Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal - they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers.

Although hemorrhoids are thought of as unpleasant inflammations, we all have them.1 It is when the hemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed) that problems occur - when this happens they are called piles or pathological hemorrhoids.

"Piles" are the swollen ones that are painful and cause problems, hemorrhoids can refer to the swollen ones (pathological hemorrhoids) or simply the normal structure. 

Piles can be of various sizes and may be internal (inside the anus) or external ones (outside the anus). Typically, internal piles occur from 2 to 4cm above the opening of the anus. External piles (perianal hematoma) occur on the outside edge of the anus. The internal ones are much more common.

Internal hemorrhoids -

They are classified into four grades:

Grade 1 - there are small inflammations, usually inside the lining of the anus. They are not visible.
Grade 2 - larger than Grade 1 hemorrhoids, and also inside the anus. When passing a stool they may get pushed out, but soon return.
Grade 3 - often called 'prolapsed hemorrhoids'; these appear outside the anus. The patient may feel them hanging out. They can be pushed back in if the patient presses with his/her finger.
Grade 4 - these cannot be pushed back in and need to be treated by a doctor. They are large and stay outside the anus all the time.
External hemorrhoids -

called perianal hematoma. These are small lumps that are located on the outside edge of the anus. They are extremely itchy and can be painful if a blood clot forms inside (thrombosed external hemorrhoid). Thrombosed external hemorrhoid requires medical treatment straight away.

What are the signs and symptoms of piles?

A symptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as a pain, while a sign is something everybody can see, such as a rash.

A hard lump may be felt around the anus. It consists of coagulated blood, called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. This can be extremely painful.
After going to the toilet, a feeling that the bowels are still full.
Bright red blood after a bowel movement.
Itchiness in the anus area.
Mucus discharge when emptying the bowels.
Pain while defecating.
The anus area may be red and sore.
When passing a stool the person may strain excessively.
Why do piles occur?

The blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum will stretch under pressure and may swell or bulge. Inflamed veins (hemorrhoids) can develop when pressure increases in the lower rectum. This may be due to:

Chronic constipation
Chronic diarrhoea
Lifting heavy weights.11
Pregnancy.12
Straining when passing a stool.13
The tendency to develop hemorrhoids may also be inherited. The risk of developing piles grows with age

What are the treatment options for piles?

In the majority of cases, piles resolve on their own without the need for any treatment. Treatments can help significantly reduce the discomfort and itching that many patients experience.

A good doctor will initially recommend some lifestyle changes.

Diet - piles can be caused by too much straining when doing bowel movements, which is the result of constipation. A change in diet can help keep the stools regular and soft. This involves eating more fiber, such as fruit and vegetables, or even switching your cereal breakfast to bran.16

Water is the best drink, and the patient may be advised to increase his/her water consumption. Some experts say too much caffeine is not good.

Body weight - if the patient is obese, losing weight may help reduce the incidence and severity of hemorrhoids.

Simple things you can do yourself to help prevent piles:

Try not to strain when you go to the toilet.
Avoid laxatives.
Exercise.
HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT FOR PILES

it is treated  in homeopathy by constitutional medications which relives ressure and which initiates free stools. Thus, constitutional homeopathic medications restore your body s normal functions.

Hemorrhoids - Everything You Should Know About It!

What you eat plays an important role while you are udergoing thyroid disorders. Certain nutrients can influence the functionalities of the thyroid gland, while some foods can prevent the body s ability to absorb the hormones to a substantial extent. As with a lot of health conditions, some factors are not in our hands which include family history and the environmental factors around you. However, the factor that you can control, is diet.

You can empower yourself to choose a healthier lifestyle through the right diet. It is advisable that you choose your foods wisely. Some of the following foods are known to be beneficial in managing thyroid:

1. Yoghurt
You will be happy to know that dairy products can contribute to fulfilling the much-needed iodine requirement of your body. Since livestock are generally given copious amounts of iodine supplements and the process of milking incorporates iodine-based cleaners, you can get plenty of iodine from dairy products, particularly, yoghurt. Greek yoghurt is one of the prime sources of iodine and can make up to about 50 percent of the daily intake of the nutrient.

