There are simple steps that you can do to avoid getting hemorrhoids.
Even if you already have them, these tips should help in preventing
hemorrhoid flare-ups:
Eat more fibers and drink more water
A typical Western diet is high in animal fat and protein,
and is often made with refined flours with little fiber
content. This fiber-poor diet makes for stool that is smaller,
drier, and harder to pass as compared to fiber-rich food.
To avoid hemorrhoids, add fiber to your regular diet by
eating raw vegetables and fruits, as well as adding brand
and oatmeal. Bran is particularly good because it helps
make the stool soft, moist, and easier to pass. Drinking
a lot of water can also help make stool softer, especially
if you are eating fiber-rich food.
For the elderly, there are fiber-rich food that are not
crunchy or hard to chew, such as oatmeal, steamed vegetables
and stewed fruits. Drinking water during a meal, instead
of between meals, can also help make fiber-rich food easier
to digest.
It may take sometime for your body to get used to roughage,
so it is sometimes best to change your diet gradually -
start by eating more roughage over a period of several weeks.
Changing Bad Bathroom Habits
Straining on the toilet puts a great pressure on the rectal
and anal veins - causing them to distend and swell in a
hemorrhoid. When "nature calls" normal bowel movement
should be easy - if defecation is difficult, don't strain.
Instead, wait a while and then try again.
Postponing bowel movement regularly can also help reduce
the capability of the abdominal muscle to push out stool.
It can also cause the stool to harden, and thus become harder
to pass. So, don't wait when you get the urge to defecate.
Don't read on the toilet - a normal bowel movement only
takes between 2 to 5 minutes.
Exercise
Sitting or standing for long periods of time puts pressure
on the rectal veins, so if your job requires you to sit
or stand, be sure to take frequent breaks and move around
to prevent hemorrhoids.
People who exercise are also less prone to developing hemorrhoids.
Exercising can also make you thirstier, so you naturally
drink more water. It can also help improve your metabolism
and aid digestion.
Aging can weaken the anal sphincter muscle. Indeed, many
elderly men and women have trouble passing stool because
of this reason. Instead of using laxatives, which can make
constipation worse, you can try "buttock" press
exercises - tighten the buttock muscles for several second
and then relax them in a repeated cycle. This will strengthen
the sphincter muscle.
The buttock press can be done several times a day and practically
anywhere - while sitting or standing. It is an especially
good exercise for the elderly, pregnant women, and for those
who cannot do strenuous exercise.
