Hemorrhoids or piles are normal cushions in the walls of the anus that help to excrete waste from the body. Swelling and abnormal hemorrhoids are caused by various factors including
- Constipation or chronic diarrhea
- Poor diet and inadequate physical activity
- Pressure in the lower rectum and long sitting
Heredity may also play a role in developing hemorrhoids. Those people with a history of anal diseases and hemorrhoids are more at the risk of hemorrhoids than normal people.
Hemorrhoids are most common in people above ۴۰ years of age. Hemorrhoids or piles are not gender-specific. The prevalence of hemorrhoids does not differ in both genders.
The treatment varies depending on stage of the disease. The general surgeon decide on the best treatment option for the patient.
Hemorrhoid Treatment Principles
Diet and lifestyle modifications are the best treatment options at early stage of the disease. Hemorrhoids usually heal in one week with this treatment. If the hemorrhoids did not go away in one week, the patients should visit a general surgeon. The surgeon prescribe certain medications according to medical records. Surgery would be unavoidable in case of delay in visiting the surgeon.
What should be done in case of home remedy failure?
The general surgeon recommend the following options in case that medication fail to treat hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoid Laser Therapy: the surgeon uses low-power laser therapy at first. If the former did not treat hemorrhoid, infrared lasers are used to treat hemorrhoids, which makes the cushions shrink or go away.
Hemorrhoidectomy: it is used to remove hemorrhoid cushions. High intensity laser therapy is used to remove the hemorrhoids surgically.
Comparison of open surgery with laser therapy
The anus is very sensitive. Therefore, short-term postoperative recovery is very important in anal diseases. The patient should quickly recover and return to normal state after the surgery. Open surgery has a long recovery period. Surgical procedure is very painful. It is also associated with heavy bleeding. Recovery period is shorter, the procedure is less painful and the patient less bleed in laser therapy compared to open surgery. The vessels and tissues are cut and repaired simultaneously in laser therapy .The patients need one-night rest after laser therapy. However, they should rest for weeks after open surgery.
Postoperative measures
No postoperative care is needed in laser therapy except balanced diet and one-night rest. Sitting in a basin containing warm water and iodine and regular intake of prescribed medications are also recommended in both open surgery and laser therapy.
Absolute bed rest for weeks might be unavoidable in open surgery. Regular and frequent visits are also recommended to remove the tampon and examine the surgical area. It is also necessary to observe diet, take medications regularly and sit in a basin containing warm water. It lasts for at least two months. Additional care and recommendations are also given if necessary.
Anal fissure along with hemorrhoids
In some cases, the patient has not only develops anal fissure, but also hemorrhoids. Poor diet, lack of exercise and digestive problems are risk factors for developing hemorrhoids and anal fissure at the same time. It is very important to choose an appropriate treatment method with the shortest treatment period and recovery time in this group of patients. They are also at the risk of anal diseases. Simultaneous laser therapy of hemorrhoids and fissures is recommended at one session. It is the quickest treatment option with the least number of complications. Laser surgery has a short recovery period. The surgeon cut and repairs a vast area of damaged tissues using laser therapy. However, open surgery of hemorrhoids and anal fissures has many limitations. The patient may not be treated in one surgery and more surgeries might be needed to completely remove all the cushions. The cost of the latter is also high. The patients should also undergo long-time surgeries and bed rest.