2. Seaweed
When suffering from thyroid, you need iodine to function properly. Producing adequate levels of the thyroid hormone is important to fulfil the needs of the body. Though taking iodized salt can help a lot in your daily iodine intake, you can take additional aid from seaweed. It is important to understand that taking too much iodine can trigger the symptoms of hypothyroidism and the trick here is to balance out how much your body needs.

3. Milk
Much of the iodine in one s diet comes from dairy products. When you drink about 1 cupful of low-fat milk, you can effortlessly consume around 1/3rd of the daily iodine requirement. It would be better if you take milk rich in Vitamin D. If you are neither a fan of milk nor yoghurt, you may also resort to cheddar cheese, as a single slice can give you around 12 micrograms of the much-needed iodine.

4. Chicken
While all the hype is about iodine, zinc also plays an important role in controlling thyroid symptoms. When you take too little amount of zinc, you can get hypothyroidism and in case you already have this condition, your body will need it more since the thyroid hormones help in the absorption of the minerals. Meat, particularly chicken is an amazing source of zinc when you have it roasted.

5. Fish
Fish is yet another source of iodine since it is found in sea water as well as in soil. Taking 3 ounces per serving of baked cod fish can give you around 99 micrograms of iodine. Moreover, shellfish, lobster, and shrimp are good sources of iodine as well.

By adding these foods, you can definitely control your thyroid symptoms to a considerable extent. Controlling your diet is the key to managing your thyroid condition, and therefore you must pay special attention to it.

Diet Tips For Managing Thyroid!

How to Manage Piles at Home and with Medication

Piles or hemorrhoids can be a debilitating disorder of the rectum and anus where passing stool becomes painful. It is the swelling of the veins in the anus and the rectum, which may then be bruised by hard stool passing through it or due to excessive pressure being put on it. This can be a very painful and embarrassing condition for many people to go through.

Remedies for piles at home

There are many remedies that you can try at home to reduce the pain and swelling and even reduce the hemorrhoids themselves over time. Let's look at a few of the options.

Radish for treatment: In this treatment, a radish should be crushed and mixed with appropriate amounts of milk to form a thick paste, which is to be applied on the anus twice daily, and washed off after 15 minutes. This should relieve the symptoms in a few days.

Cumin seeds paste: You can take a tablespoon of cumin seed powder, make it into a paste after adding water and then put it on the affected area. After leaving it for 15 minutes or so, it should be washed away with water. Repeating this twice daily will help with the symptoms and reduce pain.

Diet: Lack of a balanced diet can be problematic for those with piles, and thus, it is recommended that enough roughage such as green leafy vegetables and fruits are included in the diet as well.

Figs: Dried figs are also another great weapon against piles. Soaking some dried figs in warm water overnight and then having them in the morning is known to be good for smooth bowel movements, thus, relieving pressure on the rectal veins.

Some Ayurvedic Medications that May Prove Effective with Piles:

Some of the specific ayurvedic medication that are known to be helpful in treating piles are:

Hareetaki: This is the fruit peel of Harad and if taken with 1 cupful of jaggery, it can reduce the symptoms of constipation as reported by many patients.

Castor oil: Mixing a small teaspoon of castor oil with a glass of milk can also help soften the stool and reduce the stress on the rectal walls.

Nagakesara: This is also an ayurvedic medicine, which is usually prescribed as oral medication three times daily and has proven its effectiveness many times over.

Abhayarishta: 30 ml of this ayurvedic herb is also given to patients after food with equal parts water and has been known to be very effective.

Kasiaditaila: This is an oil, which should be applied externally and it can help reduce the inflammation and itching caused by piles.

