According to various estimates, more than 11 million people work in offices.To a greater or lesser extent, they lead this very sedentary lifestyle, the dangers of which doctors never tire of pointing out.And the more time a person spends in the office, the higher the risks to their health.At the same time, his career may become difficult.But what does professional success mean if work consumes not only time and energy, but also health?Doctors are already talking about the real office syndrome - a whole set of painful ailments from which most "office dwellers" suffer.And one of the main positions in this list is occupied by the most intimate office disease - hemorrhoids.
1. Hemorrhoids: causes
One of the most "popular" proctological diseases are hemorrhoids, the causes of which can be divided into two main groups:
- The person's propensity for this disease: family history of hemorrhoids;connective tissue weakness caused by other diseases;stools caused by illnesses or certain conditions (e.g. pregnancy);obesity.
- So-called external risk factors: sedentary or mostly 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 back pain, gastritis or “playing” heart, you can dream out loud about going to the gym, complain about being overweight, but few people are ready to discuss hemorrhoid problems in the smoking room.
Most often, it is men who suffer from this disease (4 times more often than women!) between 30 and 50 years old.
The privacy of the affected area often contrasts sharply with the higher status.It’s no surprise that hemorrhoids in men are often called “the boss’s disease.”
The causes of hemorrhoids in men do not only include the behavior of management personnel.In our era of growing popularity of healthy lifestyles, middle-aged men often go to the gym to get in excellent physical shape, but they start exercising at their own risk.Most beginners who want to gain 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 exertion, an unprepared person can develop hemorrhoids, especially if he is predisposed to this disease.
We need to talk about another “male” risk factor: alcohol.Regular alcohol consumption causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases blood flow to the hemorrhoids.Additionally, alcohol consumption causes dehydration, which can lead to constipation.Intoxication with alcohol breakdown products in the body, fatty, salty and fried snacks cause inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane.All this together increases the risk of developing hemorrhoids in men.
Finally, prostate diseases (prostatitis, prostate adenoma) also increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids in men.
3. Causes of disease in women: hemorrhoids during pregnancy and other conditions
Women have their own increased risk factors for developing hemorrhoids, and they are associated with certain natural conditions of their body.Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are one of the most common pregnancy-related complications.Doctors talk about 80% of pregnant women who were diagnosed with hemorrhoids during a visit to an antenatal clinic.This is facilitated by a woman's physiology.
Women have other causes of hemorrhoids, which are more common for them than for the stronger sex:
- Constipation caused by unhealthy diet and associated pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Diseases of “female” organs, for example, hemorrhoids, can be a complication of inflammation of the appendages.
- Anal sex, which often leads to damage to the mucous membrane and the formation of hemorrhoids.
- Too heavy periods can cause excessive blood flow to the pelvic organs and, consequently, hemorrhoids, even in young girls.
4. Forms of the disease: external and internal hemorrhoids
Doctors distinguish two types of diseases: external and internal hemorrhoids, the treatment of which will have certain differences:
- In the first case, an expansion of hemorrhoids develops, which are formed directly at the anus from the lower plexus of the rectal veins.At the same time, there is pain in the anus and bleeding is rare.Essentially, hemorrhoids are located outside the rectum and therefore 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 lymph nodes remain in the submucosal layer of the intestine.In the early stages of the disease, they are not visible.As the disease progresses, the lymph nodes begin to come out of the passage.To a certain extent they can still be corrected, but in later stages this requires surgery.This condition usually involves blood in the stool.Treating internal hemorrhoids is more difficult than treating external hemorrhoids.
Although everyone suffers from hemorrhoids, there are gender characteristics 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 consult a doctor as soon as the first suspicious symptoms appear (stage I of the disease), which include:
- itching, feeling of fullness, discomfort in the anus;
- a feeling of dampness around the anus, the appearance of discharge on underwear;
- pain when going to the toilet and bleeding immediately after defecation (stains of blood on toilet paper or drops of blood).
