Haemorrhoids, or piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in the lower rectum and anus. This condition can be uncomfortable, but it usually isn’t serious if you get treatment right away. Haemorrhoids can develop from straining too hard during bowel movements or from having constipation over time, but they can also happen spontaneously and don’t have a clear cause in some cases. If you have haemorrhoids, you can take care of them by using some simple at-home treatments and products to help shrink your haemorrhoids until they disappear completely on their own.
Read more: What Are The Best Treatment Options For Hemorrhoids?
6 Tips to Treat and Prevent Haemorrhoids
1. Apply a hemorrhoid cream or ointment to the affected area.
2. Take a sitz bath two or three times a day for 20 minutes each time.
3. Eat high-fibre foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, to help soften your stool and make it easier to pass.
4. Drink eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and help reduce constipation.
5. Avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time without taking a break to move around.
6. Try over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to help relieve pain associated with haemorrhoids.
Keep your stools soft
If you’re struggling with hemorrhoids, the first step is to add more fibre to your diet. This will help keep your stools soft, which will make them easier to pass and less likely to irritate your haemorrhoids. Aim for 25 grams of fibre per day from sources like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You can also take a fibre supplement if needed.
Eat fibre
Dietary fibre comes from plant foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. It’s an essential part of a healthy diet, and it can help you in many ways. For one, fibre adds bulk to your stool, which can help with constipation. Fibre also softens your stool, making it easier to pass. And finally, fibre can help reduce your risk of haemorrhoids by keeping your stools regular and soft.
So how much fibre do you need? The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams per day for men. But most Americans only consume about 15 grams of fibre per day. To increase your fibre intake, aim for at least 30 grams per day.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your haemorrhoids. That means drinking plenty of fluids, like water and herbal tea, and eating foods that are high in water content, like fruits and vegetables. Additionally, you should avoid constipating foods, like dairy and red meat, and excessive amounts of caffeine. If you’re struggling to stay hydrated, talk to your doctor about adding a stool softener to your diet.
Increase your exercise routine
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your haemorrhoids very often. But if you have them, they can be a real pain-literally. Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in your anus and rectum. They can be inside or outside of your body, and they can be itchy and painful. But there are things you can do to relieve the discomfort. One of the best things you can do is to increase your exercise routine. Exercise helps improve circulation and reduces pressure on the veins in your anal and rectal area. It also helps keep your stools soft, which will help reduce the pain of hemorrhoids. So if you’re dealing with hemorrhoids, make sure to get moving!
Take it easy on the toilet
You may have heard that hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the anus and rectum. They occur when the blood vessels in these areas become engorged and bulge, kind of like varicose veins in your legs. Hemorrhoids can be painful, itchy, and can even bleed. But don’t worry, there are things you can do to ease the discomfort and keep them from getting worse.
