What fruits to eat for anal fissures?

Written by Lin Shao Qiang
Internal Medicine
Updated on January 22, 2025
00:00
00:00

With anal fissures, it is important to maintain smooth bowel movements. Consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, kiwis, strawberries, celery, and spinach, as their rough fibers help lubricate the intestines and facilitate bowel movements. Avoid spicy and irritating foods, foods that cause internal heat, especially avoid chili peppers, onions, ginger, and garlic, and do not drink alcohol, as these can exacerbate constipation and worsen symptoms of anal fissures. Additionally, keep the affected area dry and clean to prevent bacterial infection, and wash with warm water. If there is inflammation in the area of the anal fissure, a sitz bath with potassium permanganate can be used.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can you have intercourse during an anal fissure?

During an anal fissure, it is possible to have sexual intercourse without any impact on the fissure itself. For patients with an anal fissure, the main focus should be on maintaining smooth bowel movements and avoiding dry and hard stools to prevent irritating the wound, which can cause pain and bleeding. It is also important to avoid diarrhea, as frequent bowel movements can irritate the wound over time and worsen the fissure. Clinically, for early-stage anal fissures, conservative treatment with medications is often recommended, along with softening the stool. Commonly used medications include Dragon Balm ointment or nitroglycerin ointment. After defecation, patients can opt to use an anal wash or a potassium permanganate solution for sitz baths. However, for chronic anal fissures, it is generally advised to undergo fissure excision surgery as soon as possible, followed by regular dressing changes to promote healing of the wound. If an anal fissure is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to slight narrowing of the anal canal, which requires significant attention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
46sec home-news-image

What should pregnant women do about constipation and anal fissures?

During pregnancy, due to some special reasons, pregnant women are prone to constipation, and severe cases may develop anal fissures, bleeding, and pain. In such cases, it is first necessary to change the diet to a light one, eat more vegetables and fruits, drink more water, and develop good bowel habits. Avoid squatting for long periods. Additionally, enemas can be used to help with bowel movements, and anti-inflammatory ointments can be applied locally to the anal fissure area for disinfection. Using warm water for sitz baths can also relieve the pain from constipation and anal fissures. Routine abdominal and anal massages can alleviate symptoms and promote bowel movements.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
55sec home-news-image

The main causes of anal fissures

The main causes of anal fissure formation may be related to the following factors: long-term constipation and hard stools, which cause mechanical damage during defecation as the direct cause for most anal fissures. It is also related to anatomical defects. Due to the superficial layer of the external sphincter forming a weak area at the back of the anal canal, dry stools exert the greatest pressure on the weak area at the back of the anus, making it prone to tearing injuries. Additionally, infection of the anal sinuses can lead to inflammation of the anal canal, and spasms of the sphincter losing its soft characteristics is also a reason for the formation of anal fissures. Furthermore, hard and dry fecal masses passing through the anal canal can easily cause tearing injuries, possibly due to the smaller size of the patient's anus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
52sec home-news-image

Is anal fissure prone to recurrence?

Anal fissures are prone to recurrence, and the main reasons for recurrence are prolonged sitting or standing, leading to relaxation of the intestinal muscles and insufficient motility, which can cause constipation. During bowel movements, the damaged area can be scratched, resulting in anal fissures. Due to excessive strain, mental stress, and physical fatigue, metabolism can be affected, leading to indigestion and constipation, which can cause anal fissures. Sometimes irregular eating habits and consuming spicy, greasy, and irritating foods can cause constipation, thus aggravating the fissure and leading to its recurrence. An imbalance in intestinal flora can impair digestion and cause constipation, leading to anal fissures. The fundamental treatment for anal fissures is surgical intervention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
57sec home-news-image

How to distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids

To distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids, one can first differentiate based on symptoms. Anal fissures primarily cause pain during defecation and minor bleeding, with the pain typically lasting from 20 minutes to half an hour. Patients often have hard stools or constipation. In contrast, hemorrhoids primarily lead to intermittent painless rectal bleeding. The blood is bright red and usually in greater volume, often appearing in a spraying or dripping pattern after defecation. Some patients may also experience prolapsed hemorrhoids, often accompanied by a sensation of heaviness and foreign body in the anus. Further, through a digital rectal examination, an anal fissure can be identified by a palpable ulcer or crack at the posterior or anterior midline of the anus. Hemorrhoids, being soft venous clusters, can also be differentiated through this examination.