The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-11

In an earlier talk I explained that phes (hemorrhoids) are varcose veins, that an all ,ack" of piles means acute inflammation or acute pains acute bleeding, and that th" subsistence of this attack is not the cure ol he trouble, as too many gulhbie nos'fhm GUS toners evidently imagine. l The prevention of this very common anh ] painful condition has two phases. f1rs,, lne | prevention of the varicose diiation or enlarge | nent of the hemorrhoidal veins. second, the | prevention of acute inflammation, pain or or 1 bleeding where such varicosity IS a'reaoy present. - . .. ., 1 To-day we'll deal only with the first phase; The derivation of the term hemorrhods IS from Greek roots meaning Veihs iaple to u.H tn1. charge blood One reason why the veins m M tnis situation are subject to congestion dlatlon or enlargement and hence to inflammation ana bleeding, is that they have no valves 10 relieve tbem of the weight of the column of blood they support while individual is in the upright po- sition The hemmorhoidal veins drain blood directly into the portal vein which conveys blood to the liver. Thus anything which tends 10 coneest or engorge the liver prcdisposes 10 hemorrhods or aggravates the troupe II It lS already present. The most direct relief or remedy, preventive and curative, in any case is the resumption or the horizontal position or better the so called knee chest position Con all fours with chest on floor and thighs yertcal), still better doing the dachshund crawl few times around the room or the monkey walk If you're 100 dgni- fled to crawl.
 Hemmorrhoids (piles) are merely varicose veins subject to the same complications as may occur in varicose veins elsewhere only more
 
 Piles are by no means so common nor so trivial as most people imagine. l have pointed out in previous talks that in the majority Of cages the patients own notion that the troupe is piles" proves wrong on proper examination. Pain and visible bleeding are not the only ser ious effects or complications of piles. Patients sometimes suffer grave impairment Of health from prolonged, slight. unnoticed or internal bleeding or chronic focal infections which re- sst all remedial measures until the infected piles properly treated.
 I hate to frighten anybody but I'd rather scare everybody than fail to utter a warning when warning Is needed. Some of the most tragic cases a doctor has to deal with are cases | of rectal cancer which have masqueraded a | little too long as piles because the victims elected to drift along on such a bad guess Here l it must be admitted that some physiciai:s are | culpabl because they samelessly quack 1t when the too trusting patient offers the ready made | dIaPnosis of piles. instead of making proper | examination and determining the real nature o. | the trouble and the right advice and treatment l to give
 Probably our unhygienic customs of dress
 ing is a factor of hemorr holds, particularly the
 wearing of excessive clothing.
 | It is not merely sedentary habit, but the | neglect suitable daily exercise that makes folk | who dodge work susceptible to piles. Per | haps the best of all daily exercises for the l prevention and relief of piles is walking brisk l ly not sauntering or dragging along, but step | ping out though you were in training Tor
 something.