Hemorrhoids; everyone’s worst nightmare. With little warning, these swollen veins around the anus can cause extensive pain, bleeding and discomfort to an unsuspecting victim. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, know that there are some self-help steps that you can take to ease the pain and make bowel movements more bearable.
Increase your fiber intake. A fiber-rich diet can make all the difference. Try to eat foods that are high in fiber, like whole grains, or incorporate dietary fiber supplements into your daily routine.
Have some mineral oil. When mixed with your morning yogurt or afternoon applesauce, a tablespoon of mineral oil can help to lubricate your stool, allowing it slide past hemorrhoids more easily.
Don’t fight the feeling. The number one cause of straining is holding in a bowel movement. Whenever you feel the urge to go, go!
Elevate your feet. Resting your feet on a step-stool while on the toilet can help open the rectal passage, allowing bowels to move more freely.
Try some over-the-counter remedies. There are a ton of remedies out there, from soothing creams to witch hazel infused pads. Test some out to see what works best for you.
Take a dip in a sitz. Purchase a basin that fits right under the toilet seat and soak the inflamed area 2-to-3 times a day in warm water for 10-15 minute intervals.
Though there are many home remedies to help ease the discomfort that hemorrhoids create, the only true way to rectify a severe hemorrhoid issue is with surgery.
Luckily, the expert surgeons at Great South Bay Surgical Associate are trained and skillful in all aspects of open and minimally invasive hemorrhoid removal procedures. From laser treatment and sclerotherapy, to rubber band ligation, our team is guaranteed to handle your surgery with precision and care.
To learn more about our hemorrhoid removal procedures, click here or call 631-321-6801.
Did you know that every single person has hemorrhoids? It’s true, we all have them as a natural part of our anatomy. However, some people’s hemorrhoids become inflamed, causing itching, bleeding and an overall painful experience. Though inflamed hemorrhoids are one of the more prevalent gastrointestinal conditions, no one wants to deal with the discomfort of suffering from them. Luckily there are a few easy ways to help prevent hemorrhoids from becoming a problem in your everyday life.
1. Eat a ton of fiber. Adding an ample amount of fiber -- 25-30 grams a day -- to your diet will help make your bowel movements more frequent and regulated, which reduces your chance of getting hemorrhoids. Legumes, whole grains, artichokes, peas, raspberries, apples and bananas are all great sources of fiber.
2. Drink water regularly. Drinking six-to-eight glasses of water a day helps prevent constipation by promoting healthy bowel movements. But that’s not all! Besides preventing hemorrhoids, drinking water regularly is beneficial for your entire body, so drink up!
3. Keep your body active. Exercise is the key that opens up many healthy lifestyle doors. Keeping active promotes a healthy colon by reducing the amount of time sitting and putting pressure on the veins in your lower rectum. However, certain exercises like lifting weights can actually do the opposite, so exercise wisely!
4. Don’t put up a fight. When you feel the urge to use the restroom, go! Don’t wait for a more convenient time, as waiting can cause for straining later on. Straining or pushing too hard when trying to have a bowel movement is one of the leading causes of inflamed and bleeding hemorrhoids, so avoid it at all costs.
If you or someone that you know is dealing with the uncomfortable effects of hemorrhoids, give Great South Bay Surgical Associates a call at 631-321-6801 and learn how our surgeons can help. Our doctors are trained and skillful in all aspects of open and minimally invasive hemorrhoid removal procedures, and are guaranteed to handle your surgery with precision and care.
At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we’re committed to offering high quality healthcare solutions for all of our patients’ needs. We’ve found that the best way to achieve this goal is by hiring only the best and most knowledgeable surgeons in the field. Our highly skilled team of doctors perform a wide variety of open and minimally invasive procedures in general and vascular surgery.
We know that learning you’re in need of a surgical procedure can cause fear and discomfort, but the best way to feel confident going into an operation is by knowing and trusting your doctor inside and out. That’s why we’ve developed our “Meet the Doctors” blog series, to allow our patients to get to know our doctors before their surgery so that they can feel calm, comfortable and confident that they’re in the best hands.
Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Erica Sneider, another one of our expert surgeons!
Dr. Sneider grew up on Long Island, where she still resides today. Knowing she was interested in a career in medicine, following her bachelor’s degree she went on to pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. The doctor completed her general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts, as well as a fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at the same institution.
As you might have guessed, Dr. Sneider’s professional expertise lies in colon and rectal procedures, working with diverticular and malignant disease, hemorrhoid treatment and laser surgery, anal fistulas, inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor procedures.
To learn more about how Dr. Sneider can help you, give us a call at 631-321-6801 today!
At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we strive to provide open and minimally invasive surgical solutions for any vascular or general health issues you may face. If you live in Nassau, Suffolk or the surrounding areas and are in need of a surgeon, click here to view our website or call us 631-321-6801 to schedule your free consultation today.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus that can potentially cause extensive pain, bleeding and discomfort. Although many cases of hemorrhoids are treatable with topical medications and a change in diet, it is recommended that large hemorrhoids be treated with surgery. In addition to the traditional methods of surgical hemorrhoidectomy, our surgeons also practice laser, rubber band ligation and sclerotherapy procedures. Here’s what you need to know about each procedure:
A hemorrhoidectomy is the most common procedure for relieving hemorrhoids. This procedure involves several incisions to be made around the anus in order to cut away the hemorrhoids present. Depending on the severity of the surgery, the recommendations of the anesthesiologist and the preference of the patient, this can be done with local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs the area, allowing the patient to remain alert, relaxed and pain-free throughout the procedure, while general anesthesia will put the patient to sleep. Although this is an outpatient procedure that is very beneficial in relieving pain, swelling, bleeding and itching associated with hemorrhoids, the incision sites are in a sensitive area which could cause mild pain and discomfort during healing.
The following three treatment options are minimally invasive, and work to remove or reduce the size of hemorrhoids:
Laser Treatment - During this procedure, a special, precise laser beam is used to burn away hemorrhoidal tissues in the anus. Since this is done with a laser, no incisions are necessary.
Rubber Band Ligation - In order to cut off the hemorrhoid’s blood supply and kill the tissue, a rubber band is placed around its base. Rest assured that this will be done as painlessly as possible, attaching the rubber bands to the areas that have the least pain receptors.
Sclerotherapy - This procedure uses a chemical solution that is injected into the blood vessel that fuels each hemorrhoid. The solution will work to shrink and destroy the supplying blood vessel, which will in turn kill the hemorrhoid or hemorrhoids that it perpetuates.
If you or someone that you know is dealing with the uncomfortable effects of hemorrhoids, give Great South Bay Surgical Associates a call at 631-321-6801 and learn how our surgeons can help. Our doctors are trained and skillful in all aspects of open and minimally invasive hemorrhoid removal procedures, and are guaranteed to handle your surgery with precision and care.
