According to various estimates, more than 11 million people work in offices.They lead more or less a very sedentary lifestyle, the dangers of which doctors never tire of reminding us of.And the more time a person spends at a desk, the higher the risks to their health.At the same time, his career can go uphill.But what does professional success mean when work not only costs time and energy, but also health?Doctors are already talking about real office syndrome - a whole complex of painful diseases 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 tendency to this disease: hemorrhoids in the family;connective tissue weakness caused by other diseases;Bowel movements caused by illness or certain circumstances (e.g. 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 the bosses”
You can complain to a colleague about back pain, gastritis or a “playing around” heart, you can dream out loud about going to the gym and complain about being overweight, but few people are ready to discuss the problems of hemorrhoids in the smoking room.
Most often, men between the ages of 30 and 50 suffer from this disease (four times more common than the fairer sex!).
The intimacy of the affected area often contrasts sharply with the superior status.It is not surprising that hemorrhoids in men are often called the “boss disease.”
The causes of hemorrhoids in men are not just the behavior of managers.In our time, when a healthy lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular, middle-aged men often go to the gym to get themselves in top physical shape, but they start training at their own peril and risk.Most beginners who want to build beautiful muscles are in no hurry to contact a trainer - they are confident that they can understand the nuances of the exercises themselves.In practice, this leads to incorrect execution.And as a result of excessive exertion, an unprepared person can develop hemorrhoids, especially if he is predisposed to this disease.
Another “male” risk factor is worth mentioning: alcohol.Regular alcohol consumption causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases blood flow to hemorrhoids.Additionally, drinking alcohol causes dehydration, which can lead to constipation.Poisoning with alcohol breakdown products in the body, fatty, salty and fried snacks trigger inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane.All of these together increase the chances 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 diseases
Women have their own increased risk factors for developing hemorrhoids, and these are associated with some natural diseases in their body.Hemorrhoids during pregnancy are one of the most common complications when giving birth to a child.Doctors say that 80% of pregnant women are diagnosed with hemorrhoids when visiting an antenatal clinic.This is facilitated by a woman's physiology.
Women have other causes of hemorrhoids, which occur more often in them than in the stronger sex:
- Constipation caused by unhealthy diet and associated diseases 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 mucous membrane injuries and the formation of hemorrhoids.
- Excessive menstruation can lead to excessive blood flow to the pelvic organs and, as a result, hemorrhoids 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 has certain differences:
- In the first case, there is an expansion of hemorrhoids that form directly on the anus from the lower plexus of the rectal veins.At the same time there is pain in the anus and bleeding is rare.Hemorrhoids are essentially 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 only occur in 10% of cases.
- In the second case, the enlarged nodes remain in the submucosa layer of the intestine.They are not visible in the early stages of the disease.As the disease progresses, the nodes begin to fall out of the passage.They can still be corrected to a certain extent, but in later stages surgery is required.In this condition, there is usually 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 go to the doctor when the first suspicious symptoms appear (Stage I of the disease), which include:
- Itching, fullness, discomfort in the anus;
- a feeling of wetness around the anus, the appearance of discharge on the underwear;
- Pain when going to the toilet and bleeding immediately after bowel movements (stains of blood on toilet paper or drops of blood).
When prolapsed hemorrhoids occur and “resolve” spontaneously, this is already stage II of the disease.Level III should be when the nodes no longer disappear on their own, but can still be set “manually”.Finally, in stage IV, surgery may be required.
The 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 diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.Often the acute form of the disease is the result of thrombosis of the hemorrhoid node.Typically, a person experiences acute pain that increases with exertion, coughing, laughing, and even movement.Red, unchanged blood can be seen in the stool.The signs of hemorrhoids in women intensify before the start of menstruation and weaken after its completion.This is often a reason to postpone seeing a doctor, even if the problem does not go away, symptoms persist and the disease continues to progress.
6. How to treat hemorrhoids: general principles
Hemorrhoids are a disease whose treatment success depends half on a change in the patient's lifestyle.This disease can only be treated comprehensively.You can't get by with pills or ointments or just going to the gym.What important points should you pay attention to?
