Haemorrhoid treatment: Remedies to treat and prevent haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids refer to the painful, swollen veins in your anus and rectum. Similar to varicose veins, they can develop inside the rectum or under the skin around the anus.

Haemorrhoids affect close to 39% of the population in Australia. Also known as piles, these are caused due to a weakness in the side of the anal canal that results in the lining becoming thick and veins becoming enlarged within the haemorrhoid. This will then cause symptoms like bleeding, pain, and discomfort.

If you have haemorrhoids, you may notice bright red blood during bowel movements. You may also experience itchiness, discomfort or pain around the anus. Sometimes, there can be noticeable lumps that stick out of the anus.

While certain people may not experience symptoms, others may observe mild to severe symptoms. Depending on the size of the lumps and the severity, haemorrhoids are classified into four types. These include:

• First-degree haemorrhoids — a little blood observed during bowel movements with no visible lumps
• Second-degree haemorrhoids — bleeding and visible lumps only during bowel movements
• Third-degree haemorrhoids — visible and painful lumps that stick out of the anus most times
• Fourth-degree haemorrhoids — large lumps that stick out of the anus permanently. The blood inside these haemorrhoids can clot and become painful.

Haemorrhoid treatment

Haemorrhoids may heal naturally without any treatment. If you experience these for a long time and they are recurrent, however, it may be advisable to consult a doctor. If you experience any symptoms, the following haemorrhoid treatment strategies may be helpful.

Medication

A general haemorrhoid treatment strategy is to take over-the-counter medication. This can treat the pain and inflammation caused by the condition. These may include:

• Painkillers
• Medicated creams and ointments
• Suppository
• Corticosteroid cream

Be mindful about the use of over-the-counter creams and ointment as haemorrhoid treatment. Avoid using them for more than a week, unless directed by your doctor. They can thin your skin.

Minimally invasive procedures

If you are experiencing continuous bleeding and severe pain, your doctor may recommend one of the following minimally invasive procedures. These haemorrhoid treatment strategies can be done in your doctor’s clinic without the need for anaesthesia.

• Rubber band ligation

This involves your doctor placing one or two tiny rubber bands around the base of your haemorrhoids. It cuts off the blood circulation to the haemorrhoid, causing it to wither and fall off within a week. This can be an uncomfortable procedure and may cause bleeding a few days after the procedure.

• Injection (sclerotherapy)

This involves the doctor injecting a chemical into the haemorrhoidal tissue. It may numb the pain, stop the bleeding, and cause the haemorrhoid to decrease in size over four to six weeks. While the injection causes little to no pain, it may be less effective compared to a rubber band ligation.

• Coagulation

Coagulation means the use of infrared light or heat as a haemorrhoid treatment. This technique may cause small, bleeding, internal haemorrhoids to harden and shrivel. Coagulation has a few side effects and usually causes a little discomfort.

Prevention

If you want to prevent haemorrhoids, your doctor may recommend certain lifestyle and dietary modifications. These recommendations may include:

• Increasing the consumption of high-fibre food to ease bowel movements. This may prevent straining and constipation and the formation of haemorrhoids. Fibre should be included in your diet gradually to prevent excessive flatulence. As an alternative, you may need to take fibre supplements or stool softeners.
• Increase hydration to improve your bowel movements
• Exercise regularly to improve your bowel movements
• Maintain a healthy weight

Consult your healthcare provider to receive haemorrhoid treatment

If you are experiencing pain and discomfort from haemorrhoids, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, a gastroenterologist, who has expertise in the digestive system, for evaluation and treatment.

Sydney Gut Clinic is a gastroenterological clinic that supports the evaluation and treatment of haemorrhoids. Their multidisciplinary team of health professionals can offer the support you need for haemorrhoid treatment and prevention.