How to Prevent Hemorrhoids Naturally

Hemorrhoids otherwise known as piles, are inflamed masses of veins and swollen tissues, located at the inner part of the anal canal (internal hemorrhoid) or the outer margin of the anus (external hemorrhoid). These dilated masses are not usually life-threatening but can be very discomforting. General symptoms of hemorrhoids include pain during defecation, specks of bright-colored blood on the stool, tissue and water on the toilet bowl, discomforting pain around the anal area when sitting, palpable tender lumps around the anus and anal itching. Some of the factors that cause hemorrhoids are strained defecation due to constipation, diarrhea, pregnancy, childbirth and obesity.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Foods high in fiber
• Water
• Healthy juices

1. Eat healthily. Adding fiber in your diet is one of the best natural ways to prevent hemorrhoids. Foods high in fiber such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and oatmeal will protect you against hemorrhoids--by facilitating good digestion, cleaning your rectal walls and making defecation smooth and pain-free.

2. 

   Drink lots of liquid. Drinking plenty of fluids, especially during meals, promotes good digestion and prevents hardening of your stool. You can either have pure water or go for other types of healthy fluids such as fruits and vegetable juices--all of these will help give your stool more moisture, making it softer and easier to evacuate.

3. Set a regular time for eating. Establish a regular pattern when it comes to your eating habits. Avoid skipping meals or constantly changing the schedule of your eating routine as it may result in indigestion--which can trigger the occurrence of hemorrhoid symptoms.

4. 

   Stick to a regular schedule for defecation. When you practice habitual patterns of bowel movement, it will decrease your risk of experiencing difficulty in passing stool. If you feel the urge to go, then go right at that time. Do not let the moment pass because if you wait until later, your stool will become dry and hard, making it difficult for you to evacuate. With hard stool, you need to exert extra pressure to expel it, which can strain your rectal walls--causing the veins and tissues of that area to swell (hemorrhoids).

5. Avoid lifting heavy objects and refrain from sitting for long periods of time. Lifting any object that's too heavy for your own capacity will not only strain your muscles, but also the veins and tissues of your rectal walls. The same goes for prolonged sitting. When you are doing activities that require sitting, you should change positions every now and then. Don't just sit for hours--stand up, walk around and stretch your limbs from time to time. Also, when you defecate, try not to sit on the toilet bowl for hours because gravity may cause unwanted pull on your rectal tissues causing them to push outward and swell.

6. 

   Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Staying active will help improve body functions including your digestive system--allowing you to void wastes with ease and preventing abnormal intestinal evacuations such as constipation and diarrhea. Exercise will also help you lose weight and decrease your risk of having hemorrhoids.

7. Keep your anal area clean and dry. After defecating, wipe your anal area gently with damp and unscented toilet paper, then dab it dry. Avoid wiping it strenuously and keeping unnecessary moisture around the area as it can cause irritation of your rectal tissues that can lead to hemorrhoids.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider taking fiber supplements for a healthy digestive system. When you are taking them, make sure to drink 8 glasses of fluids (water or healthy juices) every day to make them effective. If you are not hydrating yourself properly, these supplements can cause constipation.

• Stool softeners can be beneficial in preventing hemorrhoids; but make sure to check with your doctor first before taking one.

• Include the buttocks press in your exercise routine. This type of exercise will help strengthen your sphincter muscles making them and its surrounding tissues, less susceptible to hemorrhoids. Just press your buttocks together, hold for 10 seconds and then relax. Repeat this procedure 5 to 8 times. This exercise is ideal for elderly individuals and pregnant women.