Hemorrhoids can occur to any person despite their age. However, hemorrhoids in the elderly are more common because they have a slower digestive system, they already have an aversion to high fiber food because it is hard and rough, their anal sphincter muscles are already more frail, and they are more prone to either soilage or constipation more often. All of these factor in to the presence of piles, as they are also called.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids in the elderly
Unfortunately, due to the embarrassing nature of the condition, most people would not admit to having it. Even more so for the elderly because they already have difficulty doing basic functions and would have to rely a lot on other people. So if you’re caring for someone advanced in years, how can you tell if he’s experiencing hemorrhoids? Here are some symptoms.
1. Sitting becomes uncomfortable. The condition makes sitting down on an ordinary chair feels like you’re on a cactus. So if you notice the elderly you’re living with taking great care sitting down or wincing when doing so then it may be a sign.
2. Consistent constipation. Hard feces that occurs when a person has constipation results in the tearing of the anal muscles and often results to hemorrhoids in the elderly.
3. Bleeding from the rectum. Rectal bleeding while expelling feces is often a result of the condition.
Once any of the above symptoms appear, it is best to have a doctor confirm the presence of hemorrhoids through a diagnosis. Normally a doctor would do a visual examination of the rectum or the surrounding skin. If any of the areas are swollen then the person is hurting from a hemorrhoid. If there is no perceptible evidence of the presence of an external hemorrhoid, then a doctor may opt to check for internal hemorrhoids through proctoscopy or anoscopy. When these are detected, a doctor would often recommend a rectal exam to rule out the presence of any tumors.
What causes hemorrhoids?
The condition cannot be attributed to one specific cause. A number of factors, whether it be lifestyle, genetic makeup and status can contribute to its occurrence.. Some factors that contribute are the lack of exercise, sitting for lengthy periods of time, the absence of high fiber food in the diet, irregular bowel movement (whether it be diarrhea or constipation), obesity and weak anal muscles.
How to treat hemorrhoids
The early stages of hemorrhoids in the elderly can easily be addressed by a change of lifestyle. Increased intake of food rich in fiber or more frequent exercising can help stool soften and make it pass easily. This would help in preventing the stool from irritating the anal muscles..
There are also creams and over the counter drugs that one can avail of to help increase metabolism and soften stools. However, it is best to consult a doctor before subscribing to these treatments.
It is also recommended for a patient to use a sitz bath which is basically immersing the affected area in water and staying there for a few minutes.
There are also several surgical procedures that a doctor may advocate depending on the seriousness of the disease.
Despite having hemorrhoids being an embarrassing disease, almost half of the population endures it at some point in their lives. So if someone you know, whether elderly or not, has it, seek treatment immediately.
Share this:
