Hemorrhoids are an oft maligned and far too often ignored medical condition. Symptoms typically begin with painless rectal bleeding during bowel movements. Other symptoms can include pain or a burning sensation, protrusion of tissue around the anus, and itching.
In addition to being uncomfortable, symptoms of hemorrhoids are similar to those of more serious health problems, such as polyps or colorectal cancer. In those instances, early treatment is crucial.
If you develop symptoms of hemorrhoids, consult your doctor if: you are over age 40 or have a family history of colon cancer; your hemorrhoids don’t improve with self-care; you have pain or bleed frequently or excessively; you develop bleeding between bowel movements; and/or the onset of your hemorrhoids occurs along with a marked change in bowel habits.
After your exam and any diagnostic tests, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you. In some cases, making simple changes in your diet and bowel habits can resolve the problem. In others, infrared coagulation or banding is recommended.
Infrared coagulation is the world’s leading office treatment for hemorrhoids. It involves using a small probe that exposes the vein above the hemorrhoid to short bursts of warm light, causing the hemorrhoid to shrink and recede. The area usually heals within one to two weeks.
Banding is a method that involves placing elastic bands around the base of the hemorrhoid, cutting off its blood supply and causing it to wither away within a few days.
Benefits to these non-surgical treatments include:
With both procedures, patients typically leave the office and immediately resume their normal activities.
In more severe cases, the surgical procedure hemorrhoidectomy may be required.
If you’re suffering from hemorrhoids that are not responding to self-treatment or include any of the risk factors mentioned above, contact the Premier Hemorrhoid Treatment Center today. You’ll be more comfortable, and you just may save your life.