Hemorrhoids in the Elderly

In the elderly, hemorrhoids are often caused or aggravated by two factors: persistent constipation and uncontrollable soilings.

Chronic constipation

Chronic constipation is a very common problem for the elderly. For many, this is caused by eating foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Unfortunately, these types of food have very little fibers or roughage - as a result, the stool becomes very hard, dry, and difficult to pass.

As age weakens their sphincter muscles and thus their ability to pass stool, many seniors use laxatives to help bowel movement. After years of using laxatives, some people become dependant and cannot pass stool without using them.

For some elderly who are inactive or bed-ridden, lack of exercise can further weaken the abdominal and sphincter muscles. Often times, these people may also have to postpone bowel movement, until nursing aides can arrive to help them go to the bathroom. Constant postponing of bowel movement can decrease the ability of the abdominal muscle to pass stool, and thus makes constipation worse.

Constipation can also lead to fecal impaction. Here, a hard and dry stool becomes lodged in the rectum, causing cramps and the feeling of pressure in the abdomen or rectum. In this case, the stool must be broken into smaller pieces and pulled out of the anal canal manually.

Soilage

The opposite of chronic constipation, some elderly have anal sphincter muscles that are so weak that they cannot control bowel movements. As a result, they suffer from incontienence and uncontrollable leaking of feces from the anus.

In extreme cases, weakened anal sphincter muscles can also lead to the rectal lining to fall outside of the anus, in a conditon called a prolapse. The entire anal canal wall can also slide outside of the anal opening in a condition called procidentia.

In addition to causing chafed skin and ulcers, constant soilage can irritate the hemorrhoidal veins in the rectum and anal canal, and lead to hemorrhoids.

Self-Care for the Elderly with Hemorrhoids

The following tips can be beneficial for the elderly with hemorrhoids:

• Avoid using laxatives. Instead, use a fiber-based stool softener to bulk up the stool and make it easier to pass. If you still need a laxative, try foods with laxative properties, such as prunes, prune juice, figs, and dried fruits.
  
• To make hard stool easier to pass, lubricate the anal canal with petroleum jelly before a bowel movement.
  
• If necessary, a warm sitz bath or cold compress can be used to provide temporary relief from hemorrhoids.
  
• Eat more fiber-rich foods. Despite of popular belief, there are plenty of fiber-rich food that are not crunchy or difficult to chew. For example, oatmeal, barley, peas, steamed vegetables and stewed fruits are rich in soluble fibers.
  
• Drink plenty of water, particularly when eating food with high fiber content. Also, drinking water with meals, instead of between meals, can help soften the fiber and make it easier to pass.
  
• Consider using natural herbal supplements to strenghten vein walls and treat hemorrhoids.