November/December 2017
BY PRITI BIJPURIA, MD, CAPITAL DIGESTIVE CARE
Discomfort caused by hemorrhoids should not be a permanent part of your life. Thanks to a variety of new treatments, gastroenterologists are able to relieve or even eliminate hemorrhoid symptoms. In the U.S., 75% of people will have hemorrhoid symptoms in their lifetime. So if you’re having any of the signs, you have lots of company. The most common symptoms include things like:
• Anal itching or burning
• Rectal bleeding (other serious causes need to be ruled out)
• Feeling of fullness in the anal area
• Hemorrhoid prolapse (tissue that protrudes outside the anus)
As a gastroenterologist I begin by counseling patients about dietary changes such as increasing fiber and water intake, behavioral modifications, and topical treatments. But if those things don’t work, I offer hemorrhoid band ligation—a comfortable in-office procedure that can treat and even eradicate hemorrhoid symptoms. In fact, the reoccurrence rate of symptoms after hemorrhoid band ligation is only 5% at two years. No sedation or bowel preparation is required. Afterward patients can drive and return to their normal daily activities. If hemorrhoid symptoms are a problem for you, schedule a visit at Capital Digestive Care.
