Hemorrhoids are very uncomfortable and irritating condition in which the veins in the rectum or the anus are inflamed and extremely swollen. It can occur to individuals in any age brackets; however, hemorrhoids in the elderly are more common possibly because of the reality that aging brings about a lot of health-related conditions and this one is not an exemption.
If you are an elderly individual enduring the discomfort that the condition can bring or perhaps you are someone taking care of an elderly experiencing the symptoms of this exasperating condition, it would be of great help if you are familiar with basic tips and ideas on how to care and treat hemorrhoids in aged individuals.
Home Self-Care Measures for Mild Cases of Hemorrhoids in the Elderly
Some simple self-care tips can be followed at home to help alleviate the symptoms that the condition can bring. Taking a bath every day and ensuring that the anal area is clean using warm water only can contribute to reducing hemorrhoid symptoms. Keeping the area dry will help prevent moisture to be trapped in the anal or rectal region; reducing itchiness and irritation. For hemorrhoids that are severely swollen, ice compress application can bring great relief to the suffering elderly. It is also important to steer clear of too fragrant soaps.
How to Lessen the Worsening of Hemorrhoid Symptoms
There are several steps that you can apply if you want to improve the condition of an elderly person suffering from hemorrhoid.
Increasing fiber consumption through eating lots of fruits and vegetables combined with whole grain products like bran, oats and barley can help ensure soft bowel movements. Proper bowel movements would mean not straining when moving bowels. If the elderly individual is having a hard time to chew foods, it would be helpful to use blender or food processor to make the foods more convenient to eat.
Instead of allowing the elderly to drink coffee or tea, it would be better to encourage him to drink more water in order to keep the whole body hydrated. Increase water intake will also provide relief from constipation, which is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids. Along with water, preparing juices made from dark berry fruits like blue and black berries will help soften and add bulk to the stools. This will help prevent straining during bowel movement.
Natural home remedies like applying chamomile ointment is one of the most well-known and effective home remedies for reducing redness and itchiness in the inflamed anal veins. All you have to do is apply the ointment directly into the hemorrhoid and fast soothing relief would be felt by the sufferer.
Treating hemorrhoids in the elderly is relatively similar with the way this condition is managed and treated with sufferers in younger age groups. Along with these measures and self-care tips, simple walking for at least twenty to thirty minutes every day can help reduce pressure placed on the anal veins during bowel movement of the elderly. This is specifically applicable for elderly people who are quite weak to commit to regular exercise routines.
Share this:
