Lifestyle Modification & Preventing Hemorrhoids

Author:

Dr. Kailas M. Chopad, M.S (Scholar)
Dr. Sunita R. Khatri, M.S (Scholar)
Dr. Subhash Y. Raut, Prof. Shalyatantra Dept
Dr. Arun M. Lakhpati, Asso. Prof. Shalyatantra Dept.,
Govt. Ayurved College, Nagpur.

A precise definition of hemorrhoids does not exist, but they can be described as masses or clumps (cushions) of tissue within the anal canal that contain blood vessels and the surrounding supporting tissue made up of muscle and elastic fibers.

According to the Indian Journal of Surgery, among 2000 consecutive proctological examinations, a 72% incidence of hemorrhoids was found. About 50% of the population over the age of 50 years worldwide suffers from hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are extremely common, and the risk of developing hemorrhoids increases with age. Since the dawn of civilization, the notorious and problematic nature of this disease is not uncommon; that is why Acharya Sushruta, the "Father of surgery," stated Arsha in Ashtaumahagada.

Preventing hemorrhoids is the best way of dealing with them. They can be one of the most embarrassing and frustrating health problems to have. With that, there are a number of things that can be done to prevent hemorrhoids. It is a good idea to take preventative steps to promote a healthy lifestyle that can reduce the risk of getting hemorrhoids.

Dietary changes are crucial to hemorrhoids home treatment, but they may not be enough. Keeping your digestive tract functioning properly may also require the following lifestyle changes:

Exercise:

Practice good hygiene
Train your bowels
Learn to lift properly

Thus, lifestyle changes play a vital role in preventing as well as managing hemorrhoids.

Dietary Changes - Diet for Hemorrhoids:

Eating healthy foods is essential not only for people affected by different medical conditions but also for those in good health. However, the diet becomes even more important when they are affected by hemorrhoids. Through a treatment for relief from hemorrhoids such as surgery or a fixative treatment, it is important to increase daily intake of fiber and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Changing the diet will reduce the possibility of constipation and hard stools, which promote straining during bowel movements causing a hemorrhoid condition to return.

Importance of Water:

Speaking of liquids, it’s important to be aware of the fact that water plays a critical role in any hemorrhoid home treatment method. Whether the patient drinks it or uses it for a sitz bath, water is extremely important for treating hemorrhoids. While practicing a high fiber diet, it is important to increase water intake as well. Although a high fiber diet relieves constipation, if water intake is not increased, a high fiber diet can actually become the cause for constipation and hard stools. Hence, as a general rule, one should be drinking more than eight glasses of water each day.

Avoiding Certain Foods:

Simple lifestyle changes mean avoiding certain foods that can exacerbate an existing hemorrhoid condition or cause a hemorrhoid condition to develop. Some of the food should be avoided include processed foods and fast foods, low fiber foods such as meat, cheese, and ice cream, caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages, and foods that are high in fats and sugars.

Lifestyle Changes:

Exercise:

Regular exercise fights constipation. Exercise makes food move through your digestive tract faster. Sitting or standing for long periods, poor muscle tone, and poor posture all can place enormous pressure on your rectal veins. If you’re overweight, this only intensifies the problem. Good muscle tone makes it easier to eliminate. And, of course, when you exercise and eat right, it helps shed excess pounds. Try walking for 20 minutes, 4-5 times a week, and notice the difference.

Practice Good Hygiene:

To cure hemorrhoids or to prevent them from worsening, avoid cleaning your bottom too often. Cleanliness does help hemorrhoids to heal faster, but there’s no need to be obsessive about it. Paying too much attention to the area by constantly wiping and cleaning it can be as big a problem as ignoring it. Instead, clean the area twice a day by wiping it with a pat of witch hazel. Then, add petroleum jelly or a hemorrhoidal cream to aid healing. After using the toilet, don’t use scented toilet paper or anything else with perfume in it to wipe. Wiping with a premoistened wipe before using the toilet paper to dry may be less rough on your sensitive skin. Squatting, rather than sitting, is the most effective position for quick and pain-free bowel movements.

Train Your Bowels:

Don’t strain. Straining and holding your breath when trying to pass a stool creates greater pressure in the veins in the lower rectum. Go as soon as you feel the urge. If you wait to pass a bowel movement and the urge goes away, your stool could become dry and be harder to pass. Avoid long periods of standing or sitting. Sitting too long, particularly on the toilet, can increase the pressure on the veins in the anus. Some practitioners believe that squatting, rather than sitting, is the most effective position for quick and pain-free bowel movement.

Learn to Lift Properly:

Lifting the wrong way can injure your back and make bowel movements painful. The right way to lift anything, especially heavy objects, is, first, to bend your knees. You want to lift with the power generated by your knees, not your back. It’s also important to breathe properly when lifting. Exhale as you lift; inhale as you release or set down the object. Again, this takes away excess pressure on your lower back and rectal veins.

Simple lifestyle changes are important while going to recover properly from hemorrhoid treatment or prevent hemorrhoids altogether. After all, it is easier to make a few simple lifestyle changes than to endure the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids or hemorrhoid surgery. Lifestyle changes do require effort. If the effort doesn’t come easily to you, entice yourself with frequent reminders of all the ways you’re going to benefit by getting rid of your hemorrhoids and preventing them from recurring.