Hemorrhoids are swollen and irritated veins and tissue in your rectal area.  They are not dangerous, but can be quite painful.  Hemorrhoid care doesn’t need to be complicated.  In fact, there are many things you can do at home to self treat hemorrhoids that will be quite helpful at allowing your hemorrhoids to heal and making them feel better immediately.   If you think you have hemorrhoids you should always be screened by a doctor to rule out any more dangerous conditions that have similar symptoms.

Hemorrhoid home care:

There are several things that you can do at home to relieve your symptoms and allow your hemorrhoids to heal.  If your hemorrhoids are painful, you will want to take several steps to relieve the pain, itching, and swelling.   Here is a list of things you can do.

• Apply ice to the affected area.  This reduces swelling and will make you feel better overall.
• Use ointments or wipes specifically designed for hemorrhoid relief, such as Tucks or Preparation H
• Never rub the hemorrhoids, instead pat the area dry.
• Take warm baths, they will help to keep the area clean and make it feel better.
• Sit on a pillow (not a ring).
• Get up and move around.
• Take a non NSAID pain medication such as Tylenol to help with the pain.
• Increase your fiber intake gradually to treat the cause which is usually constipation or straining.

These steps are good hemorrhoids self care, and for most people they should work to reduce the pain and swelling almost immediately.

Advanced Hemorrhoid Care:

If you have tried the above steps and they are not working for you or if your hemorrhoids keep returning or getting worse you may want to go to a hemorrhoid care clinic for additional treatment.   There are now surgeries and outpatient procedures that are used to treat hemorrhoids that can really make a huge difference in how you feel.

Some options for advance hemorrhoidal care include laser surgery or pph surgery and rubber band ligation.  These methods can be very effective, but should always be used as a last resort after your other options have been exhausted.

Hemorrhoids are a very common condition, and even though nobody wants to talk about them, you are not the only one who has them.   In fact, about 50% of people will have them at some point in their lives.

Other Hemorrhoid Information

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