Causes of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are like the varicose veins you might see on a person’s legs and when these bulging veins in the rectum and anus are irritated, they cause the surrounding membranes to swell up. They might burn or itch, become painful and even bleed. Hemorrhoids are then caused by too much pressure in the rectum.

The different hemorrhoids causes are as follows:

• The main cause of hemroids is constipation. If you suffer from constipation, you should change to a high bulk diet with plenty of fiber, fruit and vegetables while drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. Do not smoke and cut down on alcohol. Take a stool softener or a bulk forming laxative as a temporary measure while the change to your diet is starting to do its work. Take regular daily exercise.
• Straining during the passing of a bowel movement is another important cause. When sitting on the toilet, there are some things you can do to help. Sit up straight and lean back slightly; raise your arms above you as this helps to stretch and move your colon; place your feet on a small stool to raise your feet and take the pressure off your anus; move side to side to stretch and move your colon.
• Sitting on the toilet too long when having a bowel movement. Limit such a session to just a few minutes and don’t take any reading material as that keeps you there longer. Sitting on the toilet puts pressure on your rectum and anal veins and eventually weakens the vein walls. Train yourself to have a set time each day for a bowel movement and never put off the urge to go to the toilet.
• Sitting for long periods of time in the same position without getting up and moving around. If you have a job where you sit all the time, get up and walk around every hour or whenever you can.
• Standing in the same position for long periods of time. Again, change your position regularly.
• Severe bouts of coughing. Medication should be taken to address the coughing.
• Diarrhea. This should also be treated.
• Pregnancy. As the uterus grows, the pressure can increase on those veins situated lower in the body. In addition the pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the walls of the veins which in turn allow them to swell.
• During labor. A mother giving birth will be pushing as hard as possible to deliver a newborn so it is not surprising that many women suffer from hemorrhoids after delivery. Often these hemorrhoids resolve as the body recovers from the birthing experience.
• Heaving lifting. If you are lifting heavy weights, always breathe out as you strain or lift. Do not hold your breath. Exercise that increases intra-abdominal pressure such as weight training can also aggravate hemorrhoids. Exercise can be helpful for hemorrhoids if it is the right kind of exercise.
• Being overweight or obese. Changing to a healthy diet and of course taking plenty and regular exercise will help with this.
• Having parents who suffered from hemorrhoids – the genetic factor. Again a healthy diet and lifestyle will prevent hemorrhoids occurring in the first place.

As you can see from the above list, there are many hemorrhoid causes but in each case there are ways to remedy the problem. Remember that once hemorrhoids have occurred, there can be a recurring weakness so a healthy diet and lifestyle needs to be maintained.