Hemorrhoids And Constipation

Hemorrhoids and Constipation: What a Pain

Hemorrhoids and constipation go together like hand in glove, and for many is a common problem. Constipation alone can be a problem, and when it continues it simply leads to the hemorrhoids. This combination can occur in any age range, but as we get older it seems to be more of a challenge. Many people just want to know how to make the vicious cycle stop, and live a normal life without pain and embarrassment.

A healthy diet is always key in correcting many diseases and conditions, but for most people healthy is considered just eating a salad once a day or once a week. Constipation comes from three main sources:

Not going to the bathroom when prompted by our natural physical reflexes.
Not eating enough fiber.
Taking antacids, anti-depressants, and other types of medication.

The truth is, the first reason mentioned just shouldn’t be a reason at all. If you feel the need to have a bowel movement, you need to get to a place where you can use the restroom. This is how our body works and when we interrupt our body’s natural processes, we just run into a bigger problem. The reflex once stopped may not return for several hours, and by the time it does you may have a problem. The longer the stool sits in your intestinal track, the harder it becomes and therefore makes it very difficult to pass. Once you finally get to the point of having a bowel movement, the stress and strain will cause hemorrhoids to develop.

The second option is to increase fiber intake. Increasing your fiber is fairly easy but it definitely is a matter of finding something you like that you will eat more of. Eating a minimum of three apples a day is helpful since they are full of fiber, or if you try a few different fiber cereals on the market you are sure to find one you can tolerate. There are several types of beans or legumes you can eat to increase your fiber. If you drink coffee or iced tea and you prefer to sweeten it, replace any sugars with Stevia. Stevia is a plant that has extracts that can be used as a sweetener, but is not sugar at all. The Stevia sweetener is naturally high in fiber, so just using one packet goes a long way.

The third issue at hand with medicines is not so simple. Those on anti-depressants can’t just stop taking their medication. Anyone with severe heartburn or acid reflux would have a hard time going off their antacids. If hemorrhoids and constipation is a problem talk with your doctor about all of these as possible reasons why this is happening. When you are on medicines that you can’t stop taking, then increasing fiber intake may be the best and only option until you can go off the medicines. There is a popular supplement that you can get called Swiss Kriss which is an all natural laxative that you can use for the time being. Overall the natural options are best if you can find them, but talk with your doctor and start doing some research on your own.

The constipation when corrected can save you from the pain and embarrassment of hemorrhoids. This is something you want to get corrected because hemorrhoids can cause more internal problems. Hemorrhoids are just another term for enlarged veins, and when they get worse the tissue there can become cracked and start bleeding. If a hemorrhoid begins to expand, this would lead to a deeper injury that doctors call an “anal fissure”. When this happens and in severe cases it may have to be surgically repaired. There are also internal hemorrhoids that grow when the internal blood vessels become enlarged making it difficult for any bowel movement to occur at all. It is best in this case sometimes to use suppositories to make the passage of stool easier for the time being then other measures will need to be taken to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. Suppositories aren’t good for long term use because your body will become dependent on them.

Overall, constipation and hemorrhoids generally begin because of a low fiber diet, or it begins as a side effect of prescription medications. Talk to you doctor about some options to help get this corrected so you can live a pain free life.