Preventing Hemorrhoids

Any type of strain put on the anus or anal area may cause hemorrhoids. Tiny veins surrounding the rectum become inflamed and a hemorrhoid is born. By reducing the strain put on the anus, we can reduce the possibility of getting hemorrhoids. There are a few basic things that you can do to alter your lifestyle slightly in order to reduce the risk of developing painful hemorrhoids. Change your diet to include foods that are high in fiber. Fibrous foods create normal stools that are able pass from the body easily. Passing stool easily creates less strain on the anal muscles and therefore reduces the risk of hemorrhoids. Some foods that are high in fiber include: grains, foods high in bran, fruits and vegetables. Processed foods may be convenient but they also cause the stool to harden due to their lack of fiber. These foods will increase your risk of hemorrhoids so they should be avoided. If you feel that increasing the amount of fiber in your diet is difficult by just changing your diet, there are fiber products available over the counter at your local pharmacy that will soften stool. These products usually come in powder or pill form. If you are unsure which type would be best for you, contact your physician or pharmacist for medical advice. In addition to adding fiber rich foods to your diet, you should also increase your water intake. The rule of thumb is to drink 8-8oz. Glasses of water per day. Water will loosen your stools again causing less strain on the anal muscles and decreasing your risk of painful hemorrhoids. Change your toilet habits. Do not wait until you feel like you really have to go. Putting off going to the bathroom will give your stool time to harden while waiting in your intestines to be expelled. Hard stool causes increased pushing which in turn causes undo stress to the anus which increases your risk of developing hemorrhoids. The bathroom may be the only alone time that you can get. However, reading or staying on the toilet for longer periods then needed to take care of business can lead to the development of hemorrhoids. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. The French invented the bidet for a reason. A clean anal area decreases the chances of developing hemorrhoids. Although cleaning with toilet paper alone is fine, there are now flushable wipes on the market that will guarantee a clean anus. They are safe to flush and safe to use in your most sensitive areas. Exercise is just good for you in general. It seems that everything can be prevented by adding a little exercise to our lives. It is just common sense that if we are not exercising or leading an active lifestyle, then we are sitting or leading a sedentary lifestyle. Long periods of sitting cause strain to the anus. As we know by now strain put on the anal muscles is what causes hemorrhoids to develop. A rule of thumb to follow is that you should stand and walk around for at least 5 minutes every hour. Why that isn't even real sweat causing exercise. That's a simple trip to the kitchen for a glass of water! In addition to not sitting for long periods of time, exercising regularly increases blood flow through the veins. Increased blood flow through the veins will reduce pressure on the veins surrounding the anus and therefore reduce constipation.