ABUJA – A medical doctor with a private Clinic, Dr Kingsley Umeh, on Thursday advised Nigerians to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating food rich in fibre to prevent haemorrhoids or piles.
Umeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that adequate water intake and consumption of healthy meals were key to preventing haemorrhoids or piles.
According to him, haemorrhoids are enlarged veins that occurred in the rectum due to constant strains during bowel movements, which can be external and internal in outlook thereby making the patient very uncomfortable.
“Most people do not get enough fibre in their diet because they do not eat enough fresh vegetables and fruits.
“Diet, intake of a lot of water and reduction of salt intake are antidotes, salt leads to fluid retention which in turn causes your body to swell, including the blood vessels causing haemorrhoids,’’ he said.
Umeh explained that haemorrhoids could also be caused by sitting on the toilet for a long time, carrying heavy items, being overweight, having diarrhoea and constipation.
“Those ones that occur in the rectum are called internal haemorrhoids, while those which occur around the anus are called external haemorrhoids.’’
He said there could be the possibility that it would affect about 50 per cent of men before they reach the age of 50 years.
Umeh said the symptoms were usually swollen, painful and bleeding rectum causing a feeling of pressure.
“You might notice a streak of blood on the outside of your stool or on the toilet paper when you wipe your bottom or splashes of blood on the toilet bowl.’’
Umeh said that there could also be a feeling of discomfort when cleaning up after passing stool, hence the need to avoid the use of toilet tissues, but rather ensure the constant use of water for cleaning oneself.
Highlighting the causes of haemorrhoids in pregnancy, Umeh said that the process of childbirth and the increased pressure of the weight of the baby on the child in the anal area could trigger it, stressing that it naturally dissolves after delivery of the baby.
The doctor said that it was important for people to avoid straining while passing stool as increased pressure on the rectum could lead to inflammation of the veins around the rectum causing haemorrhoids.
He said that people should be aware that they should pass stool immediately nature calls not delaying it till some other time as such could also make the stool to be hard.
Umeh said that most haemorrhoids were manageable, stressing that it was only in severe cases that surgery could be considered. (NAN)
