Lifestyle And Hemorrhoids: Is There a Connection?

Hemorrhoids can be very painful and irritating, but there are no doubt times when they bother you more than others.

There are some lifestyle habits that many people have that can aggravate hemorrhoids, making them worse or bringing on a fresh flare up. If these lifestyle habits sound familiar to you, you should consider changing your routine to improve your health and comfort.

Sitting most of the time

Many people sit for long periods, either at work or at home. If you spend most of your day sitting and you have hemorrhoids, you will likely become more and more uncomfortable as the day wears on. Hemorrhoids are aggravated by the veins in and near the anus becoming strained. If you are spending most of your time sitting, you will be straining those vessels, causing them to be worse.

If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, try getting up out of your chair frequently to give the veins a break. Getting plenty of exercise, at least once per day, will also help to reduce discomfort from hemorrhoids.

Your bowel movements

Bowel movements can greatly aggravate hemorrhoids because it puts those veins under pressure. If you are used to sitting on the toilet at the same time every day and straining to have a bowel movement, you are going to cause or worsen hemorrhoids. Instead, you should go to the bathroom when you have the urge and sit on the toilet as little time as possible.

Low fiber diet

A low fiber diet is fairly common today, as people eat more processed foods and go on low carb diets. Having enough fiber in your diet is very important when you have hemorrhoids. When you get enough fiber, bowel movements are much easier and more frequent, which will help reduce the strain on the anus.

If you are experiencing hemorrhoid symptoms and you have tried to make these lifestyle adjustments, contact our offices today. We will schedule an appointment for you, where we will explain the available treatments.