Whats that swelling doc?

I always have these scenarios:

" Doc!! Saya berak berdarah le....."
"Kat bontot saya ada bengkak dan sakit doc"
"Lepas berak darah menitis-nitis doktor!"
"Saya kena buasir..."

A haemorrhoid(piles) looks like a bulge or swelling of skin.It is a cushion of blood vessels and bowel lining tissue.Haemorrhoid can be internal(bulges into the rectum) or external(bulges around the anus).They can cause itchiness around the anus and they may also bleed or be painful especially when passing a bowel motion.

Haemorrhoid occur more commonly in people over 50 but people of any age can get them.And they are more common in males than females.( So cheer up ladies!)

What do the patient complaint(Sign and symptoms)?

1-Bulge of skin around the anus which may or may not be painful.
2-Itching or irritation around the anus.
3-Blood while or after passing motion. Might be dripping or noted while using a toilet roll.
4-Pain when passing motion.

What causes haemorrhoid?

Commonly due to straining to pass a bowel motion( meneran) which occurs when one is constipated.

Other things that may cause or worsen haemorrhoids are:-
1-Heavy lifting,vigorous work or activity( where your abdominal pressure is constantly increase)
2-Pregnancy
3-Straining at childbirth
4-Being overweight
5-Chronic couhging
6-Severe liver disease
7-Excesive coughing,sneezing or vomiting
8-Cancer of the rectum or pelvis area.

Treatment available:

1-Suppositories or creams which is inserted into the rectum( to treat internal haemorrhoids)
2-Creams applied for external piles( basically anaesthetic cream for pain and itchiness)
3-Injecting haemorrhoid with chemical which shrinks the pile, but this is just a temporary measure.
4-Banding-applying a tight elastic band around the haemorrhoid to shrink the pile.
5-Surgical operation which is called Haemorrhoidectomy.Done under general anaesthesia(GA) and need few days in hospital.

Self Care:
External haemorrhoid often go off within a week but may leave a skin tag hanging outside the anus( not a comfortable feeling).
If you think you have haemorrhoids you should:-
1-try not to strain when passing motion.
2-Slowly and consistently increase high fibre intake( eg cereals,fruits) until your turd softens.
3-Drink between 6-8 glasses of fluids everyday.
4-Regular light exercise eg walking. Avoid exertion like weight lifting.
5-When the pile is swollen you can relieve them by applying a cold compression to help shrink the blood vessels.
6-Wash your anal/perineum arae after passing motion( basuh berak le tu)
7-Use wet wipes if toilet paper irritates.
8-Soak in warm salt bath which might relief pain( you need a tub or jacuzi)

Other causes of rectal bleeding(fresh bleeding)
1- Cancer colon or rectum
2-Ukcerative Cilitis
3-Crohn's disease.

Important to see you doctor if:-
1-Per rectal bleeding(with or after bowel movement) that doesn't clear up in 2 days
2-Recurrent bleeding per rectal
3-Persistent chronic haemorrhoids.