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Alcohol and hemorrhoids
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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What is the connection between alcohol and hemorrhoids? Can alcohol cause hemorrhoids? It turns out that it is a very significant risk factor. It is believed that 75 percent of people experience hemorrhoid symptoms at least once in their lives. Excessive alcohol consumption is closely associated with the development of hemorrhoids and the worsening of their symptoms.
Hemorrhoids - Explanations
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that appear in the anus or rectum. Hemorrhoids occur where there is excess pressure in the veins. The veins swell and this causes pain. The most common types of hemorrhoids are:
- Prolapsed hemorrhoids occur when swollen hemorrhoids protrude into the anal cavity. These are external hemorrhoids.
- Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless, but they may bleed. External hemorrhoids, which are closer to the surface of the skin, tend to itch and can cause great discomfort.
- Combined hemorrhoids – includes symptoms of both external and internal hemorrhoids.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids
Symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
- Itching in the anal area, which can become quite intense
- Pain when passing stool, which may continue after a bowel movement
- The appearance of bright red blood on toilet paper when a person wipes
- Discovery of blood-filled patches of skin (due to prolapsed veins) in the anal area
- Pain in the anus that will get worse when a person sits down
- The patient has difficulty finding a comfortable position in bed at night due to anal discomfort
There is a direct link between alcohol and hemorrhoids
People who drink alcohol excessively tend to have problems with bowel movements. This is because alcohol acts as a diuretic, which dehydrates the body. A person who is dehydrated may suffer from constipation later on and will have to strain when opening the rectum to have a bowel movement.
Heavy drinking can also increase blood pressure, which in turn adds pressure to the veins in the anal area. Alcoholism leads to alcoholic liver disease, and this also increases the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids.
Liver cirrhosis and hemorrhoids
Those who suffer from cirrhosis of the liver have a higher risk of developing hemorrhoids. This is because scarring of the liver prevents blood from flowing freely through the liver. Blood returns to the heart from the lower parts of the body, so it needs to find alternative routes, and this adds pressure to the veins of the anal area. If the pressure becomes too much, it can lead to hemorrhoids.
How to stay within reasonable alcohol consumption limits?
Moderate alcohol consumption means no more than one alcoholic drink per day for women and people over 65, or no more than two drinks per day for men. A drink is a glass of wine, a shot of vodka or a standard bottle of beer.
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Caffeinated drinks
Very often a person worsens his condition and spoils his health by drinking alcohol with a cup of coffee. Avoid drinking too many caffeinated drinks, as this can cause constipation.
The Link Between Alcohol, Hemorrhoids, and Drinking Water
There are many facts about the negative connection between drinking water, hemorrhoids, and excessive alcohol consumption. The media and doctors constantly remind people to drink more water for better health. We all know purified water is better for us than soda, but most people prefer to drink sugary drinks and other liquids than plain water. These same sources also warn that excessive alcohol consumption and hemorrhoids are a painful reality for many heavy drinkers. Alcohol aggravates inflammation in the anal veins, which are dilated veins inside or outside the anus.
They also cause a burning pain when walking or even sitting, which is extremely painful. Severe inflammation of the veins of the anus can cause bleeding from the anal area, which is very scary. Let's take a closer look at drinking water, excessive alcohol consumption, and hemorrhoids.
Excessive alcohol consumption and hemorrhoids
Excessive alcohol consumption and hemorrhoids become a dangerous mix when it comes to heavy drinking. If a person does not drink enough water, he or she can develop early hemorrhoids within a year. People may be embarrassed and not go to the doctor, and they also do not tell anyone about hemorrhoids because they are embarrassed. When they finally do go to the doctor, they need medication. Alcohol dehydrates the body and deprives it of precious vitamins. Most people, when they drink alcohol, do not drink water between alcoholic drinks and do not take vitamins during the day or night before and after drinking.
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Lack of vitamins
Heavy drinkers are at greater risk of worsening the symptoms of existing hemorrhoids or getting a new one. This is due to dehydration from alcohol and a lack of vitamins in the body, because when intoxicated, the need for vitamins increases almost twice. It is recommended to take multivitamins 4 hours before drinking alcohol. If you drink alcohol periodically, do not forget to check the dosage of vitamins with your doctor.
Constipation
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause severe constipation and small, dry stools that are difficult to pass during bowel movements. Straining and pressure during bowel movements makes the veins and the skin around the anus inflamed. This is an important factor in hemorrhoids - internal and external - which develop quickly.
