Hemorrhoids And Alcohol: Is It Possible To Drink Alcohol With Hemorrhoids, The Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Hemorrhoids and alcohol: is it possible to drink alcohol with hemorrhoids

The content of the article:

The relationship between alcohol and hemorrhoids
Drinking alcohol for hemorrhoids: how to minimize damage
About drinking beer with hemorrhoids
Exacerbation of hemorrhoids after alcohol: what to do?
Can I drink alcohol after surgical removal of hemorrhoids?
Video

Hemorrhoids and alcohol, according to many doctors, have a close relationship. Hemorrhoids are a widespread disease. If treatment is not taken in a timely manner, then the patient eventually develops serious complications (iron deficiency anemia, paraproctitis, rectal fistulas, thrombophlebitis). Not so long ago, this disease was mainly diagnosed in elderly people. Now her symptoms often appear at a young age. The reasons for this lie in the sedentary lifestyle of many modern people and inappropriate nutrition. But few people know that the development of hemorrhoids is also provoked by excessive drinking.

The relationship between alcohol and hemorrhoids

Researchers have found that alcohol has a direct effect on the development and exacerbation of hemorrhoids. This mechanism is due to several effects:

Strong dilation of blood vessels. Drinking alcohol dilates all blood vessels, resulting in increased blood flow to the hemorrhoids. In turn, this is accompanied by an increase in pressure on their walls, which cannot withstand it and become covered with cracks, which is accompanied by bleeding.
Dehydration of the body. After drinking alcohol, the body needs a significant amount of water to process and eliminate toxic substances. This becomes the cause of dehydration and compaction of feces, which leads to constipation - one of the main links in the pathological mechanism of the development of hemorrhoids.
Intoxication, contributing to the exacerbation of the inflammatory process. In the process of alcohol metabolism, toxic substances are formed, which, with the flow of blood and feces, enter the fissures of the rectum and ulceration of the surface of hemorrhoids, causing them to activate inflammation.

Alcoholic drinks, including beer, are often eaten with smoked, spicy, salty, fried and fatty foods. It is these products that irritate the mucous membrane of the large intestine, increase the flow of blood to the pelvic organs. Thus, they enhance the damaging effects of alcohol.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing hemorrhoids, and with existing hemorrhoids leads to its exacerbation

The systematic use of alcohol is always accompanied by impaired liver function. The consequence of this is a violation of blood circulation, deterioration of its coagulability, which is often accompanied by bleeding from hemorrhoids.

Considering all of the above, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to drink alcohol with hemorrhoids can only be negative. Even small doses of alcohol can provoke an exacerbation of the disease, cause serious complications, requiring urgent surgical treatment in some cases.

There is no need to talk about any compatibility of alcohol and hemorrhoids. Doctors know that in people who abuse alcoholic beverages, hemorrhoids are rapidly progressing, despite the ongoing full systematic therapy.

Drinking alcohol for hemorrhoids: how to minimize damage

Above, it was explained in detail why alcohol should not be consumed with hemorrhoids. But in life there are situations when a person wants to relax and sit with friends at a festive table. What is the way out?

There are a number of rules, compliance with which reduces the risk of exacerbation of hemorrhoids when drinking alcohol (we are not talking about their systematic use or taking during an exacerbation of hemorrhoids):

A dose of alcohol, the intake of which is not accompanied by the development of negative consequences, is considered to be 150 ml of non-carbonated low-alcoholic drinks or 100 ml of spirits. The more this dose is exceeded, the higher the risk of deteriorating health.
To prevent dehydration of the body during and after a feast, it is necessary to drink a lot - still mineral or plain water, fruit juice, compote (tea and coffee are not included in the number of recommended drinks, since they increase diuresis). It is desirable that the accepted volume of liquid be at least one liter. This will not only reduce the likelihood of constipation, but also reduce the intensity of the hangover syndrome.
After a feast, it is recommended to take activated charcoal at the rate of 1 tablet for every 10 kg of body weight. This will reduce the manifestations of intoxication and thereby reduce the risk of inflammation of the hemorrhoids.
When drinking alcohol, you should refuse coffee and carbonated drinks (lemonade, cola, champagne, beer), as they irritate the mucous membrane of the large intestine.
At the festive table, you need to choose the right appetizer. You should not eat alcoholic beverages with fatty, smoked, spicy, salty and spicy dishes. Better to give preference to lean fish, light salads, mild cheeses, herbs.

You can often find reviews of patients suffering from hemorrhoids about the positive effect of multivitamins - supposedly if you start taking multivitamins a few days before a feast, then the risk of exacerbation of hemorrhoids after drinking alcohol is reduced. There is no official confirmation of this point of view.

About drinking beer with hemorrhoids

Can I drink alcohol with hemorrhoids when it comes to beer? Many patients believe that beer is not banned. They motivate their point of view by the fact that it refers to low-alcohol drinks and therefore cannot cause significant harm to their body.

Beer, in addition to alcohol, contains substances that irritate the intestines, therefore, it is prohibited for hemorrhoids

The alcohol content of beer is indeed comparatively low. But it also contains other substances, in particular hops, which irritate the rectal mucosa and increase blood flow to the cavernous sinuses. The action of such substances potentiates the damaging effect of alcohol. As a result, drinking even a small amount of beer often ends with a pronounced exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, proctologists strongly recommend that patients with hemorrhoids resolutely refuse it.

Exacerbation of hemorrhoids after alcohol: what to do?

Drinking alcohol in the presence of hemorrhoids always carries serious risks. Therefore, if the patient knows about his disease, even on the eve of the feast, it is worth preparing for the possible consequences: purchase antihemorrhoidal rectal suppositories, ointments with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at the pharmacy.

If in the morning after a feast there was an exacerbation of hemorrhoids, to alleviate the condition, you can use the following tips:

if possible, stay in bed, since the vertical position of the body enhances blood flow to the pelvic organs and thereby contributes to a greater severity of pain;
the combination of antihemorrhoidal ointments or suppositories with cold lotions to the anus area contributes to the rapid relief of pain;
a good healing effect is provided by cool sessile baths with infusions of medicinal herbs, for example, chamomile;
if there is no natural bowel movement, in order to prevent constipation, as well as to quickly remove toxic products from the lower intestine, it is recommended to make a small laxative enema, preferably oil.

If, despite the measures taken, the condition does not improve, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Can I drink alcohol after surgical removal of hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids is a chronic disease, the development of which is based on the weakness of the venous walls and their loss of elasticity. Therefore, if in the postoperative period risk factors (physical inactivity, malnutrition, alcohol abuse) are not excluded, then after a while hemorrhoids will form again. In other words, continuing to abuse alcohol, the operated patient significantly increases the risk of relapse.

If it is impossible to completely abandon the use of alcoholic beverages, then the risk can be reduced if they are taken occasionally, in small quantities, not earlier than 1.5-2 months after surgery.

Continued alcohol abuse after surgery will lead to a relapse of hemorrhoids

Drinking alcohol in the early postoperative period is strictly prohibited. This is due to the fact that at this time patients are taking medications, most of which are incompatible with alcohol. In addition, alcohol has a certain effect on the blood coagulation system, its intake can cause bleeding from the surgical wound, as well as interfere with its healing.