One of the highest trending health issues last year was how to prevent and treat Hemorrhoids. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), poor eating habits, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are contributing factors. They also say that hemorrhoids will affect 75% of people during their life. Women are more likely to experience hemorrhoid issues during pregnancy or childbirth.

Causes and Symptoms

Hemorrhoids are primarily caused by increased pressure of internal or external veins of the anus. Many people have small internal hemorrhoids but never know it as these types usually do not irritate and cannot be seen. If you do not eat a high fiber diet and keep active these could become inflamed and turn into painful protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoids. According to colon-rectal surgeon Dr. Herbert Lerner, M.D., you should call your doctor if you experience rectal pain, swelling, or have bleeding hemorrhoids that are dark red or black in color.

Treating Hemorrhoids

OTC creams are available to treat hemorrhoids but most only sooth the pain and irritation. These creams do not actually cure hemorrhoids, especially internal hemorrhoids that commonly cause bleeding.

A thrombosed hemorrhoid is basically a blood clot that can be relieved with a small incision under local anesthesia during outpatient surgery. Procedures such as ligation and sclerothapy cutoff blood supply with a rubber band or chemical injection to shrink hemorrhoids. Large hemorrhoids may have to be surgically removed by a hemorrhoidectomy.

Preventing Hemorrhoids

Prevention is the key to keeping your stools soft so you can go without straining. The number one way to do this to drink 64-ouces of water daily and follow these other tips as well.

• Eat foods high in fiber (fruits, vegetables, whole grains)
• Use fiber and/or colon health supplements
• Exercise or stay active without sitting for long periods of time
• Eat foods that contain good floral bacteria and digestive enzymes such as yogurt, keifer, cheese, milk and raw foods (not cooked to death)

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Eat right and take a good colon health supplement so you don’t have to face a hemorrhoidectomy or even worse, colon cancer.

SOURCE: FDA U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services