Hemorrhoid in Salt Lake City, UT
Simply hearing the word hemorrhoids can bring to mind thoughts of pain and discomfort. Hemorrhoids are associated with itching, pain and irritation around the anus. They can also cause pain and discomfort during bowel movements. Hemorrhoids are certainly unpleasant, but there are treatments that can help ease the pain and discomfort. An experienced proctologist, such as the doctors at Associates in Colon & Rectal Surgery in Salt Lake City, UT, can evaluate your condition and recommend an appropriate course of treatment.
Causes
An exact cause of hemorrhoids has not yet been identified. However, hemorrhoids do appear to develop in association with several specific situations. Hemorrhoids are more likely to develop during pregnancy, while straining during a bowel movement, following a period of chronic constipation or after sitting for extended periods of time, particularly on a toilet. Individuals with a family history of hemorrhoids are also more likely to develop them.
Treatment
In many cases, hemorrhoids will eventually go away on their own, even if untreated. However, there are a variety of treatment options for easing the pain and discomfort they cause while waiting for them to go away. Many of these treatments are available over-the-counter and can be applied at home. There are also a few medical procedures that can be used to treat hemorrhoids. These procedures are performed in-office by a proctologist and can reduce the size of the hemorrhoids.
Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for instance, can alleviate some of the pain and discomfort associated with hemorrhoids. Other methods that can be done at home to achieve relief include taking fiber supplements to soften stools, keeping the anus clean, soaking in a warm bath and applying a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling.
At home remedies can be helpful, but more effective treatments by a doctor are sometimes needed. There are two specific medical procedures performed by a proctologist that can reduce the size of hemorrhoids, resulting in much less pain and discomfort. Either a rubber band ligation or injection therapy can be used to decrease the size of the hemorrhoid(s). Speak to a proctologist if you are struggling with persistent hemorrhoids and are not achieving satisfactory relief through at-home remedies.