the anus, most of the tissues are inflamed. When walking and in a sitting position, acute soreness appears. When touched, there is a sharp severe pain.
- The third stage is thrombosis with inflammation, in which subcutaneous tissue is involved. Swelling takes up the entire area around the anus. With this type of ailment, conducting a digital examination is impossible due to sharp pain. During a visual examination, the proctologist sees the crimson nodes emerging from the anus.
If a person does not contact a doctor as soon as possible, then hemorrhoids will lead to necrosis, blackening of the nodes. In this state, you can’t try to straighten the bumps yourself, as this can lead to sepsis. Dead tissue is removed in a hospital setting.
How acute hemorrhoids are treated
Treatment of acute hemorrhoids is carried out by combined methods. Apply local funds in the form of gels, ointments, suppositories, and also prescribe drugs for oral administration. Thrombosis is treated with drugs that have a thrombolytic effect. Of the candles, "Hepatrombin" is most often prescribed.
Heparin, which is part of the medication, dissolves the formed blood clots and does not allow the formation of new ones. For the treatment of external hemorrhoids, only ointments are used, and for internal hemorrhoids, suppositories.
In case of infringement of nodes, compresses are prescribed. They are applied to the perineum, thus relieving pain and relaxing the sphincter, which facilitates the reduction of the node.
In the case of a complication in which severe inflammation of the canal tissue is observed, ointments with anti-inflammatory effects are prescribed, such as Relief, Proctosedil. These agents can be combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. You can relieve inflammation and relieve pain syndrome with Levomekol ointment. A venotonic agent is selected inside - it can be, for example, Detralex.
In some cases, a thrombectomy is prescribed, during which the node is opened, a thrombus is removed from it. After the procedure, the wound heals on its own in a few days. If a mini-operation is not possible, then doctors recommend removing the site with the thrombus minimally invasive method.
Features of the diagnosis of hemorrhoids
Diagnosis of the disease is simple. Experienced doctors can tell at the first sign of hemorrhoids in women and men what kind of development is developing. However, in order to detect hidden complications, accompanying ailments, additional diagnostic methods are necessarily prescribed.
Inspection of patients with suspected hemorrhoids is carried out in a gynecological chair. Patients take a pose with their knees up to their stomach or stand on all fours.
First, the doctor conducts an external examination of the anus, the tissues around it. It determines the shape of the anus, the presence of deformities, scars, gaping of the anus. The doctor also draws attention to the color and condition of the skin around the anus, assesses the severity of the external hemorrhoidal nodes, notes the degree of prolapse, looks to see if it is possible to correct the bump.
Be sure to proctologist evaluates the condition of the anal reflex. This procedure is performed by the method of perianal irritation. Then, the walls of the anal canal are examined, and the presence of cracks is revealed. After an external examination, a digital examination of the rectum is performed. During the examination, the proctologist notes the condition of the internal and external sphincters, determines their tension, contraction force, pain. Finger diagnosis allows you to see scars, defects of the rectum, to assess the condition of the mucous membrane of the channel.
Quite often, it is not possible to identify the exact location of the nodes and determine their true dimensions by palpation. This is due to the fact that the cones are reduced in size: they seem to be set back.
In addition to a digital examination, the doctor can conduct anoscopy. It is well tolerated by patients and allows you to examine the area of internal nodes.
Sigmoidoscopy may also be prescribed. If it is necessary to conduct an examination of the intestine above 25 centimeters, then the proctologist prescribes a colonoscopy, ultrasound, irrigoscopy.
As practice shows, in a third of patients suffering from hemorrhoids, pathologies of the large intestine, anal canal are found. Some can lead to bleeding. Sometimes, when examined, proctologists diagnose cancer.
Complications of pathology
The first signs of hemorrhoids (we can not provide a photo for ethical reasons) rarely force people to go to a proctologist. Usually we visit doctors only when there is no strength to endure pain and other manifestations. The same thing happens with hemorrhoids.
Those who decide to self-medicate or do not attach importance to the clinic of the disease, face the following complications:
- Bleeding leading to anemia. Hemorrhoids can lead to massive bleeding. This complication is almost always associated with bowel movements, but there are situations when the bleeding begins even with a light load.
- Dropout of nodes without the possibility of their reverse reduction. Usually, this clinic develops in the second or third stage of hemorrhoids. Initially, prolapse occurs in the initial stages, after going to the toilet, but as the disease progresses, prolapse of nodes begins even with coughing, laughing, sneezing. Patients try to straighten the knot themselves, but they do not succeed.
- Infringement of nodes. With a spasm of the anal sphincter, infringement of nodes can occur. In such situations, unbearable pain occurs. If timely assistance is not provided to the patient, then this will lead to thrombosis.
- Thrombosis. This is the most serious complication that can lead to sepsis, necrosis. This condition requires emergency care.
Diet
With hemorrhoids, it is important to follow a diet. You should eat fractionally, in small portions. Be sure to drink at least one and a half liters of water.
All food intake should contain enough fiber so as not to cause constipation. The diet includes only those dishes in which the food undergoes gentle processing: boiled, baked, steamed.
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