How to prevent hemorrhoids?
Haemorrhoid symptoms often settle down after a few days, without needing treatment. Haemorrhoids that occur during pregnancy often get better after giving birth. However, making lifestyle changes to reduce the strain on the blood vessels in and around your anus is often recommended. These can include: gradually increasing the amount of fibre in your diet – good sources of fibre include fruit, vegetables, wholegrain rice, wholewheat pasta and bread, pulses and beans, seeds, nuts and oats drinking plenty of fluid – particularly water, but avoiding or cutting down on caffeine and alcohol not delaying going to the toilet – ignoring the urge to empty your bowels can make your stools harder and drier, which can lead to straining when you do go to the toilet avoiding medication that causes constipation – such as painkillers that contain codeine losing weight (if you're overweight) exercising regularly – can help prevent constipation, reduce your blood pressure and help you lose weight These measures can also reduce the risk of haemorrhoids returning, or even developing in the first place. Medication that you apply directly to your back passage (known as topical treatments) or tablets bought from a pharmacy or prescribed by your GP may ease your symptoms and make it easier for you to pass stools. There are various treatment options for more severe haemorrhoids. One of these options is banding, which is a non-surgical procedure where a very tight elastic band is put around the base of the haemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. The haemorrhoid should fall off after about a week. Surgery carried out under general anaesthetic (where you're unconscious) is sometimes used to remove or shrink large or external haemorrhoids.