Among the most effective hemorrhoid treatments are things such as boosting dietary fiber, consuming greater amounts of water, taking non-prescription NSAID medications, taking sitz baths and getting sufficient sleep. Surgery is rare and only used for very severe cases. In this article, you'll learn more about your treatment options, and find a variety of ways you can relieve the pain of hemorrhoids.
To help prevent hemorrhoids, make sure your diet is full of fiber. Try eating more leafy greens, pastas, oatmeal and whole grain breads. The two major benefits of a high-fiber diet are that it prevents strain during bowel movements and it prevents constipation.
Hemorrhoid sufferers can try a number of home remedies to relieve their discomfort. It is recommended you use a sitz bath a few times each day, for approximately 10 minutes or so each time. Use a cold compress on the affected area, too.
Witch Hazel
To relieve the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids, try using witch hazel. This item is an astringent, and it works by shrinking the tissue around the hemorrhoids. This, in turn, will promote healing of the area and pain relief. You can easily apply a cotton ball or pad soaked in witch hazel to the affected area for 5 minutes. A few drops in a sitz bath may also help.
If you have hemorrhoids, you should avoid using products that contain dyes, oils and fragrance as they may exacerbate your condition. Exposure to these substances can cause the hemorrhoids to sting, become more painful and make the itching intensify.
To prevent getting hemorrhoids, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Your stools will be softer if you are hydrated. Avoid both alcohol and caffeine to avoid dehydration.
The high amount of fiber in whole wheat bread can be the perfect food to add to your diet to reduce your hemorrhoids. It can cut down on the amount of redness and irritation you are experiencing. Try making your sandwiches with wheat bread instead of white bread.
It may not seem like it, but sitting on a small cushion can help reduce the pain from hemorrhoids. While toting a doughnut cushion with you to work might seem a bit awkward, it is ideal for use in your vehicle or while you are at home.
Although there are a number of medications used to treat hemorrhoids, you may find some relief with homemade remedies. Soaking in a warm tub for 15 minutes following a bowel movement can help to relax the area. Never scratch or rub itching hemorrhoids, as this will only make the problem worse. Try using a bit of witch hazel on a cotton pad to help relieve the itch. Fill your diet with plenty of fiber, and be sure to drink lots of water, at least eight glasses a day. These steps can prevent constipation, which can lead to straining while passing stool.
Much like chicken pox or other skin irritations, hemorrhoids can cause great exasperation due to their itchiness. Scratching them could cause them to bleed and become infected. If they rip open they can be more painful, and you could get a bacterial infection.
Keep your stool soft by drinking plenty of water each day and eat a diet that full of high fiber foods. Softer stools can relieve or prevent hemorrhoids because there won't be as much strain. You can eat fruits like grapes, watermelon, and papaya to help soften your stool. Foods high in fiber and some vegetables, such as okra, can assist in softer bowel movements. The effects will be maximized if you also include high quantities of water in your daily diet.
Get thin to reduce the severity of hemorrhoids. Overweight people tend to suffer from hemorrhoids more often. The additional pressure placed on the abdomen due to excess pounds and waste material causes unnecessary pressure to be placed on the anal veins. You want to try and lose weight, so eat foods high in fiber so you can take some of this pressure from your body. However, stay away from using laxatives as a hemorrhoid treatment, as this isn't healthy.
Believe it or not, warm water helps to relieve and treat hemorrhoids. Use warm water on your rectum for around ten minutes per day and then put a cold towel on the hemorrhoids. Most pharmacies sell toilet baths, which you may want to purchase.
Consume a lot of high fiber foods. Fiber helps soften your stool. If your stool is softer, you won't have to strain to eliminate it from your body. This helps reduce hemorrhoid pain. Certain foods that contain fiber and fiber supplements can help to soften stool.
Hydrate yourself often. If your body is dehydrated, it affects your stool. This can lead to stool becoming hard, which will mean going to the bathroom can become painful. Make sure that you consume the daily recommended amount of 32oz of water per day, and then dehydration will not occur.
Try sitting in a tub that has warm water, for relieving swelling and pain as often as you can. Fill the tub with approximately six inches or more of water at a medium warm temperature. This will greatly reduce the discomfort of hemorrhoidal flareups. Sit in the bath with your knees slightly elevated. Make sure you have sat there long enough to give yourself some relief.
As mentioned earlier, many treatments are available that help alleviate the uncomfortable and often unbearable symptoms of hemorrhoids. You should try to avoid surgery unless a professional recommends it and believes that the hemorrhoids you have are excessively severe. If you are able to identify possible causes and triggers of your hemorrhoids, you may be able to avoid or reduce recurrent problems.