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Other Causes of Hemorrhoids

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If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that hemorrhoids are almost always caused by an increase in pressure on the blood vessels in and around your anus. Too much sitting is a very common cause, as is too much straining on the toilet.

But hemorrhoids can occasionally be harbingers of a more serious issue, and it is helpful to understand what’s at stake in these rare cases. One doctor recently outlined the connection between hemorrhoids and some more serious disease types:

“Liver disease is a cause of hemorrhoids, as back-up of blood flow to the liver will lead to a backup of drainage dilating the veins, causing hemorrhoids,” he notes. “If the liver becomes scarred as in cirrhosis, imagine that the pipes draining blood [veins] are traveling to a place with less space due to scarring. Things that cause liver cirrhosis and liver disease include hepatitis, alcohol, infections and medicines.”

This isn’t to say that if you have hemorrhoids, you probably have a damaged liver. But if you experience recurring hemorrhoids and no amount of lifestyle or dietary changes solves the problem, then it would be wise to speak with an expert in proctological diseases to ensure you aren’t facing something a bit more dire.

For the best evaluation and hemorrhoid removal in Los Angeles, start with the Proctology Institute today.

 

Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy: Common, Awful

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As if the increased blood volume and back pain isn’t enough, pregnancy also comes with a host of collateral health issues that many women don’t hear about until they happen. At the top of that list is hemorrhoids, which tend to strike during the later months of pregnancy when your body weight has increased and your days have become, by necessity somewhat more sedentary.

A quick look at this reference page should give you the background you need; suffice it to say, hemorrhoids during pregnancy are common and, in almost all cases, nothing to worry about. That doesn’t mean they aren’t bothersome, however, as this brief list of complains will attest:

It’s not uncommon to develop a “thrombosed” hemorrhoid, which is a blood clot that forms inside the hemorrhoid, leading to an especially large and swollen lump. This type of hemorrhoid can be quite painful and makes it hard to walk, sit, or have a bowel movement.

Discomfort or bleeding from hemorrhoids is also a common complaint during the early postpartum period.

Treating hemorrhoids during pregnancy doesn’t have to be a chore. The linked article includes a number of viable choices for treatment at home, but you can also contact the hemorrhoid experts at the Proctology Institute for a full workup and consultation.

Call us today to get the process started, and rgeain some measure of comfort while you wait for that bundle of joy.

Race and Colon Cancer

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Did you know that colon cancer strikes different ethnicities in disproportionate ways? This was addressed in the article I linked to in my prior post; today I want to get a little deeper into this issue directly.

This web page offers a good starting point, beginning with a moving video essay about the unequal burden borne by African Americans in the fight against this unusually aggressive disease:

The best way to prevent stories such as these from invading the lives of your loved ones is to practice smart prevention, and to see a proctologist early and often if you believe you could fall within a high-risk cohort.

The Los Angeles Proctology Institute offers the best diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer in California. Dr. Maz Ghodsian is considered the nation’s foremost expert on diseases of the rectum, anus, and surrounding areas, and we always take the time to give our patients complete evaluations with plenty of followup conversation.

 

Good Information on Colon Cancer Treatment

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Colon cancer can present with pain, swelling, a feeling of unemptied bowels, and blood in the stools. Often these signs go unnoticed, vanishing down the drain with every flush.

That’s why it is important to keep a watchful eye out for abnormalities in your stool, especially if you fall within common age demographics for contracting GI cancers, or have a family history of same.

This conversation offers some guidance from a physician, including what to watch out for. It includes some excellent data on who is most likely to contract colon cancer, and throws in some statistics on family history everyone should know:

Do you have a parent, brother, sister, or child who has had colorectal cancer? That makes you more likely to get it, too. If two or more close family members have had colorectal cancer, then you have about a 15% chance of getting it at some point. If conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis, MYH-associated polyposis, or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer run in your family, that raises the risk for colon cancer (and other cancers), too.

There is a lot more good information in the clip and the article; I urge you to read it if you have questions about when to worry, and what to look for.

If you suspect you may have colon cancer, or a related disease of the rectum or anus, please contact the Proctology Institute for the best care in Los Angeles.

Manage and Mitigate Hemorrhoids at Home

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Hemorrhoids are typically managed in private. Although some of us have experienced flare-ups that require an urgent visit to a hemorrhoid specialist such as a proctologist, most people are aware that they can “flare down” the problem by adopting a few simple strategies, such as standing more and eating better.

Now Harvard Health has weighed in with a few ideas of its, giving regular readers of its popular newsletter some gentle and sage advice on the easing of these itchy, painful symptoms. They even get specific:

The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines recommend 25 grams of fiber per day for women ages 50 or younger and 22 grams daily for women over 50. It’s good to have a balance of soluble fiber, which forms a gel in the intestine, and insoluble fiber, which bulks up stools.

My patients tell me they are often astonished to discover how quickly this addresses the problem, particularly if they hadn’t been eating much fiber before. (Certain diets, including Atkins, do not emphasize fiber-rich foods.)

But when measures like this fail to clear up the area, then it’s time visit a hemorrhoid surgeon in Los Angeles who can help you remove the hemorrhoids and begin anew. As Harvard says, “There are several medical procedures to remove or reduce hemorrhoids, from rubber band ligation to open surgery. Most are performed on an outpatient basis. Your doctor can help you decide which approach is best for you.”