Alternative Treatment vs Traditional Treatment
The 3-pronged health management goals of traditional hemorrhoid treatment include alleviating the symptoms, arresting the worsening of the condition and preventing the recurrence of the condition. In addition to these goals, we would add pre-emptive prevention of the onset of hemorrhoids.
Traditional medical prognosis entail 4 stages of assessment:
o immediate admittance to hospital where malignancy is suspected
o possible admittance where there is acute pain (e.g. thrombosed external hemorrhoids and internal but prolapsed and thrombosed hemorrhoids)
o outpatient treatment (e.g. grades 1 or 2 hemorrhoids)
o extensive investigation (e.g. where it is suspected that the problem is due to more than just hemorrhoids).
Most people typically choose this conventional path of hemorrhoid treatment. Nothing wrong with that, especially if it has been of relief to them. We are not full-blown skeptics of big pharmaceutical companies and hospitals as we believe they generally do provide good medical care. Having said that, many customary medicines do have side effects, some of which are not made known to us.
Sometimes this is on the basis that the side effects are statistically acceptable. At other times, the doctor is just overly focused on the immediate goal of curing you.
Correspondingly, our approach is always to examine alternative treatment together with conventional medicine. This is even more so if the alternative treatment has these characteristics:
o is natural
o has been tried and tested by fellow sufferers
o works even for those who have undergone established medical treatment.
One such alternative to hemorrhoid treatment is the H Miracle.
Conventional and alternative treatments aside, there are a variety of DIY routines that you can practise to prevent piles affliction. These same measures become even more critical if you are already suffering from it. They will alleviate your distress and prevent deterioration of the condition.
Healthy Living as a Lifestyle
Simply cultivate this oft-said lifestyle habit - the balanced diet! Clichéd but nevertheless, true.
A major cause of piles is excessive straining due to constant bouts of constipation, something which most of us simply dismiss as part of life. Accordingly, a major lifestyle objective should then be to ensure regular bowel movements comprising soft but bulky stools. This is very easily attained by including in our daily diet just 30gm of insoluble fiber found in fruits and leafy vegetables. Add to that 8 glasses of fluids. Fluids, unfortunately, do not include those with alcohol and caffeine content!
The balanced diet normally works fairly quickly. But if your bowel demands are very urgent, you may try out plant-based fiber supplements. Methyl cellulose (sold under trade names like Citrucel or WillPowder) is commonly recommended. It passes through the intestines undigested and absorbs large quantities of water to produce a bulky and soft stool. The brands Metamucil and Fybogel (both containing psyllium) are suitable vegetable-based supplements which act similarly to facilitate bowel motion.
Whether you are already afflicted with hemorrhoids or is recovering from hemorrhoids after traditional medical procedures, the daily objective of a balanced diet is an important step in your hemorrhoid treatment and recovery.
Self-Treatment at Home
For the hemorrhoid sufferer, the next major routine that should become a personal habit is perianal hygiene. Perianal refers to the tissues in the vicinity of the anus. After passing motion, these are essential steps to note:
o Avoid soaps with perfumes or dyes
o Do not rub the anal region
- use the shower or bidet to clean
- pat dry gently with a towel
o Blot dry the anus with
- damp toilet paper
- baby wipes
- moistened mini-towels e.g. TUCKS Medicated Pads
- cleansing agents e.g. Balneol Hygienic Cleansing Lotion.
Try one or all of the following for discomfort relief in hemorrhoid treatment:
o Apply ice (10-minute duration) a few times a day
o Alternately apply a warm compress (10-20 minute duration)
o Apply moist heat (using warm towels - tip: microwave heat a damp towel) several times a day
o Soak the anal area in warm water (15 minute duration) a few times a day
o Take a sitz bath (i.e. warm salted water)
o Apply hemorrhoidal creams or petroleum jelly (e.g. Preparation H).
Other relief methods:
o Rest in bed - relieves pressure on the inflamed hemorrhoids
o Minimise standing or sitting for prolonged periods
o Refrain lifting heavy things
o Wear loose cotton undergarments to minimise moisture formation
o NEVER use the famed doughnut tire cushion - by restricting blood flow, it increases swelling!
o Diligently exercise - if nothing else, just brisk walking
o No matter how busy you are, empty your bowels as soon as the urge occurs.
Self-help is an inevitable part of hemorrhoid treatment. But it is IMPORTANT TO NOTE that whenever any of the medicinal products mentioned above are used, you should consult the pharmacist at the drugstore where you make your purchase or your personal doctor. This is especially if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, urination difficulties caused by prostate gland enlargement or you are recently taking any prescription drugs.