Everything You Need to Know about Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids come with a wide range of symptoms. Get them evaluated by an experienced vein doctor in Brooklyn. Without a firm diagnosis, you don’t know if you have hemorrhoids or another condition affecting your rectal area. Find the best vascular specialist in Brooklyn, NY at Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center, where you receive an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment, no matter how mild or severe your piles feel. Learn how to prevent hemorrhoids from recurring, how to recover from them, when it’s safe to rely on home remedies and when you need to visit a vein clinic in Brooklyn. Call today for an examination.

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, sometimes called piles, are inflamed, distended veins in or around your anal area. They can be external or internal and itchy, painful or bleeding. As many as one in 20 Americans have hemorrhoids; by age 50, about half of all adults have experienced them. If you have ongoing discomfort from hemorrhoids, a top vascular specialist in Brooklyn at Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center offers a range of treatments for hemorrhoids and other vein conditions.

Dr. George Bolotin is the medical director and a highly experienced and reputable vascular specialist in Brooklyn, NY.

At this Brooklyn vein center, you learn:

• The hemorrhoid grading system
• When to see a doctor
• How to get rid of hemorrhoids fast
• How long piles last

How Do I Know if I Have Hemorrhoids?

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids vary, depending on how severe they are, how long they’ve lasted and whether you have a family history of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are often uncomfortable and hard to ignore.

What you experience may include:

• Itching around your anal area
• Discomfort or pain around this area
• Blood in your stool or rectal bleeding after a bowel movement
• A small lump or protrusion around your anus

Internal hemorrhoids don’t usually cause pain, but you may see bright red blood on the toilet paper after a bowel movement. If symptoms last more than a few days, consult your vein doctor in Brooklyn for a definitive diagnosis to make sure it’s piles that you have and not some other rectal condition like fissures or cancer.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Hemorrhoids?

Too much pressure on the veins around the anus and rectum can lead to hemorrhoids. Being overweight raises the risk of developing hemorrhoids and they’re common in pregnant women.

Other factors that raise the risk of developing piles include:

• Chronic constipation or diarrhea
• Straining to have a bowel movement
• Lifting heavy objects
• Sitting for long periods of time especially on the toilet
• Poor eating habits, particularly a diet that’s low in fiber
• Anal intercourse
• Family history of hemorrhoids

Since anal tissue weakens with age, many adults over the age of 50 have hemorrhoids. The walls and valves of veins in your legs also weaken with age, which contributes to the development of varicose veins.

Can I Treat Hemorrhoids at Home?

When your experienced varicose vein doctor in Brooklyn determines that your hemorrhoids are mild, you can often ease them with at-home treatments Your doctor may recommend remedies to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms, such as:

• Drinking plenty of water. Hard stools can be a sign that you’re not drinking enough water. Increasing your fluid intake softens stools. Aim for at least six glasses of water a day.
• Eating high fiber foods. Include fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains in your diet. A high-fiber diet softens your stools without putting pressure on your veins.
• Taking a fiber supplement. If you have difficulty getting enough daily fiber, taking a fiber supplement or stool softener helps your bowel movements more regular and your stools less hard. Fiber supplements sometimes cause bloating and gas, so start using them slowly to give your body time to adjust.
• Applying creams and ointments. Hemorrhoid creams and ointments are sold over the counter. Topical creams that contain cortisone, zinc oxide or lidocaine reduce irritation and inflammation. Use wet wipes or witch hazel to gently clean the area.
• Using ice packs. Using cold compresses or ice packs can soothe and relieve pain.
• Soaking. Soak your bottom in a warm bath for 10 to 15 minutes at a time several times a day.
• Taking OTC medication. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, relieve pain.
• Exercising regularly. An active lifestyle promotes your overall health. When you exercise regularly, it helps your digestive system function at its best. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is beneficial since carrying extra weight can put pressure on veins.

Many of the same lifestyle changes that help reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids can help prevent them from forming in the future. Making these changes also shortens the lifespan of hemorrhoids, greatly reducing your pain and suffering.

Do I Need a Doctor for Hemorrhoids?

If you have hemorrhoids that have persisted for more than a week and you’re not getting relief from home remedies, consult a hemorrhoid doctor.

Reasons you need to be evaluated by a medical professional at a vein clinic in Brooklyn include:

• Feeling a lump that’s very painful
• Feeling severe pain in the rectal area
• Noticing a change in your bowel habits
• Seeing that rectal bleeding is worsening

When you see a vein specialist in Brooklyn, your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive treatment for piles.

Examples of outpatient hemorrhoid treatment include:

• Embolization. This is Dr. Bolotin’s specialty and is an effective way to rid yourself of piles with the insertion of tiny coils that block blood flow.
• Rubber band ligation. This is a common form of treatment that’s done using a tiny rubber band to cut off circulation to the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink after a few days.
• Coagulation. Laser or infrared heat or light are used to destroy hemorrhoids.
• Sclerotherapy. During this procedure, a solution is injected into the hemorrhoid causing the tissue to break down.

In rare cases, surgery may be recommended if other approaches are unsuccessful. Surgical options include hemorrhoid removal or stapling. Contact Astra Vein & Fibroid Treatment Center for hemorrhoid treatment or varicose vein treatment in Brooklyn.