subject: Do You Make These Mistakes with Hemorrhoids? [print this page] Do You Make These Mistakes with Hemorrhoids?
The distended and inflamed veins in and around your anus are called piles or hemorrhoids. If you have them you probably know it and already know something about them. Most of the time a painful hemorrhoidal flare up will settle down, heal on its own and vanish from your mind. Without correcting some chronic mistakes, however, they will very likely strike again whether it takes weeks or months.
A few things that promote hemorrhoids include:
Pushing and straining when moving the bowels
Staying on the toilet too long
Pregnancy
Anal intercourse
Weak muscle tone
Slouching posture
Chili and other hot spices
Gravity (too much standing)
An over-acidic pH imbalance
While there other factors we could consider, I'll focus on a few you can easily do something to correct. If you want to heal your hemorrhoids you might be making some of the mistakes below.
Pushing and straining when moving the bowels
Pushing and straining to the move the bowels is likely the biggest culprit that triggers painful hemorrhoidal flare ups. The main reason you strain to relieve yourself is constipation. If everything slid out smoothly and easily there'd be no reason to push. So eating a diet of highly processed convenience foods is a major mistake.
On top of that, you worsen the problem if you don't drink enough water every day. When you don't get enough water your stools get drier and harder and more difficult to pass.
Go to the bathroom quickly as soon as you feel the urge. We used to squat in the woods rather than sitting on toilets and that was a much better posture to minimize strain. Leaning forward with your elbows touching your knees and your feet raised up onto the balls of your feet should help. This helps to create a straighter, more open path for evacuation.
Wiping your bottom too roughly or with rough paper is another mistake. Damp toilet paper can work well, and go gently. Don't create any unnecessary rubbing and irritation.
We who live in technologically advanced cultures are the most prone to suffer from hemorrhoids. Tribal communities without sit-down toilets and processed foods don't seem to get them.
Sitting too long -- On the toilet or off
Sitting on the toilet with your bottom unsupported for extended periods is a mistake. Reading, talking on the phone or doing anything else that encourages you to sit longer only makes the situation worse.
And then you probably go and sit all day at work. While technically a mistake, this is typically an inescapable fact of office life. You probably don't have an alternative to sitting for hours on end if you have an office job. You can relieve the pressure somewhat by getting up every hour or so, just for a minute, and stretchiing or walking to get your blood flowing a little. Thickly padded, comfortable chairs can also help a lot.
An inactive lifestyle - Little or no regularly scheduled exercise
Even light and brief aerobic exercise like 20-minute brisk walks can help stimulate healthy bowel function and improve muscle tone. Many authorities agree the absense of regular exercise to get your blood pumping is a mistake for those looking to heal hemorrhoids. Exercising your buttocks muscles also helps.
