Hemorrhoids Prevention
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
This goes double where hemorrhoids prevention is concerned. Once you have suffered through an episode you will know what I mean by that statement. There are few things as unpleasant as the itching and burning of hemorrhoids.
Prevention of hemorrhoids is all about lifestyle changes. You should strive to make as many of the following changes as possible to ensure you do not continue to suffer unnecessarily.
One of the best methods of hemorrhoids prevention is to make sure you keep your stools soft, this will reduce pressure during bowel movements and and keep you from straining.
Eat more foods with a high fiber content. This is one of the most important steps you can take for preventing a return episode.
Fiber adds bulk and moisture to the stool, it speeds the movement through the intestinal tract.
Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds are high in fiber and contribute to your overall digestive health.
You must avoid highly refined foods like white rice, white bread, pastries, cakes, pies, and pasta products. If you cannot eat the right foods you should take a bran supplement. For many people it comes down to a choice, do I do without these foods or do I do without hemorrhoids. For me the choice was easy.
Avoid alcohol intake because alcohol can contribute to dry hard stools which can lead to constipation and straining. Excess coffee can have the same effect.
Drinking at least six glasses of water a day will keep your body hydrated. This will help to insure that your stools will be softer.
The use of laxatives and enemas tend to aggravate the problem instead of helping, you should avoid both unless absolutely necessary. You can become dependent on laxatives and not be able to have a bowel movement with them.
You should use the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to do so. Not going right away is a major cause of constipation. And when you are done, don't keep sitting there reading the Wall Street Journal!
You should keep the anal area clean and be careful not to rub the anal area excessive with toilet paper. Make sure you use a soft unscented toilet paper. Excessive rubbing of the anal area in an effort to keep it clean can actually make the problem worse.
The Natural Creams and Oils can be used to help to keep from rubbing the anal area raw. A bidet can eliminate the need for excessive wiping.
Bidets can be helpful in relieving hemorrhoids prevention. It is basically a device that attaches to a commode that allows you to better clean the anal area with a jet of water. Don't laugh they can be very effective.
Make sure that you get plenty of walking exercise. Don't sit for extended periods, get up frequently and walk around. Eat foods that are high in fiber, this will go a long way to help reduce constipation and straining. Your stools will be softer and easier to pass.
Absolutely do not sit on the toilet for extended periods of time. This is the main cause of hemorrhoids problems for many people.
Avoid all forms of heavy lifting. Straining to lift heavy objects are just as bad if not as bad as straining for extended periods on the toilet, in some cases it can even be worse.
t has been noted that four legged animals do not have hemorrhoids. It seems that hemorrhoids are one of the prices we pay for being vertical. When you are standing or sitting vertically your intestines and vertical organs push down and apply pressure to your rectal area. Make sure that you lie down whenever you can to rest. This will relieve the pressure and will go a long way toward hemorrhoids prevention.
Check out our Recommended Treatments to maintain good anal hygiene, this is also a good preventive measure.
Try Kegel Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the anal area. These exercises strengthen the lower abdomen floor and can help to prevent hemorrhoids. This site has a fairly complete explanation of Kegel Exercises for Hemorrhoids Prevention.
These lifestyle changes may seem to be a lot of effort but just one bad episode of hemorrhoids will convince you that it is worth it.