7 Self-Care Tips to Prevent Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid is the protrusion of swollen veins in the anal canal. Most of the time it is non life-threatening, but it can definitely hamper your quality of life. You can't sit well because it hurts down there. You can't tell your friends because you find it embarrassing. Whether it is internal or external hemorrhoid and even if your life's not at stake, you need to get rid of it. If you think that it is newly protruded, aside from going to the doctor, you can do the following self care tips. 

1. Water Therapy. The main cause of hemorrhoids is excessive straining while having a bowel movement. This is because your stool hardened and it can't be easily released. Water can help in softening of the tool for easy bowel movement. Water can also be very soothing to inflamed and itchy hemorrhoids. You can get relief from soaking the rectal area in warm water within 10 minutes. You can also apply cold compress to get relief from it. 
2. Include more Fiber in your diet. Constipation is also a cause of hemorrhoid formations because it will require you to exert more force when you poop, hence, straining the anal canal.  A high fiber diet can alleviate the pain of hemorrhoids by softening your stool. You must include fruits, vegetables, beans and brans as well as whole grain cereal. 
3. Get Enough Exercise. Physical activity is a key component of preventing/treating hemorrhoids, but you must avoid heavy lifting and anal intercourse because it will increase and worsen hemorrhoid symptoms. Exercise can stimulate bowel movement; preventing constipation. 
4. Act on Urge. Whenever you feel the urge, you need to have time and sit down and use the bathroom. It is not necessary to be done in the morning, but it is important to act on your urge to defecate. Delaying defecation can lead to constipation and aggravation of hemorrhoid development. 
5. Be aware of the precautions. When you have hemorrhoid you must not engage in activities that will force you to exert force in the lower extremities of the body such as lifting of heavy objects because it will aggravate the hemorrhoid flare ups. 
6. Try over-the-counter Products. There are over the counter products that offer quick relief from hemorrhoid symptoms. You can find some hemorrhoid creams, foams, gels, pads and suppositories that does not need prescriptions. You can also use oral medications that can reduce inflammation such as acetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen. 
7. Be more careful when you are expecting. Pregnancy is also one of the causes of hemorrhoids. While the fetus is growing inside your womb, there is a force that is exerted in the pelvic region in which you can feel rectal pain and itching. This time you must not take over the counter products because it might affect the health of your baby. You can reduce pain through lying on your left side to reduce pressure on veins that cause swelling and hemorrhoids. 

Hemorrhoid easily heals but can come back by the time you don't take care of yourself. When you already had hemorrhoid before, you must maintain your fiber-rich diet and water therapy to ensure that it will not come back in the future.