According to various estimates, more than 11 million people work in offices.To a greater or lesser extent, they lead that very sedentary lifestyle, the dangers of which doctors never tire of reminding.And the more time a person spends at an office desk, the higher the risks to his health.At the same time, his career can go uphill.But what do career successes mean if work consumes not only time and energy, but also health?Doctors are already talking about the real office syndrome - a whole complex of painful conditions from which most “office dwellers” suffer.And one of the main positions on this list is occupied by the most intimate office disease - hemorrhoids.
1. Hemorrhoids: causes
One of the most “popular” proctological diseases is hemorrhoids, the causes of which can be divided into two main groups:
- The person’s propensity for this disease: a family history of hemorrhoids;connective tissue weakness caused by other diseases;bowel movements caused by diseases or certain conditions (eg pregnancy);obesity.
- So-called external risk factors: sedentary or predominantly standing lifestyle;certain sexual practices;acute lack of physical activity or, on the contrary, excessive stress for which the body is not physically ready.
2. Hemorrhoids in men - “a disease of bosses”
You can complain to a colleague about your aching back, gastritis, or a “playing around” heart, you can dream out loud about going to the gym, complaining about being overweight, but few people are ready to discuss the problems of hemorrhoids in the smoking room.
Most often, it is men who suffer from this disease (4 times more often than the fairer sex!) between the ages of 30 and 50 years.
The intimacy of the affected area often sharply contrasts with the superior status.It is not surprising that hemorrhoids in men are often called “the disease of bosses.”
The causes of hemorrhoids in men include not only the behavior of management personnel.In our age of growing popularity of healthy lifestyles, middle-aged men often go to the gym to get in excellent physical shape, but they begin to exercise at their own peril and risk.Most beginners who want to acquire beautiful muscles are in no hurry to contact a trainer - they are confident that they themselves will be able to understand the nuances of the exercises.In practice, this results in incorrect execution.And as a result of excessive straining, an unprepared person may develop hemorrhoids, especially if he has a predisposition to this disease.
It should be said about one more “male” risk factor: alcohol.Regular consumption of alcohol leads to dilation of blood vessels, which increases blood flow to hemorrhoids.In addition, alcohol consumption leads to dehydration, which can lead to constipation.Intoxication with alcohol breakdown products in the body, fatty, salty and fried snacks provoke inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane.All this together increases the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids in men.
Finally, prostate diseases (prostatitis, prostate adenoma) also increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids in men.
3. Causes of the disease in women: hemorrhoids during pregnancy and other conditions
Women have their own increased risk factors for developing hemorrhoids, and they are associated with some natural conditions of their body.Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are one of the most common complications of bearing a child.Doctors talk about 80% of pregnant women who were diagnosed with hemorrhoids when visiting an antenatal clinic.This is facilitated by the physiology of a woman.
Women have other causes of hemorrhoids, which are more common to them than to the stronger sex:
- Constipation caused by unhealthy diets and associated pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Diseases of the “female” organs, for example, hemorrhoids, can be a complication of inflammation of the appendages.
- Anal sex, which often leads to injury to the mucous membrane and the formation of hemorrhoids.
- Too much menstruation can provoke excessive blood flow to the pelvic organs and, as a result, hemorrhoids even in young girls.
4. Forms of the disease: external and internal hemorrhoids
Doctors distinguish two types of disease: external and internal hemorrhoids, the treatment of which will have certain differences:
- In the first case, expansion of hemorrhoids develops, which form directly at the anus from the lower plexus of rectal veins.At the same time, there is pain in the anus, and bleeding is rare.Essentially, hemorrhoids are located outside the rectum, so they come into contact with underwear, which can lead to inflammation and even the development of malignant tumors.External hemorrhoids occur in only 10% of cases.
- In the second case, the enlarged nodes remain in the submucosal layer of the intestine.At the initial stages of the disease they are not visible.As the disease progresses, the nodes begin to fall out of the passage.Up to a certain point they can still be corrected, but in the later stages this requires surgery.This condition usually involves blood in the stool.Treatment of internal hemorrhoids is more difficult than external hemorrhoids.
Although everyone suffers from hemorrhoids, there are gender-related features in the development of this disease, its treatment and prevention.Let's look at the signs of hemorrhoids in women.
5. Hemorrhoids: symptoms in men and women
You should go to the doctor when the first suspicious symptoms appear (stage I of the disease), which include:
- itching, feeling of fullness, discomfort in the anus;
- a feeling of wetness around the anus, the appearance of discharge on the underwear;
- pain when visiting the toilet and bleeding immediately after defecation (traces of blood on toilet paper or drops of blood).
If prolapsed hemorrhoids appear and spontaneously “go back”, then this is already stage II of the disease.Stage III is said to be when the nodes no longer disappear on their own, but they can still be set “manually”.Finally, stage IV may require surgery.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids in men may have certain characteristics.In representatives of the stronger sex, the disease often develops in an acute form against the background of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.Often the acute form of the disease is the result of thrombosis of the hemorrhoidal node.Usually, a person suffers from acute pain, which intensifies when straining, coughing, laughing, and even when moving.In the stool you can see red, that is, unchanged blood.Signs of hemorrhoids in women intensify before the start of menstruation, and after completion they weaken.This is often a reason to postpone visiting a doctor, although the problem does not go away, women’s symptoms remain, and the disease continues to progress.
