We talked with Dr. Ignacio González Blanco, member of the medical team of the Dr. Padrón Institute of Proctology (Tenerife and Las Palmas), about hemorrhoids.
Dr. González Blanco clarifies what you need to know about a subject that is little talked about but that silently affects many patients in Canary Islands.
What are hemorrhoids?
The pathologies that are derived from the anal canal are quite frequent. One of the most frequent are those that are dilatations of the mucous tissue that is inside the anal canal or in the area of the outer margin that normally prolapse outward, may inflame, produce pruritus that is itching, bleeding or even pain sensation in this zone.
How are hemorrhoids diagnosed?
Always make a visual inspection of the area in a special position. The patient is placed on his knees on a stretcher and we see the entire area of the anal margin and see any type of pathology that is present in the area, whether hemorrhoidal or otherwise.
How are hemorrhoids treated?
Depending on the pathology you have. In the case of hemorrhoids it will depend on the type of hemorrhoid you have because not all hemorrhoids are treated equally or are the same.
There are internal hemorrhoids, congested hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, etc. Depending on the type of pathology that the treatment has, it will vary.
Normally in all cases up to grade III or IV hemorrhoids, we use outpatient surgery and local anesthesia.
What types are there?
Hemorrhoidal thrombosis:
The most frequent is what is called hemorrhoidal thrombosis, which is a hemorrhoidal congestion that goes towards out of the anal marginis inflammation and form a kind of package which is usually a dark violet. Its content is only a break in a venous vessel of the anal margin that is formed as if it were a small cyst in the area of the anal margin.
Then there is various types of hemorrhoids.
External hemorrhoids:
They are those that they are always outside. They do not get inside the anal canal or disappear due to inflammation.
Congestive hemorrhoids:
This type are the ones that prolapse out. They are very typical in childbirth where there has been forceps or suction cup and they come out.
Internal hemorrhoids:
They are all those that prolapse to the outside and tend to be those that bleed the most, which more bother and they usually chop and they give a "tenesmus" feeling that is I want to go to the bathroom.
Can hemorrhoids be prevented? How?
In our society it is very difficult to prevent it totally. You have to carry a series of minimum standards of care but it is difficult.
Among the latests Moravia's compositions measures that the patient can take they are: do not make efforts, take a very strict diet, some care, for example, you have to do sports, walk, avoid always not constipated, avoid spicy food ... but it is difficult.
