With a tremendous change in lifestyle, westernization, and urbanization, diseases and condition that used to be rare have become quite common. You’d not be surprised to know that about 4 out of every 5 people wear spectacles. And the reason is the amount of exposure of our eyes to phones and other such devices. Shortsightedness is just one out of a sea full of problems young and middle-aged people are facing. One such similar problem is the anal fissure. While many people might not have heard about it, it has become really common and chances are- people experience it and take the pain without knowing what it is or how to get it treated.

What Is Anal Fissure?

Anal fissure starts as constipation. When your stools are too hard, it is difficult to expel it out of the body. That’s when the delicate skin around your anus develops a tear. The tear that has been formed due to passing hard stools bleeds too. Just when it tries to heal itself, the constant passing of stools, as in every day prevents it from healing. That is when the tear bleeds every time you excrete; causing sharp pain and a burning sensation.

What Are the Causes of Anal Fissure?

• It is caused because of constipation in most people. However, there are a number of other conditions as well that can result in the formation of a tear in the lining of the anus. you might not be having enough water or consuming enough fibers in your diet in the first place which causes constipation and that in turn causes anal fissures.
• Quite opposite to constipation, diarrhea can cause anal fissures as well.
• Some people might develop an anal fissure because of anal sphincter muscles that are too tight or are spastic.
• If because of any reason there is a decreased blood flow to the anorectal area, you might be experiencing an anal fissure because of that.
• Adult women might suffer from anal fissures soon after the birth of the baby. This happens because of overstraining during childbirth.
• If you have any IBD, like Crohn’s diseases, you are at a risk of developing anal fissures.
• Other rare conditions that can cause anal fissures are- HIV, anal cancer, syphilis, herpes, tuberculosis, etc.

What Are The Symptoms Of Anal Fissure?

Anal fissures don’t start in their severe form right from the start. The first symptom is constipation which then brings along other symptoms gradually. The other symptoms of Anal fissures are very evident and cannot be ignored. While a lot of people can manage to not complain about it out of embarrassment, the symptoms can become severe if overlooked. If you have been experiencing the below-given symptoms, you might be suffering from an anal fissure and should visit a doctor for a diagnosis.

• Bleeding
• Pain
• Itching
• Frequent urination
• discomfort while urinating

When you experience these symptoms, visiting a doctor to get it diagnosed is the best thing to do. In order to diagnose, the anus is generally examined by pulling apart the edges of the anus. If the tear is not visible doing so, the doctor might use anesthesia and conduct a rigorous examination.

Effective Remedies For Treating Anal Fissure

When you are diagnosed with an anal fissure, you should start treating it right from that moment. It usually takes about 6 weeks to completely cure ana fissures. While going to the doctor and getting medicines is one obvious thing you’d be doing, there are a number of helpful home remedies that might really be effective for you. Following are the tips and remedies.

• Try avoiding processed foods and junk or fried foods. Anything that is hard to digest is a big NO. These foods have more chances of causing constipation and making it worse for you. Also, avoid spicy food since spicy food can cause burning sensation when you pass stool.
• Sitz bath is highly effective so much so that even doctors suggest it. What you basically have to do is while Sitz bathing is- take a tub full of warm water and sit in a squatting position in it. Do this for about 20 minutes twice a day. It relaxes the anal muscles and calms down the burning sensation and pain. It does so by increasing the blood flow to the anorectal area.
•  You can even use a number of stool softeners available in the market. However, talk to your doctor about it. Stool softeners make sure you don’t have constipation again so that the tear that is healing doesn’t get worse. You can even go for home remedies for stool softeners instead of allopathic doses. Some of the best natural stool softeners are- flax seeds, chia seeds, Epsom salt, etc.
• You can consider surgery if your anal fissure has worsened. You should discuss it with your doctor and find out if you need a surgery or not.

How To Prevent An Anal Fissure From Occurring/ Recurring?

If you want to stay cautious and make sure you don’t develop anal fissures, you can do it by making constructive and beneficial changes in your lifestyle. It is not a lot, just little efforts to keep away from anal fissures.

• Drink a lot of water. the root cause of anal fissures most of the times is constipation, as already discussed. To make sure you aren’t constipated, drink a lot of water throughout the day and never be dehydrated.
• Have foods that have high amounts of fibers. Fiber-rich foods also make the stool soft and keep you away from constipation. Trying having lots of fruits, green vegetables, and whole-grains.
• Inculcate better bowel habits. When you pass stools in a sitting position, it puts a lot of strain on your anal sphincter muscles. This might cause a tear in your anal lining. Instead, use a stool to rest your legs on while passing bowels, so that your body bends and doesn’t cause strain on your anal sphincter muscles.

What Are The Complications If Left Untreated?

If left untreated, anal fissures progress to the level of needing a surgery. Also, the anal area can become infected and cause the formation of skin tags. There are chances of formation of fistula as well- where bacteria inhabit the anal canal and create pus. You might even develop other bowel related diseases, anal cancer, or sexually transmitted diseases. This is why the best to do is, pay attention to your condition and cure it.

Also Read- Tan Removal Tips To Get Rid Of All That Sun Tan From Summers Naturally

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