6. How to treat hemorrhoids: general principles
Hemorrhoids are a disease in the treatment of which half the success is the result of changing the patient’s lifestyle.This disease can only be treated comprehensively.You can’t get by with just pills, or just ointments, or just going to the gym.What key points should you pay attention to?
Nutrition
Alcohol, spicy and too salty, fried foods contribute to increased hemorrhoidal bleeding.Therefore, all of the above must be completely excluded from the menu.A lack of fiber in the diet provokes constipation, which aggravates the disease.That is, the choice of a patient with hemorrhoids is salads, fruits and other dishes high in fiber.
Movement
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main risk factors for developing the disease.This means that the cure for hemorrhoids will be regular walks or jogs, visits to the gym, swimming pool (except for strength training and cycling).During the day, you should get up every hour and a half and walk for 5-10 minutes - around the office, along the corridor, along the office stairs.
Hygiene
If we are talking about an acute form of hemorrhoids, you need to take a cool shower at least 2-3 times a day.After defecation, you should wash yourself.If for some reason this cannot be done, you need to use wet wipes.
7. How to choose a hemorrhoid remedy with a high level of effectiveness?
The question “How to treat hemorrhoids in women?”This question is especially often asked by expectant mothers who are faced with this problem during pregnancy, as well as by women who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight and avoid physical activity.However, if such a question arises, it means that the situation is already out of the control of the patient herself, and she needs the help of a doctor.
First of all, you should not self-medicate.How to treat hemorrhoids in women will be advised by a specialist who is well versed in the nuances of treating this pathology in the fair sex with their numerous risk factors.The treatment of internal hemorrhoids, as well as external ones, is often “complicated” in men.In their minds, the signs of hemorrhoids in men are not a disease that you can easily talk about with a stranger.As a result, a person’s life turns into torture, and the disease becomes chronic.Today, in most cases, there is no need to go to the hospital to treat hemorrhoids.The doctor will tell you in detail how to treat hemorrhoids at home in women and men.
A remedy for hemorrhoids must meet several key parameters:
- Ease of use.A patient who goes to work or other public places must be able to comply with the medication regimen.If in one case (pills for hemorrhoids) a glass of water is enough, then in another (suppositories and ointments) you need a toilet and time.
- Optimal safety profile for use.The stronger the active substance, the higher the risk of side effects.When selecting therapy, the doctor tries to maintain a balance between the effectiveness and safety of treatment.
- Help relieve symptoms in a short time.Hemorrhoids are a painful disease.Patients most often turn to a doctor when they can no longer cope with the problem on their own, and they no longer have the strength to endure the suffering.Therefore, drugs that help relieve symptoms in a short time are especially relevant.
8. Drugs for hemorrhoids with local and systemic action
Among the variety of remedies for hemorrhoids, local and systemic drugs are distinguished.
Systemic drugs include venotonic drugs; for hemorrhoids, laxatives, painkillers, injections of hemostatic agents (to stop bleeding) and anticoagulants that reduce the threat of blood clots in hemorrhoids can also be used.
Local (topical) remedies include a variety of ointments or suppositories.The list of local remedies for the treatment of hemorrhoids includes ointments that can relieve vascular spasm, reduce pain and inflammation, for example: preparations with sodium heparin, ointments with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with glucocorticoids, and others.Suppositories for hemorrhoids are also often used.
Most often, combination drug therapy is prescribed, combining local and systemic drugs.
9. Pills for hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoid tablets are one of the most convenient dosage forms.It is easier for patients to control the treatment process, they do not experience pain and inconvenience when taking medications, they do not need to retire for therapy, and finally, the tablets have a systemic effect on the body.
They can be used in the initial stages of the disease, and at stages 3-4 - before surgery to remove nodes and in the postoperative period.Most often, taking tablets is combined with the use of ointments or suppositories locally.
10. Prevention of hemorrhoids
When talking about the prevention of hemorrhoids, we primarily mean an active lifestyle.Swimming pool, running, gym - any type of physical activity is useful to reduce the risk of relapse of the disease.Even if you have a sedentary job, you should get up and walk for 5-10 minutes once an hour.
Diet is as important as physical activity in preventing hemorrhoids.The intestines must work - vigorously and actively.To do this, it needs fiber - dietary fiber of plant origin, that is, fruits and vegetables.It is important to understand that we are not talking about juice, but about whole fruits and vegetables.But it’s better to control dairy and flour products and avoid excess of them on the menu.It is also necessary to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, hot and spicy foods in the diet.Probiotics have a good effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is also recommended to observe so-called defecation hygiene.This term refers to compliance with the defecation regime.To clean the skin after completing the process, it is better to use a bidet, toilet shower or wet wipes.Dry toilet paper is not always of good quality and can cause skin irritation.
So, talking about the prevention of hemorrhoids, we came to the triad “movement - hygiene - nutrition”, which we have already talked about in the context of comprehensive effective treatment of hemorrhoids.And it is not surprising, because the health of our body rests on these “three pillars”.And the best remedy for hemorrhoids in this context is a healthy lifestyle, a scheduled visit to the doctor and compliance with all his recommendations.