{"id":1759,"date":"2023-01-01T15:33:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-01T15:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/?p=1759"},"modified":"2023-01-25T15:39:37","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T15:39:37","slug":"the-link-between-constipation-and-hemorrhoids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/blog\/the-link-between-constipation-and-hemorrhoids\/","title":{"rendered":"The Link Between Constipation and Hemorrhoids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chronic constipation usually happens when patients have infrequent bowel movements or experience difficulty passing stools, sometimes for weeks or even months. Usually, there\u2019s a reason behind this problem, but if there seems to be no direct cause, the patient will be diagnosed with chronic idiopathic constipation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While rather uncomfortable on its own, chronic constipation may also pose a few risks for patients. As a matter of fact, several medical issues may arise from constant constipation. For one, constipation may be causing hemorrhoids in some patients. Also, the long-term complications of constipation may lead to the development of other serious issues as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article will discuss the most prominent risks of untreated chronic constipation and what you can do to avoid them. Also, if you are looking for options regarding <\/span><a href=\"\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/hemorrhoids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hemorrhoid treatment in Palm Beach County, FL<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, you can always reach out to us and discuss your options after reading this article.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Hemorrhoids From Constipation<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-1762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1.jpg\" alt=\"Man Suffering From Hemorrhoid in Living Room\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20667%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Hemorrhoids-From-Constipation-1.jpg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When patients are constipated, they will often strain to be able to pass stool. The straining while trying to perform a bowel movement can increase swelling in the veins of the lower rectum and anus, which are known as piles or hemorrhoids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These can be uncomfortable, causing rectal bleeding and pain; basically, we\u2019re all born with hemorrhoids, but they\u2019re often not bothersome. Only when these piles enlarge and swell is when we experience the irritating symptoms and look for hemorrhoid and constipation relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As a matter of fact, it isn\u2019t only constipation causing hemorrhoids. There are a few other factors that may contribute to the development of these piles, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Obesity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating a low-fiber diet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chronic diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pregnancy\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regular heavy lifting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prolonged sitting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, it\u2019s essential to know that there are different hemorrhoid types. Depending on when the swelling develops, they may occur outside or inside the rectum. More precisely, hemorrhoids may be:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">External or when the veins swell underneath the skin of the anus.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Internal, when veins swell inside the rectum.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be either internal or external when they bulge and stretch outside of the anus, causing bleeding and pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, hemorrhoids can cause the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal itching and irritation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swelling around the anus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal pain and discomfort<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bleeding while performing bowel movements<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Regarding hemorrhoids and constipation treatment, there are a few steps patients can take to avoid hemorrhoids from constipation or the situation getting worse:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Address the signs of chronic constipation early on.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoid straining while performing bowel movements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Try limiting the time you sit on the toilet, as prolonged sitting can put unnecessary pressure on the anal veins.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When it comes to symptom management at home, patients may find relief in the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The application of OTC creams, pads, and ointments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Taking oral pain medications<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Soaking the problematic site in warm baths a few times daily<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastly, if symptoms don\u2019t improve within a week, book an appointment with your healthcare provider to get proper constipation relief and discuss adequate hemorrhoids and constipation treatment options. The doctor might use surgical or nonsurgical procedures to remove or shrink the problematic hemorrhoids.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Other Complications Associated With Chronic Constipation<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned before, constipation causing hemorrhoids may not be the only problem. Some patients may develop other severe conditions that might also require medical attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Anal Fissure<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal fissures can be best described as small tears in the anal lines. The delicate anal tissue can tear while patients are constipated during straining and passing hard stools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most apparent signs of anal fissures may include the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Skin tags or bumps near the torn area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visible tears around the anal area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pain after and during bowel movements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The presence of bright red blood after a bowel movement on the stool or toilet paper<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal fissures can be best prevented by treating chronic constipation in the first place and avoiding straining while sitting on the toilet. Taking warm baths and soaking the troublesome area a few times a day may soothe symptoms and promote healing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In other cases, healthcare providers may recommend additional treatment methods as well, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Topical nitroglycerin treatments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Botox injections to relax the anal sphincter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Topical treatment with the help of lidocaine hydrochloride and other anesthetic creams\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Topical or oral blood pressure medications may also be recommended to help relax the area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In chronic cases, doctors may advise surgery to treat anal fissures<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Rectal Prolapse<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chronic constipation may even lead to rectal prolapse, in which a part of the large intestine (the rectum) gets dislocated and may even slip through the anus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The potential signs of the condition may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A sensation of fullness\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feeling that you\u2019re unable to empty your bowels completely<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal irritation, pain, and itching<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leakage from your anus, like mucus, blood, or feces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visible protruding red tissue from the anus<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anal prolapse is a severe condition that will need medical attention. In milder cases, treatment may include diet changes and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/14611-kegel-exercises\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kegel exercises<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but in most cases, surgery will be required to treat the condition properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Fecal Impaction<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This may happen if hard stool can\u2019t pass through the colon and gets rough. Also called impacted feces or bowel, the condition may produce the following symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cramping, discomfort, and pain in the abdomen after eating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Difficulty passing gas or stools<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Passing liquid stool<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Appetite loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swelling and bloating in the abdominal area<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Based on your symptoms, your doctor may soften your stool with an enema, try manual disimpaction, or remove the hardened stool with a gloved finger. Lastly, the doctor may administer water irrigation by inserting a small hose into the rectum and flushing the feces out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Proper treatment is paramount, as untreated fecal impaction may lead to life-threatening infection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Prevention<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-1763\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3.jpg\" alt=\"Young Woman Eating a Healthy Salad After Workout. Fitness and Healthy Lifestyle Concept.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201000%20667%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271000%27%20height%3D%27667%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2023\/01\/Prevention-3.jpg 1000w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The best way to avoid these complications is to prevent constipation in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the most part, introducing healthy habits can help, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Drinking enough water<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Emptying your bowels whenever you feel the urge (avoid waiting)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Eating foods rich in fiber<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Following a regular exercise routine<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Limit the time you spend sitting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Practice self-care and try to reduce emotional stress<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the guidance of your doctor, you may also take:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fiber supplementation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OTC stool softeners<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">OTC enemas, rectal suppositories, and oral laxatives<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014 or try bowel training.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Doctors may prescribe medication to treat constipation if these changes don\u2019t provide relief. In other cases, the chronic constipation problem may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>There\u2019s Help Available<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As you may see, untreated chronic constipation may lead to severe complications. Luckily, several easy remedies and treatment options can address this problem effectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And if you have any concerns or questions or simply wish to learn more about the causes and treatments, <\/span><a href=\"\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">request an appointment at Advanced Surgical Physicians<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Disclaimer:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>The blog is for informational purposes only. If symptoms do not resolve or if they return, seek medical attention as soon as possible at your primary care physician or with our office.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chronic constipation usually happens when patients have infrequent bowel movements or experience difficulty passing stools, sometimes for weeks or even months. Usually, there\u2019s a reason behind this problem, but if there seems to be no direct cause, the patient will be diagnosed with chronic idiopathic constipation.\u00a0 While rather uncomfortable on its own, chronic constipation may  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[370,369,368,367,371],"class_list":["post-1759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hemorrhoids","tag-constipation-causing-hemorrhoids","tag-constipation-relief","tag-hemorrhoid-from-constipation","tag-hemorrhoids-and-constipation","tag-hemorrhoids-and-constipation-treatment"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-surgical-physicians\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}