Prevention of hemorrhoids includes drinking more fluids, eating more fiber, exercising, practicing better posture, and reducing bowel movement strain and time.
The following practices can help:
- Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help lessen the straining that can cause hemorrhoids. Limit your intake of low- or no-fiber foods, such as ice cream, soft drinks, cheese, white bread, and red meat.
- Drink plenty of liquids. The exact amount of water and other fluids you should drink each day varies and depends on your age, sex, health, activity level and other factors. Avoid liquids that contain caffeine (such as coffee and tea) or alcohol. These liquids may cause dehydration, which can lead to constipation.
- Consider fiber supplements. Over-the-counter products such as Metamucil and Citrucel can help keep stools soft and regular. Check with your doctor about using stool softeners. If you use fiber supplements, be sure to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, fiber supplements can cause constipation or make constipation worse. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.
- Exercise. Stay active to reduce pressure on veins, which can occur with long periods of standing or sitting, and to help prevent constipation. Exercise can also help you lose excess weight.
- Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. If you must sit for long periods, don't use an inflatable doughnut cushion to pad your chair. It can increase the pressure on the veins in the anus. Always stand and walk during your breaks at work and try to stand and walk at least 5 minutes every hour.
- Avoid straining during bowel movements. Straining and holding your breath when trying to pass a stool creates greater pressure in the veins in the lower rectum.
- Avoid reading or spending excess time on the toilet. If it takes you more than 3-5 minutes to have a bowel movement, then something is wrong. Reading in the bathroom is considered a bad idea, because it adds to the time one spends on the toilet and may increase the strain placed on the anal and rectal veins.
- Go as soon as you feel the urge. Do not delay or try to prevent a bowel movement when the urge is present. If you wait to pass a bowel movement and the urge goes away, your stool could become dry and be harder to pass.
- Train your digestive tract to have regular bowel movements. Schedule a 10-minute period to sit on the toilet at approximately the same time each day. The best time to do this is usually right after a meal.
- Avoid the overuse of laxatives, type of medication that affects the bowels, because they may cause diarrhea, which can irritate hemorrhoids. Use laxatives only when absolutely necessary.
- Keep the area around the anus clean and dry.
- Wipe gently. Blot the anus gently with white toilet paper moistened with water or a cleansing agent (such as Balneol) after bowel movements. Baby wipes or other premoistened towels (such as Tucks) are also useful for this purpose.
- Avoid rubbing the anal area. You can rinse off in the shower or on a bidet instead of wiping yourself with toilet paper. Cool water washing provides instant relief for nagging pains and discomfort. After cleansing, gently pat the anal area dry with a soft, absorbent towel or cloth.
- Soap or toilet paper that is perfumed may irritate the anal area and should be avoided, as should excessive cleaning, rubbing, or wiping of that area. Use a soothing wipe, such as baby wipes or witch hazel pads, to clean after each bowel movement and to ease the pain.
Researched by Hafidzah@1AlternativeMedicineS.com
