Hemorrhoids are one of the most common ailments for men and
women alike. National statistics say more than half the population
will develop symptomatic hemorrhoids at some point in their lives,
usually after age 30, and some will require surgical treatment.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are merely swollen veins. The affected tissue may,
at times, extend outside the body; this is called prolapse, and
it's a sign of an advanced stage of hemorrhoids.
Causes and risk factors for
hemorrhoids:
- Pregnancy, due to the strain of carrying the baby and giving
birth
- Being overweight
- Straining to move your bowels
- Sitting too long on the toilet
- Standing too much
- Lifting too much
- Increased risk as you get older
- Increased risk if your parents had hemorrhoids
How can you get rid of them?
Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) is a procedure for
advanced hemorrhoids that involves less pain and a quicker recovery
than traditional removal methods such as hemorrhoidectomy (removal
of affected tissue with a scalpel) and Rubber Band Ligation
(cutting off blood supply to the affected area with tiny rubber
bands). PPH essentially "lifts up" the hemorrhoidal tissue and
places it back where it belongs - in the original, normal
anatomical position. This results in shrinkage of internal and
external hemorrhoids, typically within 4 to 6 weeks. This
outpatient procedure is done in an operating room by a general or
colorectal surgeon and is usually performed in 30 to 45 minutes.
Patients who undergo PPH return to normal activity in a
significantly shorter time than patients undergoing conventional
hemorrhoidectomy.
In a head-to-head clinical trial, hemorrhoid patients received
either hemorrhoidectomy or PPH. Patients having PPH:
Experienced significantly less post-procedure pain
Experienced less post-procedure bleeding, itching, incontinence,
and constipation compared to hemorrhoidectomy.
As with any surgical procedure, PPH may present risks. You
should talk to you doctor about these risks and discuss which
procedure is appropriate for you.
Ask your physician about Procedure for
Prolapse and Hemorrhoids at Lourdes.