Digestive problems
People who drink alcohol excessively usually experience problems with digestion and bowel movements. This is because alcohol in any common form (beer, wine, whiskey, etc.) acts as a diuretic, which dehydrates the drinker.
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Hypertension
A person who is dehydrated suffers from constipation and has to strain to pass stool. Drinking can also lead to very high blood pressure, which in turn increases the pressure on the small veins in and around the anus.
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Important advice for alcohol drinkers
It is important to drink water even when you drink alcohol to keep your rectum well hydrated. Dehydration, constipation, and diarrhea are all great contributors to the risk of developing and developing hemorrhoids or can make existing hemorrhoids more severe and serious. Water is your friend when it comes to hemorrhoids. Excessive alcohol consumption and hemorrhoids are two things that can be avoided by drinking enough water.
So why does excessive alcohol consumption cause hemorrhoids or make their symptoms worse?
Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body, it is a diuretic, which increases the flow of urine, causing fluid loss in the body and leading to constipation. This will cause more straining with bowel movements. You should try not to strain too much when having a bowel movement, but instead take more time to try to ease the movement of the stool. Straining when having a bowel movement will also make itching and inflammation worse.
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Details about hemorrhoids and alcohol
Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins in the anus, also called varicose veins. In a healthy person, the tissue around the anus fills with blood and helps regulate bowel movements. However, when there is constant pressure or other factors that restrict blood flow, the veins in the anus become inflamed. Poor blood flow can lead to painful, swollen, protruding hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids used to occur mostly in people over 50, but with the rise of drinking culture, even among young people, the risk of developing hemorrhoids has increased. Excessive alcohol consumption, even alcoholism in young people leads to hemorrhoids - this trend began in the early 20s of the last century. Hemorrhoids are becoming younger. Pregnant women experience increased pressure on the anal veins, and this can cause and worsen hemorrhoids.
Liver stress due to alcohol will contribute to hemorrhoids. The connection between decreased liver function and hemorrhoids is well known in medical circles. If the liver deformation also occurs due to poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption or cirrhosis of the liver, the blood flow to the liver increases. A person without consulting a doctor cannot cope with this, and the blood pressure increases in the veins in the anus, causing hemorrhoids to become increasingly painful. Alcoholics and very heavy drinkers have a high incidence of hemorrhoids.
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What does alcoholism lead to with hemorrhoids
General weakness of the body, poor muscle tone in the anal area from drinking too much, a sedentary lifestyle, and being overweight. These are the effects of alcohol that aggravate hemorrhoid symptoms. Too much alcohol weakens the muscle tone and the muscles cannot hold the normal tension in the veins around the anus so that they stick out all the way. Sitting in one place at home, at work, or in a car for long periods of time also aggravates hemorrhoids, especially if the person also drinks.
Irregular diets, food depleted of vitamins and minerals, lead to worsening of hemorrhoids. Lack of protein leads to weak muscle tissue in the anal area and slows down wound healing.
Some people are predisposed to constipation or have inherited weakness in the veins of the colon and rectum, and are thus prone to hemorrhoids.
Advice for drinkers
Considering all the factors listed above, it is very important to eliminate alcohol and low-alcohol drinks such as beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks from daily consumption. In addition to the diuretic effect of alcohol, it can also irritate the hemorrhoid area, causing itching and inflammation. If you want to successfully treat hemorrhoids naturally with natural methods, it is necessary to stop or perhaps reduce alcohol consumption, especially during a hemorrhoid crisis.
In addition to alcohol, hemorrhoid sufferers should also avoid excessive caffeine consumption, which is found in coffee, chocolate, and energy drinks. Like alcohol, caffeine can also have a diuretic effect, which means the body loses water, leading to constipation.
The second effect of caffeine is that it can increase blood flow to the hemorrhoids. This increased blood flow can aggravate hemorrhoids and cause inflammation in the anal area. Eliminating these products can significantly improve the condition of hemorrhoids and give you the results you need in no time.
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How to treat hemorrhoids caused by alcohol dehydration?
Hemorrhoids caused by alcohol dehydration can be treated by drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. A proper diet can help you treat hemorrhoids caused by alcohol and caffeine consumption. Vitamin supplements and fiber, which are rich in vegetables, along with a proper lifestyle, exercise, can very well prevent the development of hemorrhoids.
And since these natural hemorrhoid treatments involve few side effects, they are mostly preferred over other treatments and surgeries.
Being aware of the various factors that can worsen the development of hemorrhoids can be of great help in preventing the development of this painful condition. There are many natural hemorrhoid treatments that you can choose from. You just have to stick to them and be disciplined in the treatment.
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