If you do not know how to treat hemorrhoids, the following article is for you. Once people develop hemorrhoids they are not sure how to treat them; the best strategy is to learn as much as possible about eliminating them.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel works great on hemorrhoids. Witch hazel contains natural ingredients that reduce the size of the hemorrhoid, thus, providing relief. Apply the witch hazel with a cotton ball and leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, or add it to a sitz bath.
To prevent getting hemorrhoids, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. More water in your diet will make your stools much softer. Avoid both alcohol and caffeine to avoid dehydration.
Interestingly, your refrigerator likely holds one of the most commonly used home remedies for hemorrhoid discomfort. An ice pack can be improvised by wrapping ice in cloth or even putting it in a baggie. Applying ice helps to alleviate the soreness and tenderness that goes along with the condition. This can decrease your inflammation and help to provide relief.
Too much straining during bowel movements can cause hemorrhoids. Changing your diet to include less refined foods and drinking more water, will help to make stools easier to pass. Elevating the knees can also make it easier to pass stool without straining. Try using a small stool beneath your fit when on the toilet. Hemorrhoids are not a common occurrence among places in the world where the people squat to produce a bowel movement.
While it may seem incredibly silly, a portable cushion will help to relieve hemorrhoid pain in many situations. You can sometimes feel uncomfortable with these, but they can make your life much easier when you use these enough, so take some time to use cushions when possible.
Bowel Movement
If you do not want to visit your doctor and pay for a costly prescription medication, there are many all-natural treatments that can be administered in the comfort of your own home. After you have a bowel movement, soak for about 15 minutes in a sitz bath. Hemorrhoids can be quite itchy, but you want to avoid scratching because this will just aggravate the area more. Dampen some pads or cotton balls with witch hazel, instead, then apply to the area for some temporary relief. Be sure to drink plenty of water daily, and eat lots of high fiber foods. By doing this, you will not have to push too hard when having a bowel movement.
Hemorrhoids can easily be compared to chicken pox by the fact that both can be itchy to the point of driving you mad. You should not scratch the hemorrhoids because this can tear them open. If they are ripped open they are going to cause you far more pain, and open your body to getting bacterial infections.
Soften Stool
Soften your stools by eating plenty of fiber and staying well hydrated. When you soften your stool, you will not have to strain as much when you go to the bathroom, which will avoid worsening your hemorrhoid pain. Some fruits will help soften your stool. You can also help soften stool by eating green, leafy vegetables such as cabbage. These fiber-rich foods naturally soften stool. In addition, drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will help prevent hemorrhoids.
Be sure to consumer plenty of water. This is very important in the prevention of hemorrhoids since it flushes out your system and reduces the potential for constipation and straining. Drinking plenty of water can keep you from becoming constipated, which will then help you to avoid hemorrhoids. This will help you cleanse your body routinely. Drink at least eight to ten glasses of water each day.
Maintain a high fiber diet. If you eat a good deal of fiber, you will have softer stools. If your stool is softer, you won't have to strain to eliminate it from your body. This helps reduce hemorrhoid pain. You may be able to make your stool softer by consuming fiber supplements and fruits.
Drink plenty of water. If your body does not have enough water to function properly, it will remove it from other sources, such as your stools. This will make your stool hard, thus, causing painful bowel movements. You can avoid this problem by making sure to drink enough water each day to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated.
Laxatives are great for quick one time relief, but they aren't a permanent solution. Laxatives can help you through a rough patch, but they should not be used for any length of time.
If the pain and inflammation is becoming severe, soak in a bathtub filled with warm water whenever possible. Fill the tub with just a few inches of warm water and sit in it for 10 minutes to relieve the pain and swelling. Try sitting with your knees raised. Don't be in a rush; stay until water temperature begins to reduce.
Any symptoms you have that may be caused by hemorrhoids should be checked out by a physician. Many people have difficulty differentiating between polyps and hemorrhoids. If you do not have the resources to determine the difference yourself, a simple check-up with a doctor can put you at ease.
You should now be able to handle any hemorrhoid situation that arises. Look for additional resources and try different methods until you find one that works well for you.