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Why Fiber is Important in Hemorrhoids Prevention?
When it comes to hemorrhoids prevention, it is hard to overstate the importance of fiber in your diet. Even though fiber is most associated with grains, rice and breads, it is important to keep in mind that fruits and vegetables also contain significant amounts of fiber. In fact, the need for fiber is just one more reason to eat fruits and vegetables every day.
Fiber is the portion of food that the human body cannot digest. Fiber is found in foods of plant origin only; there is no fiber in meat and dairy products. Fiber plays an important role in the digestion of food and in the elimination of waste products as they travel through the body.
Good sources of dietary fiber include grains, cereals, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
Fiber comes in two forms - soluble and insoluble. All plant materials contain both types of fiber, but some sources contain more of one than the other. Eating a variety of foods rich in fiber every day will ensure you get adequate levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Insoluble fiber is good in the prevention of hemorrhoids, and some types of colon and rectal cancers. Insoluble fiber is mainly found in wheat, some types of vegetables and in whole grain products. Some vegetables rich in insoluble fiber include carrots, peas and broccoli. The skins of fruits are also rich in insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber, on the other hand, has shown promise in reducing levels of cholesterol in the blood, and at reducing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream. Soluble fiber is abundant in dried peas, lentils, beans, barley, oat bran, and in many fruits and vegetables.
Many people are unsure just how much dietary fiber they need every day, but most dietitians recommend that women consume between 21 and 25 grams of fiber per day. For men, the recommendation is 30 to 38 grams of fiber each day.
It is important to know which foods are high in fiber in order to boost your daily fiber consumption. In the case of packaged foods like breads and crackers, the fiber content will be listed as part of the nutritional label. In the case of fruits and vegetables, there are charts which show the fiber content of an average size piece.
When increasing fiber, it is best to make the increase gradual. A sudden jump in fiber can lead to bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort. In addition, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, in order for fiber to have the best effect. When choosing breads and cereals, it is best to go with healthier whole grains. In general, the less processing, the healthier the foods.
Eating the skins of fruits and vegetables is a great way to increase dietary fiber. Many people like to make fruit shakes and smoothies that use the skins of their favorite fruits. This makes a delicious and nutritious way to increase fiber consumption. In addition, keeping a variety of fiber rich foods, such as apples, nuts, seeds and bran muffins, around for snacks is a great idea.
Article Source: Health Guidance
Alex Fir
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THERAPEUTIC AND SURGICAL APPROACHES TO HEMORRHOIDS
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms of hemorrhoids include local protrusion and swelling, discomfort related to protruding or swollen masses, and bleeding that may be significant enough to result in anemia. These symptoms are nonspecific, and the presence of hemorrhoids should not be presumed since more severe conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancer can mimic hemorrhoidal symptoms. Patients with severe pain or incarcerated protrusions should be seen promptly.
Diagnosis is established with direct visualization by anoscopy or proctoscopy. All patients with rectal bleeding should have their colon examined to rule out proximal sources of bleeding, even in the presence of enlarged hemorrhoids. Since most sources of bright red bleeding are within the reach of a flexible sigmoidoscope, patients should undergo flexible sigmoidoscopy as well as anoscopy to rule out other causes of bleeding. Intermittent protrusion or occasional bleeding does not require urgent consultation. However, patients with acute symptoms of bleeding, pain, or incarcerated protrusions should be seen promptly.
Treatment
Initial therapy for chronic symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease should be conservative, including stool bulking and topical therapy with ointments or suppositories. Outpatient surgical treatment is appropriate if conservative treatment fails and the patient desires relief of symptoms. Operative treatment is reserved for symptomatic patients with Stage III or IV hemorrhoids. If the patient has evidence of anemia, full colonic examination is indicated and more aggressive treatment necessary.
In patients with Stage I, II, or III disease, local treatment is appropriate in the form of infrared coagulation, local injection, or rubber banding. Stage I and II diseases are effectively treated by any of these modalities, with resolution of symptoms in at least 90% of patients. Cryotherapy should be avoided because of excessive post-treatment symptoms. Stage III disease is probably best treated by hemorrhoidal banding to remove redundant tissue, but long-term resolution of symptoms is likely in only 70% of these patients. Stage IV disease requires surgical intervention, which is associated with long-term resolution of symptoms in 95% of patients. The term "laser hemorrhoidectomy" refers to excision of hemorrhoidal tissues using a laser rather than standard surgical instruments, but is a surgical procedure nonetheless.
Symptoms may also arise from residual hemorrhoidal tissue after an episode of acute thrombosis of external hemorrhoids. These external anal tags may prevent proper cleansing and can be excised during an office procedure if symptoms warrant.
Qualification for Performing Surgery for Hemorrhoids
The qualifications of a surgeon to perform any operative procedure should be based on education, training, experience, and outcomes. At a minimum, the surgical treatment of hemorrhoids should be carried out by surgeons who are certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or their equivalent.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF SURGERY
Following local treatment, symptoms of local protrusion and bleeding should be eradicated. The risk of recurrent symptoms following local treatment varies with the extent of local disease. Hemorrhoidectomy carries a 5% risk of recurrent symptoms.
POTENTIAL HARMS
* Risks of treatment include bleeding and infection. The risk of bleeding after local therapy is about 1%. The risk of infection after local treatment is unknown, but is certainly less than 1%. Local pain is a common side effect of local treatment. Pain after banding and injection typically lasts 24 to 36 hours, and continued pain requires medical attention. Excessive pain after treatment is due to sphincter spasm and may render urination difficult. Urinary retention is an occasional symptom of occult sepsis.
* Bleeding and infection are greater risks after open hemorrhoidectomy but occur less than 5% of the time. Pain after open hemorrhoidectomy is significant and generally requires narcotics for relief. The fear of bowel movement because of pain may lead to fecal impaction in a few patients. There may be subtle changes in continence of gas or liquid stool following local treatment or surgery, but they are rarely socially significant. Injury to the anal sphincter muscle is a recognized risk but is extremely rare in experienced hands. Anal incontinence is a rare complication of surgery for hemorrhoidal disease.
Subgroups Most Likely to be Harmed
Comorbid conditions such as diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or heart disease increase the risks of local treatment but do not alter the type of complications. Over the Counter Hemorrhoid Treatments
By Jeanette Pollock
For some people, visiting the doctor is the easiest way to get rid of hemorrhoids. They can give them an idea as to what the problem is, and then tell them how to solve it. But if you are only suffering from a mild form of this, sometimes seeing the doctor is not as necessary as it may seem. In fact, there are many over the counter hemorrhoid treatments that you can rely on to help you out.
If you are searching for over the counter hemorrhoid treatments the best place to go is your local drug store or grocery store. By doing this you should be able to find at least a couple of treatments that can work for you. The most common over the counter hemorrhoid treatments consist of creams that you can apply to the area. These will help to soothe and heal your hemorrhoids.
In addition to creams, there are also hemorrhoid pads that you can buy. These are similar to creams, but the pads are pre-moistened with medicine. This allows you to easy apply to the problem area without too much mess or stress.
Choosing the over the counter hemorrhoid treatment option that is best for you can be difficult. If you are having a hard time making a decision, be sure that you do not do anything that is detrimental to your health. If you have any questions or concerns the best thing to do is hold off and speak with a doctor. But if you are comfortable moving forward be sure to follow the directions on the packaging. This will point you in the right direction.
Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of hemorrhoiddomain.com. Visit Jeanette's site to learn more about over the counter hemorrhoid treatments.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanette_Pollock
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