Eat
Alcohol, spicy and salty foods, and fried foods contribute to increased hemorrhoidal bleeding.Therefore, all of the above items must be completely excluded from the menu.A lack of fiber in the diet leads to constipation, which worsens the disease.That is, a patient with hemorrhoids has a choice between 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 is regular walking or jogging, visits to the gym or 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 hallway, along the office stairs.
hygiene
If it is an acute form of hemorrhoids, you need to take a cool shower at least 2-3 times a day.You should wash yourself after bowel movements.If for some reason this is not possible, you will have to use wet wipes.
7. How to choose a hemorrhoid remedy with high effectiveness?
The question “How to treat hemorrhoids in women?”This question is especially often asked by expectant mothers 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 patient's control and she needs the help of a doctor.
First of all, you shouldn't self-medicate.How to treat hemorrhoids in women is advised by a specialist who is well versed in the nuances of treating this pathology in the fairer sex with its numerous risk factors.The treatment of internal and external hemorrhoids is often “complicated” in men.In her opinion, the signs of hemorrhoids in men are not a disease that is easy to talk about with a stranger.As a result, a person's life becomes torture and the disease becomes chronic.Nowadays, in most cases, it is no longer necessary to go to the hospital to treat hemorrhoids.The doctor will explain in detail how to treat hemorrhoids in women and men at home.
A remedy for hemorrhoids must meet several important parameters:
- Ease of use.A patient going to work or other public places must be able to comply with medication regimen.If in one case (pills for hemorrhoids) a glass of water is enough, in another case (suppositories and ointments) you need a toilet and time.
- Optimal safety profile for use.The stronger the active ingredient, the higher the risk of side effects.When choosing therapy, the doctor tries to maintain a balance between the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.
- Help relieve symptoms in a short time.Hemorrhoids are a painful disease.Most often, patients turn to a doctor when they can no longer cope with the problem on their own 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 with local and systemic action
Among the various remedies for hemorrhoids, local and systemic drugs are distinguished.
Systemic medications include venotonic medications;For hemorrhoids, laxatives, painkillers, injections of hemostatic agents (to stop bleeding) and anticoagulants can also be used, which reduce the risk of blood clots in hemorrhoids.
Local (topical) remedies include various ointments or suppositories.The list of local remedies for the treatment of hemorrhoids includes ointments that can relieve vascular spasm, relieve 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, which combines local and systemic drugs.
9. Pills for hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoid tablets are among 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 have to resort to therapy and, finally, the tablets have a systemic effect on the body.
They can be used in the initial stages of the disease and in stages 3-4 - before surgery to remove nodes and in the postoperative period.Most often, taking tablets is combined with local application of ointments or suppositories.
10. Prevention of hemorrhoids
When we talk about preventing hemorrhoids, we primarily mean an active lifestyle.Swimming, running, gym - any type of physical activity is useful to reduce the risk of the disease relapsing.Even if you have a sedentary job, you should get up once an hour and walk for 5-10 minutes.
Diet is just as important as physical activity in preventing hemorrhoids.The intestines have to work – vigorously and actively.This requires fiber – fiber of plant origin, i.e. fruit and vegetables.It is important to understand that it is not juice, but rather whole fruits and vegetables.However, it is better to control dairy and flour products and avoid their excess in the menu.It is also necessary to reduce alcohol consumption, spicy and spicy foods in the diet.Probiotics have a good effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is also recommended to observe the so-called defecation hygiene.This term refers to compliance with the defecation regime.To clean the skin after completing the procedure, 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.
When we talk about the prevention of hemorrhoids, we come to the triad “exercise - hygiene - diet”, which we have already talked about in the context of comprehensive effective treatment of hemorrhoids.And this is not surprising, because the health of our body rests on these “three pillars”.And the best remedy for hemorrhoids in this regard is a healthy lifestyle, a scheduled visit to the doctor and compliance with all his recommendations.