Although the cause of hemorrhoid formation is not clear, it is more common in people such as wrong toilet habits, diarrhea and constipation, excessive use of hot and spices, alcohol consumption, professions that require standing for long periods of time, and long-distance drivers. It is also common during pregnancy.
In the anus region, which is the last part of the large intestine, there are enlarged veins and small cushions formed by the mucosa on them. These normal anatomical structures prevent the escape of gas and liquid by ensuring that the anus closes more tightly in healthy people. These bundles, which are normally three in number, are called hemorrhoids when they grow, bleed, clot, or cause pain.
Does excessive hot, chilli and spicy foods cause hemorrhoids?
Although the cause of hemorrhoid formation is not clear, it is more common in people such as wrong toilet habits, diarrhea and constipation, excessive use of hot spices, alcohol consumption, professions that require standing for long periods of time, and long-distance drivers. It is also common during pregnancy.
There may be bleeding complaints
Inside the anal canal, there is a line called linea dentata, where the intestinal mucosa and the skin of the anus meet. If it is on the inside of this line, it is called internal hemorrhoid, and if it is on the outside, it is called external hemorrhoid. Internal hemorrhoids cause complaints such as swelling and bleeding. External hemorrhoids cause symptoms when there is a clot inside, but otherwise they do not cause any problems.
Spicy foods don’t cause hemorrhoids, but they may irritate anal fissures
In 2006, in a study published in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, researchers randomly assigned people with large hemorrhoids to taking a placebo capsule or a capsule of red hot chili powder. The participants had to rate the effects of the pills on their hemorrhoid symptoms. The study found that the spicy capsules had no effect on hemorrhoid symptoms[1].
The story is a little different for people with small tears in the anus called anal fissures. Anal fissures are extremely painful — ’make a grown adult cry’ painful. A study in 2008 demonstrated that spicy foods aggravate symptoms associated with anal fissures. In the study, patients were randomly given a week of placebo and a week of chili pepper capsules. They had to keep track of anal fissure symptoms over the study period. Eighty-one percent of the participants felt better on the placebo[2].
It is seen in 4 levels
The first stage manifests itself only with bleeding. With or without second-stage bleeding, by straining, the breast comes out of the anus and goes in on its own. In the third stage, the breast comes out and does not go in on its own, but it goes in with the help of a finger. In the fourth stage, the breasts are always outside and cannot be pushed in. Anal fissure, fistula and abscesses should not be confused with hemorrhoids. Its symptoms can be misleading. Additionally, it can be confused with conditions such as polyp, condyloma, cancer, wet anus, anismus, and levator ani syndrome.[3]
In what cases is colonoscopy performed?
After hemorrhoids are detected during the examination, rectosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy must be performed to determine whether there is any underlying inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. It should also be kept in mind that there may be an underlying chronic liver disease or blood disease.
Nutrition style should be taken into consideration
In the first degree, it does not require much treatment. Lifestyle, toilet habits and nutritional recommendations are sufficient. Secondary drug treatment and previous recommendations are applied. In the third and fourth degree, any of the methods of hemorrhoidectomy, band ligation, laser, cryotherapy, infrared therapy, stapler hemorrhoidectomy, hemorrhoid artery ligation and hemorrhoidopexy are applied by choosing the individual. Each method has its own pros and cons.
References:
- Altomare DF, Rinaldi M, La Torre F, Scardigno D, Roveran A, Canuti S, Morea G, Spazzafumo L. Red hot chili pepper and hemorrhoids: the explosion of a myth: results of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Jul;49(7):1018-23. doi: 10.1007/s10350-006-0532-3. PMID: 16708161.
- Gupta PJ. Consumption of red-hot chili pepper increases symptoms in patients with acute anal fissures. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover trial. Arq Gastroenterol. 2008 Apr-Jun;45(2):124-7. doi: 10.1590/s0004-28032008000200006. PMID: 18622465.
- Dongargaon TN, Emmi SV, Wali AA, Kulkarni YS. A unique nonsurgical management of internal hemorrhoids by Jīmūtaka Lepa. Anc Sci Life. 2014 Jan;33(3):176-81. doi: 10.4103/0257-7941.144623. PMID: 25538354; PMCID: PMC4264307.