Can i prevent hemorrhoids

The most effective way to avoid constipation is to go to the bathroom when you first feel the urge. Delaying a bowel movement allows the bowel to reabsorb water from the stool. This makes stool harder when you finally do go. When to see your doctor. Hemorrhoids are typically easy to treat and clear up on their own.

In very rare cases, a hemorrhoid could cause complications. Chronic blood loss from a hemorrhoid could cause anemia , which is a shortage of red blood cells. Internal hemorrhoids can also have their blood supply cut off, resulting in strangulated hemorrhoids, which can cause extreme pain. Your primary care physician can diagnose and treat hemorrhoids. They can write prescriptions for medicated creams, ointments, and suppositories. You should also make an appointment to see your doctor right away if you notice rectal bleeding for the first time or if your rectal bleeding increases.

You can connect to a physician in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool. Read this article in Spanish. Written by Ana Gotter on April 19, Read this next. External Hemorrhoids. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. What Causes Blood in the Stool?

Hemorrhoid Surgery Types: Outpatient and Inpatient. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Hemorrhoids: Treatment, Recovery, and More. Sitz Bath. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Although often associated with pregnancy, hemorrhoids can be a risk to everyone. Uncomfortable and embarrassing, these swollen blood vessels in and around the anus and rectum can cause itching, burning, pain, and bleeding.

Follow these 8 tips to avoid and treat hemorrhoids. Fight against constipation, a leading cause of hemorrhoids. If you are constipated , drink plenty of water and eat more fiber. If necessary, look into fiber supplements which are available in pharmacies.

Exercise regularly to stimulate the movement of your intestines and promote weight loss. Go to the bathroom whenever the urge arises. If the clot is more recent, the hemorrhoid can be surgically removed or the clot withdrawn from the vein in a minor office procedure performed by a surgeon. To perform a rubber band ligation, the clinician places a ligator over the hemorrhoid to position a rubber band around its base. Some hemorrhoids can't be managed with conservative treatments alone, either because symptoms persist or because an internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed.

Fortunately, a number of minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatments are available that are less painful than traditional hemorrhoid removal hemorrhoidectomy and allow a quicker recovery. These procedures are generally performed in a surgeon's office or as outpatient surgery in a hospital. Band it. The most commonly used hemorrhoid treatment in the United States is rubber band ligation, in which a small elastic band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid see box above.

The band causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and the surrounding tissue to scar as it heals, holding the hemorrhoid in place. It takes two to four procedures, done six to eight weeks apart, to completely eliminate the hemorrhoid. Complications, which are rare, include mild pain or tightness usually relieved with a sitz bath , bleeding, and infection.

Other office procedures include laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and cryosurgery. They all work on the same principle as rubber band ligation but are not quite as effective in preventing recurrence.

Side effects and recurrence vary with the procedure, so consult your physician about what's best for your situation. You may need surgery if you have large protruding hemorrhoids, persistently symptomatic external hemorrhoids, or internal hemorrhoids that return despite rubber band ligation. In a traditional hemorrhoidectomy, a narrow incision is made around both external and internal hemorrhoid tissue and the offending blood vessels are removed.

The procedure requires general anesthesia, but patients can go home the same day. Patients can usually return to work after 7—10 days. Despite the drawbacks, many people are pleased to have a definitive solution to their hemorrhoids. An alternative to traditional hemorrhoidectomy is called stapled hemorrhoidopexy. This procedure treats bleeding or prolapsed internal hemorrhoids.

The surgeon uses a stapling device to anchor the hemorrhoids in their normal position. Like traditional hemorrhoid removal, stapled hemorrhoidopexy is performed under general anesthesia as day surgery. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. Anal itchiness is an uncomfortable and embarassing sensation that causes an intense urge to scratch the sensitive area.

Knowing the cause of your anal itchiness, however, may help you get relief from your symptoms. Click here to learn more. You may not give much thought to the color of your stool, but it can tell you a lot about your health.

Before you flush, take a look. Keep reading to learn what the color of your stool says about your health. When at-home care fails to alleviate your hemorrhoid symptoms, you may be wondering what medical treatments can help. Infrared coagulation IRC is a nonsurgical, in-office treatment for internal hemorrhoids. Click here to learn all about IRC.