To manage a hemorrhoid, you can start with home treatments and lifestyle changes, and if needed, seek medical procedures for more severe cases.
Home Treatment and Self-Care
- Increase fiber intake: Eat high-fiber foods to soften stools and reduce straining during bowel movements.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water or nonalcoholic fluids daily.
- Avoid straining: Do not strain or sit on the toilet for long periods.
- Use over-the-counter remedies: Apply hemorrhoid creams, ointments, or suppositories containing ingredients like witch hazel, hydrocortisone, or lidocaine to relieve pain, itching, and swelling temporarily.
- Warm sitz baths: Soak the anal area in warm water for 10-15 minutes several times a day to ease discomfort.
- Pain relief: Take over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if needed
When to See a Doctor
- If bleeding is heavy or does not stop.
- If you experience severe pain.
- If symptoms persist beyond a week despite home treatments.
- If you notice large blood clots or significant changes in bowel habits
Medical Treatments
- Rubber band ligation: A doctor places rubber bands around the base of internal hemorrhoids to cut off blood supply, causing them to shrink and fall off.
- Sclerotherapy: Injection of a chemical solution to shrink hemorrhoids.
- Coagulation therapies: Use of infrared light, laser, or heat to harden and shrink hemorrhoids.
- Hemorrhoidectomy: Surgical removal of large or persistent hemorrhoids under anesthesia.
- Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: Stapling prolapsed hemorrhoids back inside the anus.
- Hemorrhoidal artery ligation: Cutting off blood supply to hemorrhoids with stitches to make them shrink
Prevention Tips
- Maintain a high-fiber diet and hydration.
- Avoid straining or prolonged sitting on the toilet.
- Avoid heavy lifting regularly.
- Manage constipation proactively
If you have severe symptoms like continuous bleeding or intense pain, seek emergency care immediately
. This approach balances effective home care with medical options if needed, tailored to the severity of your hemorrhoids.