If prolapsed hemorrhoids appear and “come back” spontaneously, this is already stage II of the disease.Stage III is said to be where the nodes no longer disappear on their own, but they can still be adjusted “manually”.Finally, stage IV may require surgery.
The symptoms of hemorrhoids in men can 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.The acute form of the disease is often the result of thrombosis of the hemorrhoidal lymph node.Usually a person suffers from sharp 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 weaken after menstruation ends.This is often a reason to postpone a visit to the doctor, even if the problem does not disappear, the symptoms in women persist and the disease continues to progress.
6. How to treat hemorrhoids: general principles
Hemorrhoids are a disease, half of the success of treatment of which depends on changing the patient's lifestyle.This disease can only be treated comprehensively.You can't just rely on pills, ointments or just going to the gym.What key points should you pay attention to?
Food
Alcohol, spicy and too salty, fried foods contribute to increased hemorrhoidal bleeding.Therefore, all of the above should be completely excluded from the menu.A lack of fiber in the diet causes constipation, which makes the condition worse.That is, the choice of a patient suffering from hemorrhoids falls on salads, fruits and other dishes rich 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 jogging, visits to the gym, swimming pool (except for weight training and cycling).During the day, you need to get up every one and a half hours 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 defecating, you need to wash yourself.If for some reason this cannot be done, you should use wet wipes.
7. How to choose a remedy for hemorrhoids with a high level of effectiveness?
The question “How to treat hemorrhoids in women?”This question is especially often asked by pregnant women who face this problem during pregnancy, as well as 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 beyond 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 its numerous risk factors.The treatment of internal hemorrhoids, as well as external ones, is often “complicated” in men.In their minds, signs of hemorrhoids in men are not a disease that can be easily discussed with a stranger.As a result, a person's life turns into torture, and the disease becomes chronic.Today, in most cases, it is not necessary 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 traveling 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 security profile for use.The stronger the active substance, the higher the risk of side effects.When choosing treatment, the doctor tries to maintain a balance between the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.
- Helps relieve symptoms in a short time.Hemorrhoids are a painful condition.Patients most often turn to a doctor when they can no longer cope with the problem alone and no longer have the strength to endure the suffering.Therefore, medications that help relieve symptoms in a short time are particularly relevant.
8. Drugs for hemorrhoids of local and systemic action
Among the variety of remedies for hemorrhoids, local and systemic drugs are distinguished.
Systemic medications include venotonic medications;For hemorrhoids, laxatives, pain relievers, injections of hemostatic agents (to stop bleeding), and anticoagulants that reduce the risk of blood clots in hemorrhoids may 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 spasms, reduce pain and inflammation, for example: preparations based on sodium heparin, ointments with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids and others.Suppositories for hemorrhoids are also often used.
Most often, combined drug therapy is prescribed, combining local and systemic drugs.
9. Pills for hemorrhoids
Tablets for hemorrhoids are one of the most convenient dosage forms.It is easier for patients to control the treatment process, they do not feel pain or inconvenience when taking medications, they do not need to withdraw for treatment, and finally, the tablets have a systemic effect on the body.
They can be used in the early 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 local use of ointments or suppositories.
10. Hemorrhoid Prevention
When we talk about hemorrhoid prevention, first of all we mean an active lifestyle.Swimming pool, running, gym: any type of physical activity is useful in reducing the risk of relapse of the disease.Even if you have a sedentary job, you should get up and walk for 5 to 10 minutes once an hour.
Diet is as important as physical activity to prevent 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 is better to control dairy and flour products and avoid their excess on the menu.It is also necessary to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, hot and spicy foods in the diet.Probiotics have a beneficial 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 the process is completed, it is best to use a bidet, toilet shower or wet wipes.Dry toilet paper is not always of good quality and can cause skin irritation.
So, speaking about the prevention of hemorrhoids, we came to the triad "movement - hygiene - nutrition", which we have already talked about as part of effective overall treatment of hemorrhoids.And this is not surprising, because the health of our body is based 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.