How to Find Relief From Hemorrhoids

by Dr Susan Jewell MD

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in the veins around the anus due to a disease. drugs, and certain lifestyle and diet. It is more common in older people, pregnancy, childbirth, constipation and chronic diarrhea. The hemorrhoids are swollen veins due to pressure.

1 Sitz bath is a great way to sooth the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids. Fill a bath tube with warm water. You can add some aromatherapy oils. Sit in the bath with the knees raised in 4 inches of water. The warmth from the water helps to decrease the pain and the swelling

2 Hemorrhoid creams and suppositories are readily available at many supermarkets and health stores and local pharmacy. Most do not help the hemorrhoids to go away but they do contain some amounts of painkiller medication so will help decrease the pain associated with the hemorrhoids.

3 Changing your diet to eating more fibre containing foods, like fruits and vegetables, will certainly help to reduce the occurrence of hemorrhoids. Increase fluid intake along with a healthy diet. This will help to produce more softer stools and reduce the frequency of constipation .

4 Using lubrication like petroleum jelly, creams before passing the stools will help the passage of the stool through the painful area of the anus affected.. Use a cotton swab to dab some jelly about half inch into the rectum.

5 Don’t life heavy objects or do strenuous exercises when you have a bout of hemorrhoids as these activities will also place increase pressure similar to straining from constipation of the rectum. as somebody during these situations to carry or lift heavy items for you until you have healed from the episode.

6 Use pre moistened medicated wipes after passing the stool to maintain a Clean area and reduce the risk of getting infections around the area of the hemorrhoids. Certain companies, like Kimberly-Clark have made products that offers water-moistened flushable toilet paper sheets on a roll. Some contain soothing medications like aloe. Most of these products are environmentally green and can be flushed down the toilet after use.

7 Try not to aggravated the hemorrhoids by scratching or using rough texture products to clean the area. This will delay the healing process and increase the risk of infections.

8 Try using witch hazel to alleviate some of the symptoms. You can buy this in most health store and supermarkets. Dab the witch hazel around the rectum and the external hemorrhoids with a cotton ball. Witch Hazel causes the shrinkage and contraction of blood vessels.

9 Icy cold water and icy witch hazel lotion will help to reduce the pain from the hemorrhoids Put a bottle of witch Hazel in the fridge or in a bucket of ice to chill. The use a cotton ball and soak it in the lotion and dab this around the affected area until the coldness disappears. Repeat several times.

10 Reduce the salt intake in the diet. Excess salt can worsen the hemorrhoids since it can retain the fluid in the body and cause the veins to swell even more around the anus.

11 Use a doughnut shape pillow to help reduce the pressure on the hemorrhoids when you are sitting in the chair. These cushions are readily available at local drugstores and some pharmacies.

12 Certain foods and beverages causes more irritation and increase the duration of the symptoms associated with the hemorrhoids. Avoid drinking coffee or any beverages with high caffeine content and reduce the intake of strong spicy food and chilly sauces, beer and soft drinks.

13 Certain herbal treatments can also help the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Collinsonia also known as stoneroot have been reported to strengthen the structure of veins and acts as an astringent which may help shrink the vessels.
Take two 375 milligram capsules two times a day with water between meals for really acute problems

14 Hemorrhoids are common during pregnancy due to increase pressure around the pelvis caused by the developing fetus. The uterus is positioned directly above the blood vessels that drains the haemorrhoidal vein and when there is compression to this area then the vessels swells and hemorrhoids occurs. A method to reduce the formation of hemorrhoids during pregnancy is to lie on the LEFT side for about 20 minutes every 4 to 6 hours. This helps to reduce the pressure on the main vein which drains the lower half of the body.

15 LOSE WEIGHT. Obesity is the most common cause of hemorrhoids. The weight causes increase pressure on the lower part of the body and increases the frequency of hemorrhoids and associated symptoms. It also increases the risks of getting varicose veins