If you are faced with the unfortunate condition of hemorrhoids and do not know how to treat them, continue reading. Not many people know how to effectively treat hemorrhoids, so it is important to do as much research as you can regarding how to deal with them.
A long-term effective treatment for uncomfortable and painful hemorrhoids is to eat a lot of fiber. You should eat whole grain foods, pasta, oatmeal and a lot of leafy green vegetables. Bowel motility thrives with regular fiber, and a lot of fiber also reduces the straining that encourages hemorrhoids to form.
When it comes to relieving the discomfort of hemorrhoids, combined hot-and-cold therapy is one of your best bets. Alternating heat and ice can help heal and shrink the hemorrhoid. Keep the ice on the affected area at least ten minutes every day, then follow it up with moist, warm heat for twenty minutes.
Witch hazel is an excellent way to treat the discomfort that goes along with hemorrhoids. Witch hazel has astringent properties that will shrink the hemorrhoid tissues, which will promote healing. You can add witch hazel in a sitz bath. You can also apply it using a cotton ball, but only leave it on for about 10 minutes.
If you suffer from hemorrhoids, prevent further aggravation of the condition by keeping substances that contain scents, dyes, and essential oils away from the inflamed area. Exposure to such chemicals, even momentarily, may cause severe discomfort, swelling and itching.
There are actually a lot of things in your own kitchen that you can use to relieve yourself from hemorrhoids. For example, you can use ice to make a cooling compress. A cold compress like an ice pack will dissipate swelling and help to get rid of the lingering pain. This can decrease your inflammation and help to provide relief.
Too much strain while using the bathroom is one major cause of hemorrhoids. To soften the stool a person should get plenty of water, eat a high fiber diet and avoid highly processed foods. Squatting can prevent straining during bowel movements as well. Buy a small stool or use a wood box for your feet while sitting on the toilet. In certain places in the world, people squat when having a bowel movement. It is in these locations that people rarely suffer from hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids can be lessened if you consume breads made from whole wheat. Consuming whole wheat bread can also give red, irritated skin some relief. Try making your sandwiches with wheat bread instead of white bread.
Many people find that portable cushions afford a great deal of relief from their hemorrhoids. Using in at your workplace may make you feel a bit silly, but even just using it in your car and at home will help relieve much of the pain you're experiencing and make your hemorrhoids less stressful.
If you have hemorrhoids, you shouldn't depend on particular laxatives to assist you in relieving constipation. These should not be used for more than an occasional boost to your normal body function. If you experience issues regularly, it's best to make changes to your diet instead. Overusing laxatives can actually make your stool harder.
Weight loss can help alleviate pain caused by hemorrhoids. Overweight people tend to suffer from hemorrhoids more often. Extra weight puts a lot of strain on your lower body, including your anal veins. Foods that are high in fiber can alleviate pressure, so consider this when choosing a regime for losing weight. Don't take laxatives to lose weight or use them to treat hemorrhoids since this is very unhealthy.
While the cause is most likely hemorrhoids, you should always consult with your doctor. Having stools that are bloody or bleeding in the rectum could mean you have life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer. Save yourself the anxiety and grief by scheduling an appointment with your doctor. If it happens to be hemorrhoids, your doctor will tell you the best way to treat it.
Consume a good amount of water. Water is an ideal method of preventing hemorrhoids. Drinking plenty of water prevents constipation, a leading cause of hemorrhoids. An added benefit is that it contributes to the cleansing of your system. You should strive to drink a minimum of 10 glasses of water per day.
If you've ended up with hemorrhoids, consider getting a donut cushion. A donut cushion is designed with a hole in the middle for your bottom and keeps the sensitive hemorrhoid from contact with hard surfaces. It is far more comfortable to sit on a doughnut cushion than on a regular cushion.
Apply a cream occasionally. The use of cream will only reduce the pain, it will not take away any swelling you are experiencing. If you must use these creams for a greater amount of time than one week, you should ensure your doctor is fine with this. Using creams too often could cause pain rather than relief.
A tip to avoid injuries to your hemorrhoids is to try to gently push them back inside the anus. You could slip them inside if your hemorrhoids aren't very large. Doing so will help prevent clothing from rubbing against them which can cause even more pain. Stop pushing on the hemorrhoid if you feel pain. Also, you should never try to adjust the position of a large hemorrhoid, as you can hurt yourself if you do.
You could reduce the chance of hemorrhoids by exercising your anus. If you do not get enough exercise, your blood might not be flowing properly. Every few hours, flex your anus muscles a few times, hold it for five seconds and then release.
Now that you have some insight on what to do about hemorrhoids, you can hopefully form some strategies for success that can help you alleviate your problem. However, there are plenty of other treatment methods available, so don't stop researching the subject. By increasing your knowledge and putting it to use, you should be able to successfully treat your hemorrhoids in a short period of time.
