How to Cure Internal Piles
Internal piles, or hemorrhoids are the swelling of veins in the area of the anus. In a healthy bowel, blood fills the the tissue to control the movement of fecal matter through the anus. But when too much pressure is put on the anus, the veins can bulge and rupture. This pressure can be caused by straining during constipation or diarrhea or from the increased pressure of pregnancy. Hemorrhoids are a common problem during the last part of pregnancy. The first symptoms of internal piles are often small amounts of blood on toilet tissue or red streaks on the stool.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Flushable moist towelettes
- Sitz bath or basin
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Cotton gauze
- Witch hazel
- Over-the-counter hemorrhoid medication
Instructions
-
Cleansing
-
1
Clean the affected area thoroughly. Use a moist, flushable towelette to gently clean the anal area. Pat, don't wipe.
-
2
Soak in a sitz bath. A sitz bath is a round basin that fits into the bowl of the commode. Fill the sitz bath with comfortably warm water. Sit on the commode so that your bottom is in the water but not resting on the bottom of the sitz bath. This allows the anus to soak in the warm water with the greatest water flow.
-
-
3
Soak in a bath tub. Fill the tub with comfortably warm water. Sit with your knees raised. Relax and soak for 30 minutes.
Home Treatment
-
4
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. This will reduce swelling and pain.
-
5
Put witch hazel on a piece of cotton. Gently pat the anus with the treated gauze. The witch hazel will help to reduce pain, according to the Mayo Clinic,
-
6
Use over-the-counter hemorrhoid medication sparingly. According to the Mayo Clinic, many over the counter hemorrhoid medications can cause rashes, skin thinning or even more inflammation. They should not be used for more than a week.
Prevention
-
7
Eat a high-fiber diet. The best way to avoid hemorrhoids is to have healthy bowel habits. A diet with plenty of fiber helps to prevent constipation, which is one of the leading causes of hemorrhoids.
-
8
Drink plenty of fluids. More water in the body generally means a softer stool and less straining.
-
9
Go to the bathroom when you feel the urge. Holding a bowel movement puts pressure on the anal walls and can cause or exacerbate a hemorrhoid problem
-
10
Exercise every day. Exercise helps to prevent constipation. Don't lift weights or heavy objects; too much straining while lifting any heavy object can cause hemorrhoids.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
See your doctor whenever there is blood in the stool. While it may be hemorrhoids, it may be something more serious.
Women should be careful when using over-the-counter hemorrhoid medication. Some contain live yeast, which can cause yeast infections.
References
- Photo Credit pregnant woman image by Roman Barelko from Fotolia.com
