You may have heard that some people tried to pop their hemorrhoid and it worked for them. Some try to burst it with a sharp pin. Some try to squeeze with their fingers. And for others, their hemorrhoid popped by itself. Naturally, this question will linger in mind: Can you just "pop" a hemorrhoid? Is it safe practice and are there any side effects? Some people think that popping a hemorrhoid is the same as popping a pimple. And it's a common misconception. A hemorrhoid is of a completely different nature. The difference between a pimple and a hemorrhoid is that a pimple is usually located in the surface of the skin. If it's popped, it doesn’t cause much damage. Pus comes out and there is low risk of infection. On the other side, a hemorrhoid is a swollen vein, which normally forms at the end of the rectal vein. It may even contain blood clots inside, which we call thrombosed hemorrhoids. Since it directly involves your blood veins, this means... You Should NOT Pop Your Hemorrhoid. Here's Why. Popping a hemorrhoid is not encouraged, especially if you were to ask any medical practitioner. Here are the 3 main reasons. 1. It'll Hurt... A Lot You're literally piercing your blood vein. It's going to hurt big time doing this on your own, especially if you don't have anesthetics with you. And in the process, you may lose a lot of blood. It's probably not life-threatening, unless you're on blood-thinner medications. But if you're rupturing it without experience... 2. You May Slow Down the Recovery Process If the hemorrhoid ruptures from popping it, you're essentially injuring it. It leaves a huge wound and it may take very long to recover, while causing more pain and bleeding. Plus, the hemorrhoid may even return if it wasn't eradicated properly. But the worst part... 3. You Risk Infection If you're going to poke your hemroid with a needle, you risk infection. Chance are, your fingers, needle, pin or even scissors are not cleaned properly; it's contaminated with germs from your environment. The last thing you'd want to do is to create complications from your hemorrhoid. A proctologist would be use proper, sterilized equipment to perform procedures like hemorrhoidectomy or banding. And he'd probably do a cleaner job too. What if my Hemorrhoid Popped? If your hemorrhoid popped by itself, or you somehow popped it yourself, you may feel relieved that the swelling had gone. It would then be a matter of ensuring that wound heals properly and your hemorrhoid doesn't recur. The pain may still be there as the wound is still raw. If this is you, read on to see what you can do to ensure a smooth recovery. Better Solutions Than Popping a Hemorrhoid: Ensuring a Smooth Recovery We understand it is very painful walking around with a hemorrhoid in your anus. But no matter the amount of pain experienced, you should try to resist the urge of popping the hemorrhoid by yourself. One feasible way of dealing with the hemorrhoid is to use natural methods to ease the pain and also accelerate the healing process. Here are 6 quick hemorrhoid treatments to ease your excruciating pain without the risk of popping. 1.  Use Ice Cubes Cheap, highly effective and easy to use. This simple method of calming painful hemorrhoids has been around for centuries. It is used to reduce the pain for a short period of time. When ice is applied hemorrhoid, the cold effect works to reduce pain preventing the nerve endings to send pain impulses to the brain. The requirements only include a clean towel and some ice cubes. Here's how you go about it: Wrap up the ice cubes using the clean towel. For 20 minutes or less, gently press the clean towel against the affected area. Don't apply the ice cubes directly as it may trigger frostbites and hurt instead. Repeat this process as many times as you want. 2.  Epsom Salt Bath Heat some water to a to a manageably warm temperature. Add Epsom salt and stir until it is completely dissolved. Wash the affected area with the mixture for about 15 minutes, 3 times a day. Warm water has many advantages; it will help in reducing the pain experienced, calm the inflammation and also keep the affected area clean away from infection. You can also use a mixture of Epsom salt and glycerin instead as a home treatment for painful hemorrhoid. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt and two tablespoons of glycerin The mixture should then be applied to a gauze pad. Apply the mixture to the affected area and leave it for about 15 – 20 minutes Keep repeating the process for about 4 – 6 hours until the pain eases 3. Use Natural Lotion Lotions are known to work well when dealing with itching and painful hemorrhoids, and also reducing the pain one is likely to have when passing hard stool. An interesting natural lotion, which doubles up as a lubricant, is the coconut oil. It should be applied before going to bed or after every bowel movement. Many people with serious hemorrhoid conditions and unable to walk or sit have recorded very good results after applying coconut oil for hemorrhoids. 4. Witch Hazel Witch hazel is known to reduce pain, itching, and bleeding in people with hemorrhoids. Just soak a cotton ball or a pad with witch hazel and apply it to the affected area. Witch hazel contains oils and tannins that stop bleeding and also reduce inflammation. It acts as a natural anti-inflammatory because it tightens the skin and also reducing pain. 5. Apple Cider Vinegar This is a popular natural method of dealing with hemorrhoids in naturopathy. Put a small amount of it on a toilet paper or soak it on a cotton ball and then apply that to the affected area. Keep doing it for as many times as possible until the inflammation disappears.   6.  Squat When Visiting the Toilet This is another important and yet underrated method to consider when dealing with hemorrhoids. Modern-day toilets are very unnatural; they compress your rectal passage and makes defecating harder. This explains the fact that there are fewer cases of hemorrhoids in third world countries where squatting is the order of the day, compared to developed countries. When you sit down to pass a stool, you have to put additional strain on your rectum. But squatting naturally relaxes the puborectalis muscle and straightens the rectum, making the process effortless all the way. Don't Pop It. Cure Your Hemorrhoid Instead The main cause of hemorrhoids pain is constipation. Passing hard stools puts so much pressure on the hemorrhoids veins and hence the unbearable pain. That’s why it is very important to eat food rich in fiber and also drinking a lot of water to soften the stool. This lowers the likelihood of the problem recurring in the future. The recommended amount of fiber for women is 25 grams and 38 grams for men in a day. It is also good to take at least eight glasses of water in a day. Some of the great sources of fibers include fruits such as bananas, apples, pears, raspberries, etc. Also, things like barley, bran flakes, oatmeal, baked and lima beans, and split peas. Have you ever tried popping your hemorrhoid? Did it work or complicate things? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

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