Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your lower rectum, similar to varicose veins in the legs. The causes of hemorrhoids can be from increased pressure, whether caused by pregnancy or straining during bowel movements. They are actually very common, but they can also be very uncomfortable.
If you’ve ever dealt with hemorrhoids or other anorectal disorders before, chances are that you’d like to do whatever you can to make sure you don’t have to experience them again. There are some things you can do to prevent developing hemorrhoids, and they fall into 3 main categories. These include:
- What you put into your body,
- How you move your body, and
- How you eliminate waste from your body.
What You Put into Your Body
The first area concerns eating lots of high-fiber foods and drinking plenty of water. Fiber-rich foods help everything to move along easily in your digestive tract, and staying hydrated keeps the stool from becoming dry and hard to pass. If you’re finding it difficult to eat the recommended 25-38 grams of fiber per day, you might consider adding a fiber supplement to your daily routine.
How You Move Your Body
The second category concerns exercise, which can help to fight constipation and aid in blood circulation. If your body is active, it’s hard for your colon to remain inactive. And it’s not just that remaining active can help you; remaining inactive can actually hurt you if you suffer from hemorrhoids. You should try to avoid long periods of sitting, as this can increase the pressure on the rectal/anal veins.
How You Eliminate Waste from Your Body
Lastly, how you go to the bathroom matters when you’re trying to avoid hemorrhoids. It’s important to go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to have a bowel movement. Your body knows that you need to go, and you will have to exert less effort if you listen to your body. And when you go to the bathroom, don’t strain, this creates greater pressure on the rectal/anal veins, making it more likely that they will become swollen and painful.
If you’re experiencing hemorrhoids, a gastroenterologist may be able to help by performing a hemorrhoid banding procedure. To see if this procedure would be right for you, contact Digestive Health Centers today!