Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week and is a fairly common problem. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.
Some people think they are constipated if they do not have a bowel movement every day. However, depending on the person, normal bowel movements may occur three times a day or three times a week.
This is not a disease, it is simply a symptom of the underlying cause. Probably the most single important factor is diet. If you are not eating enough fiber rich foods it can cause you to get constipated. Be suret to eat foods high in fiber.
You should also drink plenty of non diuretic liquids and get adequate exercise. If these measures are not effective, your doctor may have you take fiber pills or other medicines designed to treat the problem.
Hemroids are one side effect that can be caused due to straining when one is constipated. stop straining due to constipation and you eliminate one of the largest causes of hemroids.
So remember, constipation may be present if you have three or fewer bowel movements in a week or if the stool is hard, dry, painful, or difficult to pass. Constipation affects almost everyone at one time or another. In most cases, following these simple steps will help prevent constipation: Eat a variety of foods, especially vegetables, fruits, and grains. Drink plenty of liquids. Exercise regularly. Visit the restroom when you feel the urge to have a bowel movement. Fiber pills and powders may help relieve constipation. people with mild constipation usually do not need laxatives. However, your doctor may recommend a laxative for a limited time if you have constipation that does not improve. Some medications can actually cause hemroids.
If you stop by your local drug store you will find that there are a host of over the counter products designed to treat hemroids symptoms. While these concoctions may or may not cure hemroids, the symptoms can be greatly reduced or eliminated.
Over the counter treatments are as numerous as the number of active ingredients. it is difficult to say that one is better than the other, though, due to the fact that they do not all target the same symptom. Hemroid treatments may typically found in these common forms.
Ointments Preparation H is one of the most common ointments for treating hemroids. The Ointment contains Petrolatum . Mineral Oil 14%, Shark Liver Oil 3% and Phenylephrine HCl 025%.
Petrolatum is basically petroleum jelly and lubricates the affected area, mineral oil and shark liver oil are also included to provide the user with varying degrees of symptomatic relief in particular before and during defecation.
Phenylephrine is a vasoconstrictor. Vasoconstrictors are chemicals that resemble epinephrine, a naturally occurring chemical. When applied to the anal region, vasoconstrictors make the blood vessels become smaller, which may reduce swelling. They also may reduce pain and itching due to their mild anesthetic effect. Vasoconstrictors applied to the perianal area – unlike vasoconstrictors that are taken orally or by injection – have a low likelihood of causing serious side effects, such as high blood pressure, nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, and aggravation of diabetes or hyperthyroidism.
Creams Preparation H is also one of the most prevalent products under the “cream” category. The Maximum Strength Cream contains White Petrolatum 15%, Glycerin 14.4%, Pramoxine HCl 1% and Phenylephrine HCl 0.25%. Glycerin helps to prevent constipation, petrolatum is a lubricant or protectant.
Protectants form a physical barrier on the skin that prevents contact of the irritated skin with aggravating liquid or stool from the rectum thus preventing irritation of the perianal area. This barrier reduces irritation, itching, pain, and burning. many products contain a protectant in addition to other medications.
Protectants include: Aluminum hydroxide gel, Cocoa butter, Glycerin, Kaolin, Lanolin, Mineral oil (Balneol), White petrolatum, Starch, Zinc oxide or calamine (which contains zinc oxide) in concentrations of up to 25%, Cod liver oil or shark liver oil if the amount of vitamin A is 10,000 USP units/day.
Phenylephrine is a vasoconstrictor while Praxomine is an anesthetic that is used on the skin to relieve minor pain, itching, and discomfort. Local anesthetics temporarily relieve the pain, burning, and itching of hemroids by numbing the nerve endings. The use of these products should be limited to the perianal area and lower anal canal. Due to the possibility of an allergic reaction,if burning and itching increase with the application of anesthetics, they should be discontinued.
Pads Tucks Hemroid Pads are probably the most famous hemroid treatment under this category. Hemroidal Pads with Witch Hazel helps give temporary relief of external itching, burning and irritation associated with hemroids. Witch Hazel is the active ingredient here. Witch hazel is an astringent produced from thebark of the North American Witch Hazel shrub. Astringents cause coagulation of proteins in the cells of the perianal skin or the lining of the anal canal. This action promotes dryness of the skin, which in turn helps relieve burning, itching, and pain.
Suppositories Suppositories contain Cocoa Butter 85.Shark Liver Oil and Phenylephrine.25%. Cleanse the affected area by patting or blotting with an appropriate cleansing wipe. Gently dry by blotting with a soft cloth before insertion of this product. Take one suppository from the strip; remove the foil wrapper before inserting into the rectum as follows:
hold suppository with rounded end up, carefully separate foil tabs by inserting tip of fingernail at end marked “peel down” ,slowly and evenly peel apart (do not tear) foil by pulling tabs down both sides, to expose the suppository. remove exposed suppository from wrapper, insert one suppository into the rectum up to 4 times daily, especially at night, in the morning or after each bowel movement .
Keratolytics: Keratolytics are chemicals that cause the outer layers of skin or other tissues to disintegrate. The rationale for their use is that the disintegration allows medications that are applied to the anus and perianal area to penetrate into the deeper tissues.
The two approved keratolytics used are:
Aluminum chlorhydroxy allantoinate Resorcinol
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and can relieve itching, but their chronic use can cause permanent damage to the skin. Do not use these for more than short periods of a few days to two weeks. Only products with weak corticosteroid effects are available over-the-counter. There are stronger corticosteroid products available by prescription that should not be used for treating hemroids.
While these are all commonly used treatments they are not considered a hemroid cure, due to the fact that they do not cure the underlying cause.
