Reasons Stigmas Surrounding Hemorrhoids Need To Go Away

If you thought the internet was all about depression memes then you haven’t come across pile memes yet. Piles or hemorrhoids refer to swollen veins in or around the rectum, anus or both. They can be painful and uncomfortable but can be treated and prevented. Unfortunately, people don’t like talking about problems with their rectum because that’s just asking for public ridicule and jokes. Many people feel nervous about visiting a doctor either out of shyness or fear that it will end up in costly surgery. Fortunately, patients can find hemorrhoid relief at home with OTC medicines and lifestyle changes. But patients tend to rely on the internet for the answer instead of a trained professional which can be harmful. Here are some reasons why the stigmas around this disease need to go:

Hemorrhoid Can Affect Anyone

People have a misconception that pile only affects the older population. While it’s true that people older than 50 are more likely to suffer from it, it doesn’t mean that younger people will not get it. Though it’s rare, children younger than twelve years of age can also suffer from it. People also tend to think that it only affects men which is also untrue. Women can also suffer from it. In fact, pregnancy and childbirth are common causes of swollen blood vessels in the anus and rectum. It affects about 75 percent of the US population at some point in life. So you are more likely to suffer from it than you think.

Hemorrhoids Can Get Worse

In most cases, it’s not severe enough and can be treated at home with proper medication and lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, many people feel reluctant to visit a doctor for proper diagnosis or even a pharmacy out of fear that someone will notice. Many people ignore the obvious symptoms hoping that it will go away on its own. This could result in the symptoms worsening to severe pain, bleeding and the swollen nerves protruding. At this point, the patient may need minimally invasive procedures like rubber-band ligation and laser treatment or even surgery. If you notice the symptoms, don’t wait for them to go away, consult a medical expert on ways to control the swelling and cure it.

It May Not Be Piles

Hemorrhoids shares a few symptoms with a deadlier disease called colorectal cancer. These common symptoms include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool and the feeling that your bowels aren’t empty yet. These shared symptoms have created a misconception that hemorrhoids cause colorectal cancer, which is false. Due to these shared symptoms, many patients who have had piles before mistake cancer for it. They may be less inclined to visit the doctor until cancer spreads and causes more damage to the body. So if you notice these shared symptoms, you should check with a doctor to be sure.

Patients Rely On Misconceptions For Treatment

People who are reluctant about consulting a doctor, consult the internet for hemorrhoid relief at home. While the internet has a lot of information on the subject, it also has a lot of misinformation about it. This could result in patients misdiagnosing the symptoms as something else or using treatment that could make it worse. One common misconception about this disease is that surgery is always needed which makes people reluctant about visiting a doctor. Another common misconception is that it only affects people older than 50 years due to which younger people think that their body is just acting up. It’s best to consult a doctor in person, but if you wish to use the internet search multiple credible websites and not the first link that appears.

It Can Be Prevented But Isn’t

Blood vessels in the anus and rectum swell due to pressure on them caused by long hours spent sitting and pressure exerted when passing stool. This can be avoided with a fiber-rich diet, light exercise, staying active, passing stool without pressure and avoiding heavy lifting. Unfortunately, due to many myths and jokes around the subject people are unaware of the causes. So, people don’t change their lifestyle for the better and end up suffering from the disease multiple times.

By spreading awareness and talking on the subject, the stigma surrounding piles can be reduced and people can go to a doctor without fear.