If you or a loved one has ever had hemorrhoids, you know that they can be painful and uncomfortable to deal with and difficult to avoid. Get relief from the discomfort and embarrassment that hemorrhoids cause by reading the tips below.
A basic and easy home treatment for hemorrhoids is the application of first ice, next heat. Alternating between ice and heat helps minimize the size of the hemorrhoid and helps it to heal. You should start with ice, applied for about 10 minutes per day, then switch to a moist heat, which you should leave on for around 20 minutes.
Use witch hazel for relieving hemorrhoid discomfort and pain. Witch hazel is an astringent that will shrink or constrict the hemorrhoid tissue, bringing relief and healing. Put the witch hazel on with a piece of cotton and let it sit for five to ten minutes or have a sitz bath to put it in.
Drinking plenty of water is a good way to avoid getting hemorrhoids, especially if you are someone who suffers from them frequently. Keeping yourself hydrated can help to soften your stool. Also, you will want to limit your consumption of caffeine products, as well as alcohol.
If hemorrhoids are a problem for you, drink plenty of water and add a bit of lemon to each glass. Lemons can help you because they thin the bloodstream and reduce inflammation that may be causing you discomfort. Lemon water can improve how you feel.
To ease your concerns regarding hemorrhoids, make sure you understand what they are. Learn as much as you can about hemorrhoids if you are suffering from them. The basic idea is that a hemorrhoid is caused by a bundle of nerves becoming swollen and sensitive.
A portable cushion is a helpful device for relief from pain when seated. You may feel uncomfortable using it at work, but when you are riding in your car or at home it can help to relieve a great deal of the pain making your life a bit easier.
Believe it or not, heavy lifting may cause you to get hemorrhoids. Heavy lifting strains your body in essentially the same way that you strain when trying hard to have a bowel movement. If you experience hemorrhoids frequently, try to avoid any heavy lifting.
To promote softer stools, you should drink as much water as possible and increase your intake of fiber. 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. There are many different foods you can try here. Nuts and seeds, corn, grapes, watermelon and many other food sources will help soften your stool. Vegetables with high fiber content, like cabbage, also help keep the stools soft. You want to stay hydrated as well, so make sure you drink a lot of water throughout your day.
Weight loss can help alleviate pain caused by hemorrhoids. Being overweight can contribute to hemorrhoid development. The pressure on your abdominal area from extra weight and waste increases pressure in the anal veins. Lose weight by following a high fiber diet, and you will alleviate the pressure on these areas of the body. Make sure you avoid excessively using laxatives; you don’t want to hurt your body as using them too much can be very unhealthy.
If you think you are constipated, take a walk in advance of trying to make a bowel movment. This stimulates the body’s organs, including the bowels. By doing this, you can avoid unnecessary straining that will make hemorrhoids worsen or become irritated. Walk as briskly as possible for roughly 10-15 minutes.
Give yourself a warm sitz bath on a regular basis to help reduce pain and swelling. Fill the tub with about a foot of lukewarm water and then have a gentle seat in it; the water will help to increase the flow of blood and thus reduce the swelling in your rectum. Lift your knees into an upright position. Stay in this position for for an adequate amount of time, waiting until the water starts to cool at least.
Drinking aloe juice can help loosen your stools and make it easier to make a bowel movement. If you have a problem with the taste, mix it with apple juice. Look at the label to ensure you are consuming the amount recommended. Just beware that excessive amounts of Aloe Vera juice could lead to stomach discomfort.
You can use cream to relieve yourself, but don’t use it all that often. Creams do little to alleviate the painful irritation, swelling, or bleeding associated with hemorrhoids. However, creams are useful for numbing particularly bad pain that comes along with hemorrhoid flare-ups. If you’ll be using a cream like this for longer than one week, talk it over with your physician. If they are overused, they may cause more discomfort.
If you find blood in your bowel movements, you shouldn’t panic and immediately run to the hospital. Unfortunately, bleeding is just a natural side effect of a hemorrhoid. What you need to do is consume some more fiber, or take a stool softener so that you will have an easier time passing stools. Firm stools are causing friction with the hemorrhoid on their way out, which can result in bleeding.
When hemorrhoid pain gets intense, it is best to stay away from any food that creates gas. Hemorrhoids can be irritated and inflamed by the strain of passing gas. This undesirable sensation is sure to follow a meal of gas-inducing food, and therefore it is wise to steer clear of them altogether.
You should know enough about hemorrhoids by now to have a better idea of what you need to try to get rid of yours. Apply these tips to minimize the pain, and prevent your hemorrhoids from coming back.