Many people aged forty and above who suffer from swollen veins and at times noticed that they have bloody stools go to the doctor and find out the cause of their problems. The presence of hemorrhoids can be detected by a doctor through some methods like colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and a barium enema x-ray.
First, a doctor will insert a lighted tube that is flexible inside a person’s anus, rectum or colon. An instrument called the colonoscope will show what the insides colon or rectum looks like.
Second, there is a similar procedure called sigmoidoscopy, but the tube used is much shorter and it will transfer pictures of the part of the colon called sigmoid and the one that goes to the rectum.
Thirdly, if the doctor wants a clearer image of the colon, he will insert barium inside a person’s colon and get the necessary pictures. Once the doctor has an idea about the images that he received, he may recommend different medications to treat a person’s swollen veins that give him or her much discomfort. On the other hand, he may ask his patients to undergo changes in their lifestyle in order to minimize the effects of the swelling as well as the symptoms. Hemorrhoids can be drastically lessened if a person is able to consume more fiber in his or her diet.
Physicians diagnose hemorrhoid through conducting medical history taking and physical exam. If the hemorrhoid is external, the physician can assess the bulge and easily diagnose it as a hemorrhoid. If the hemorrhoid is internal, the physician may need a viewing instrument called anoscope, which is inserted into the rectum.
A digital rectal exam may also be conducted by the physician to check the rectal area for bleeding that can be caused by an internal hemorrhoid. If bleeding is present, as evidenced by the presence of blood streaks in stool or presence of microscopic blood in stool seen in a laboratory test, the physician may ask for diagnostic exams such as a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy to rule out other possible causes of the bleeding.
Although the person’s body is unable to digest fiber, he or she will discover that it will prevent constipation and enhances digestion. Some foods that are rich in fiber are vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. To get the best results, men should eat a total of thirty-eight grams of fiber a day while women should consume twenty-five grams a day. Additionally, those with hard stools may also take a fiber supplement like Citrucel and Metamucil. It will help very much if people drink six ounces of water every day at the least or eight ounces of water at the most to promote healthy digestion.
Other alternatives that can treat hemorrhoids are sitting for ten minutes in a hot tub of water daily, exercising vigorously to avoid feeling constipated, and less strain when one is defecating. Although over-the-counter medications may be able to help, they only give temporary relief and should not be used in the long term. For extreme cases, a doctor may have to perform certain procedures to eliminate or cut off these inflamed veins.
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