10 Best Home Remedies to Treat Piles  - Natural Treatment

The thyroid hormones, namely T3, T4 and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) play a pivotal role in various metabolic processes in the body. Any imbalance in the level of these hormones can interfere with the normal body functions. While an elevated level of the thyroid hormones gives rise to Hyperthyroidism, a reduced level of the same thyroid hormones can lead to a condition medically termed as Hypothyroidism. A proper diagnosis and treatment can bring about a significant improvement. However, there are some common mistakes that many people with thyroid problems often make.

Choose your diet with care: The health benefits of a balanced and nutritious diet are known to all. However, a food considered healthy may not be an ideal choice for a thyroid patient. Time and again, broccoli and kale have been recommended for its nutritive value. However, these vegetables may not be a good choice for thyroid health. Known to contain goitrogens, they may interfere with the production of the thyroid hormones. Gluten, a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley, though healthy should be avoided, especially in the case of Hypothyroidism.
Obesity may not be the trigger: While it is a healthy practice to maintain a healthy body weight, it is unfair to blame the extra kilos for every single disease that you suffer from. Many people believe that losing weight is the best way to deal with thyroid problems. However, the fact is quite different from what you believe. Thyroid problems can be an outcome of various triggers where losing weight may provide negligible or no assistance to reverse or improve the condition. In fact, rapid weight loss may give rise to some complications which may aggravate the condition further.
Thyroid glands are not always at fault: Many people associate thyroid problems with some abnormalities or improper functioning of the thyroid glands. There is no denying the fact that problems in the thyroid glands often trigger thyroid disorders. However, this is not the only cause. A host of other factors such as stress, medical conditions, certain medications and unhealthy lifestyle habits may be equally responsible for the thyroid problems. In some cases, the body may fail to utilize the thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid glands. In another condition, the thyroid hormone produced is unable to enter the cell (triggered by a problem in the cell receptor). It is important to identify the root cause of the problem rather than generalizing.
People with hypothyroidism do not need to gulp down tons of iodine. Always use the amount recommended by the doctor. Increased intake of iodine supplements (way above the recommended quantity) may result in unnecessary health complications such as Wolff-Chaikoff effect.
Many health organizations or individuals may promise instant relief and cure. They may lure you with some irresistible offers. However, it will be foolish on your part to fall for such claims. Always seek the help of experienced and genuine health professionals.

Thyroid - 5 Common Mistakes That Most People Do!

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins or blood vessels, which can be internal (located inside rectum) or external (located outside rectum). They might be managed by increasing fluid intake and a high-fiber diet. Sometimes, Hemorrhoids might get infected and irritated to an extent that they require surgical removal.

Causes of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in blood vessels around the anus, causing them to swell and inflame which might be caused by a number of reasons.

Prolonged constipation

Chronic diarrhoea

Obesity

Aging

Pregnancy as it increases pressure on pelvic blood vessels

Weight lifting

Family history of Hemorrhoids

Persistent cough

Vomiting repeatedly

Sitting continuously for a very long period of time.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

Some of the common symptoms of Hemorrhoids are:

Internal Hemorrhoids might bleed painlessly after bowel movement, but are problematic if they bleed too heavily.

External Hemorrhoids might also bleed after bowel movement, but often become irritating and painful.

External Hemorrhoids can lead to blood clots inside the vessel, which can cause severe pain. Proper treatment for such Hemorrhoids involves  incision and drainage  procedure.

Itchy and sore bottom.

A lump hanging off the anus.

Types of Hemorrhoids:

The type of Hemorrhoids decides the course of action for treatment.

First degree Hemorrhoids are small swellings which develop on inner lining of anus, being invisible from outside.

Second degree Hemorrhoids are larger swellings which might come out of the anus during bowel movement before disappearing inside again.

Third degree Hemorrhoids are lumps hanging off the anus which can be pushed back inside.

Fourth degree Hemorrhoids are larger lumps hanging down from the anus but cannot be pushed back inside.

Surgeries without Anesthesia:

Banding or rubber band ligation involves using a tight band around the base of Hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. It takes two or more procedures to be performed about two months apart.

