Lifestyle and hemorrhoids

In the last few decades, people have led a largely sedentary lifestyle. In the morning we sat at breakfast, then we move to your favorite seat in the car, which is stuck in traffic jams for a long time, and in the office we sit in front of the computer. From work we go by car again, and finally, in the evening, at home, after dinner, we like to plop down on the sofa to watch TV. And so every day... And then they complain of discomfort, you know where... At the clinic, the doctor, rubbing his hands, exclaims: "And you have hemorrhoids, dear, hemorrhoids..." How does lifestyle affect the occurrence of hemorrhoids?

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The cause of hemorrhoids is lifestyle

Indeed, the main cause of hemorrhoids, according to doctors from the specialized Cleveland Clinic, is a sedentary lifestyle, and only in a lesser version - excess weight, stress, spicy food and smoking. As a symptom of hemorrhoids, irritation and painful swelling of the veins of the anus also occurs due to the lack of fiber and fluid.

If a person has a deficiency of food with insoluble fiber, the stool becomes smaller in volume, while the intestines have an incredibly difficult time releasing their contents. If this is repeated many times, it creates high pressure in the veins, which subsequently leads to the formation of hemorrhoids. The best way to prevent hemorrhoids is a diet rich in fiber. This is the opinion of John Lee, a gastroenterologist, professor at the University of California, who claims, "if you eat enough fiber, you will have bulky, soft and easy-to-pass stools, this will reduce the pressure on the rectum and the risk of developing inflamed hemorrhoids.

Simple and healthy breakfast

The simple conclusion that follows from this is that if we give up our sedentary lifestyle, we need to focus on proper nutrition. For example, a guy who has to spend a significant amount of time driving his car might eat like this

Breakfast: put a glass of oatmeal in a bowl, pour 2 glasses of warm water over it overnight, and in the morning add 1 tablespoon of vanilla or any other yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey, 2 peeled cloves and 2 sliced raw apples. These ingredients are enough for 4 servings, enough for a person with the biggest appetite.

It is useful to eat apples, apricots, oranges, pears and berries, all these fruits are high in fiber. And melon contains a special fiber that is useful for preventing hemorrhoids. Passing through the digestive tract, melon absorbs water, swells and this helps the stool to come out quickly and without stress. It is recommended to eat raisins as a snack, it is tasty and healthy at the same time.

Don't forget about vegetables, they also protect against the development of hemorrhoids. Emphasis is placed on broccoli, corn, artichokes, peas, beans and lentils. Cereals, especially barley or oat bran, are also rich in fiber. But you should not eat fatty foods. Try to exclude fatty meats, fatty dairy products and high-calorie buns from your diet.

What foods should you avoid?

Simple lifestyle changes mean avoiding certain foods that may aggravate existing hemorrhoids or cause hemorrhoids to develop. Some of the types of foods you should avoid include processed foods and fast foods, low-fiber foods such as meat, cheese, ice cream, drinks containing caffeine and alcoholic beverages, and foods high in fat and sugar.

Finally, an important condition is not to consume too much alcohol. Alcohol tends to dry out the body. In dehydrated conditions, the body cannot effectively eliminate tissue loss and inflammation. Excessive alcohol consumption can certainly cause hemorrhoids.

The Importance of Water in a Healthy Lifestyle

If you are practicing high-fiber foods, it is important to increase your water intake. Although a high-fiber diet relieves constipation, if you do not increase your water intake, it can actually cause constipation and hard stools. As a rule, you should drink more than eight glasses of water each day.

And spend at least 10-15 minutes a day for physical exercise, or find time for aerobics, go to the pool. Even half an hour of exercise 2 times a week can be an excellent remedy for hemorrhoids.

Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.

Make it part of your daily routine, avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time. This can put extra pressure on the blood vessels, which can irritate the area of your hemorrhoids or cause conditions for hemorrhoids to develop.

If your routine involves a lot of sitting, it's important to take a break to go for a short walk.

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Reduce stress

Working to maintain your healthy lifestyle means working to eliminate or reduce stress as much as possible, even if it requires you to undergo therapy or counseling. Stress plays a major role in your health and well-being and can cause hemorrhoids or worsen existing hemorrhoid symptoms.

Change your bowel habits

Try not to delay having a bowel movement when you feel the urge to go to the toilet, as this puts undue strain on your blood vessels and anal veins. Make it a habit to go to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge.

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Avoid excessive heavy lifting

Heavy work for a long period of time can irritate existing hemorrhoids or cause hemorrhoids to develop. If your job requires a lot of heavy strain, you may want to consider taking a different job or making sure you have rest periods between heavy work periods.

Simple lifestyle changes are important if you are going to recover properly from hemorrhoid treatment or prevent hemorrhoids altogether. After all, it is much easier to make a few simple lifestyle changes than to endure the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids or undergo surgery.

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Regular exercise to combat constipation

Exercise causes food to move through the gastrointestinal tract faster. Sitting or standing for long periods of time results in poor muscle tone, poor posture, and can put tremendous pressure on the rectal veins. If you are overweight, this only adds to the problem.

Good muscle tone makes it easier to eliminate. And of course, when you exercise and eat right, it helps to lose extra pounds. Try walking for 20 minutes, 4-5 times a week, and you will notice the difference.

Weightlifting causes hemorrhoids

When a person does weightlifting, the body puts too much pressure on the colon. If too much pressure is placed on the colon, the colon extends outside the body, causing external hemorrhoids. Also, poor cardiovascular function dehydrates the body and causes hemorrhoids. Like oil for an engine, water is essential for proper digestion. Without enough water, the tissues become irritated, cracks in the anus occur, and thus hemorrhoids occur.

Learn how to lift weights correctly

Lifting heavy objects incorrectly can injure your back and make bowel movements painful. The correct way to lift anything, especially heavy objects, is to first bend your knees. This way, your back will not experience as much strain. It is also important to breathe correctly when lifting. Exhale as you lift the object, inhale as soon as you release the object. Again, this takes excess pressure off your lower back and rectal veins.

Lifestyle changes require effort. If these efforts are not so easy for you, tempt yourself with frequent reminders of all the pleasures you will enjoy by getting rid of hemorrhoids and preventing their recurrence. Your simple home treatment for hemorrhoids can be a lifesaver. Lifestyle changes are really necessary to avoid hemorrhoids.

Using Home Treatment

1. You can relieve moderate pain, swelling, and inflammation of hemorrhoids with home treatment. Often, this treatment is necessary for a person to relieve suffering in a timely manner.
2. Apply hemorrhoid cream or suppositories containing hydrocortisone, or use tampons containing witch hazel or pain relievers.
3. Take a warm bath or sitz bath regularly. Soak the anal area in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day. After the sitz bath, go to the toilet.
4. Keep the anal area clean. Bathe (preferably) or shower daily to clean the skin around the anus with warm water. Soap is not necessary and may only make the problem worse. Gently dry the anal area with a hair dryer or soft paper after bathing.
5. Don't use dry toilet paper. To help keep the anal area clean after a bowel movement, use wet wipes or wet toilet paper that does not contain fragrances or alcohol.
6. Apply cold. Apply ice packs or a cold compress to the anal area to reduce swelling.
7. Take oral pain relievers. You can use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, other antibiotics) temporarily to help relieve hemorrhoid discomfort.

With these treatments, hemorrhoid symptoms often go away within a few days. See your doctor if you don't get relief within a few days, or sooner if you have severe pain or bleeding.