Having the best success rate for small and internal Hemorrhoids, sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical into Hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink and stop bleeding.

Coagulation therapy or infrared photocoagulation uses infrared light (heat or extreme cold) to retract and shrink the Hemorrhoid and is usually performed along with an anoscopy.

Hemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) or transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) locates blood vessels causing Hemorrhoids to close them off.

Surgeries with Anesthesia:

Hemorrhoidectomy is used for large and external Hemorrhoids which do not respond to non- surgical intervention. So, they are cut out. Anesthesia can be general, regional, or local in this procedure. It takes longer time to recover completely.

Hemorrhoidopexy or stapling requires general, regional, or local anesthesia, and is used to treat prolapsed Hemorrhoids. A surgical staple cuts off the blood supply to Hemorrhoids to make the tissue shrink and reabsorb. It takes relatively less time for a full recovery.

Post- Surgical Care:

Some of the post care instructions are as follows

Painkillers might be prescribed for rectal and anal pain.

Consumption of a high-fiber diet prevents constipation and recurrence of Hemorrhoids.

Staying hydrated helps a lot.

Avoid heavy weight lifting and pulling.

Sitz bath helps to deal with post- surgical discomfort.

Seek medical help if having painful urination, fever, or dizziness.

Non-surgical Management of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids can be managed non-surgically by reducing strain in and around the anus.

Consuming a high fiber diet including cereals, fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, etc.

Consuming healthy fluids like water but avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

No delaying the emptying of the bowels.

Preventing constipation.

Weight management to lose excess body weight.

Regular exercise.

Take Away:

Hemorrhoids, if not severe, can be managed non- surgically. But if they get very painful and severe, surgical intervention through a number of techniques might be required; each one of them being safe, depending upon the severity of the situation.

Surgery For Hemorrhoids - What Should You Know?

If you think fissure and fistula are the same, you are mistaken. While the term fissure refers to the tear of the skin, fistula refers to the abnormal tube-like passages or connections between organs. Fissures get cured with or without treatment in a few days to few weeks, and do not lead to complications. On the contrary, fistulas when left untreated may lead to complications.

So, read on further to know about the distinction, how to recognize the symptoms and avail treatment.

What is anal fissure?
An anal fissure can occur due to various reason, such as prolonged diarrhea, anal sex, vaginal childbirth, rectum cancer, etc. For majority of the cases, it is usually due to constant constipation or strained bowel movements, that tear down the muscles controlling the sphincters to the inner rectum or the anal canal.

What is anal fistula?
Anal fistulas are not tears but abnormal abscesses near the anus, filled with pus. In fistula, a tunnel is formed under the skin which connects these abscesses to the infected glands. Fistulas are usually the results of present or previous abscesses. If ignored or left untreated, one single fistula can lead to the development of a more complex fistula, where the single fistula tract ends up creating multiple openings.

Symptoms of anal fissure and anal fistula
Some of the common symptoms of an anal fissure are excruciating pain in the anal area every time the bowel movement occurs, constant itching or burning sensation in and around the anus, bloody stool and visible tears and cracks around the anus.

For anal fistula, some of the very common symptoms are a throbbing pain in the anus, which continues to increase, difficulty in sitting down for longer period, swelling and redness around the anus, accompanied by skin irritation, discharge of blood and pus, and at times fever.

Treatment options
To completely cure anal fissure and fistula, it is the various surgical options that are the most effective ones. However, when diagnosed in its earliest form, medications like antibiotics, analgesics, and antipyretics can often help. It is solely depending on the location, type, and size or severity of the fistula or fissure, the treatments may vary from person to person and so does the recovery time.

Though, these conditions cannot be cured with dietary changes or exercise, following a healthy diet can boost healthy bowel movement, reducing chances of constipation or diarrhea that results in fissures.
Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, it is essential that you visit the nearest medical facilities once you notice any signs of fissure or fistula , to avail the right treatment and get relief from the symptoms quickly.


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