Hemorrhoid Prevention

Oh, no. Not again. Those burning, painful bumps that seem to itch at the worst times have reappeared down there. Hemorrhoids. You’ve put up with their sudden reappearance and disappearance for years, but now it’s time to get serious about prevention.

Check out these tips for hemorrhoid prevention and consult with a digestive specialist today.

Listen to your body’s natural digestive rhythm

If you don’t want to use the restroom at work, or outside the home, be cautious as prolonged holding may disrupt your normal rhythm. Over a period of time, constipation may ensue, if you don’t follow “nature calls”. Straining at a bowel movement can cause prolonged, increased blood flow to the veins surrounding the anus, resulting in hemorrhoids. Your digestion has a rhythm and it’s time you started paying attention to it.

Increase your fiber intake

How much fiber do you get daily? Incorporating more fiber in your diet with vegetables and fruit can combat recurrent constipation. If naturally-occurring fiber is not enough, a gastroenterologist can recommend the right fiber supplement for your digestive needs.

While dietary fiber may help, each patient needs personalized attention and customized treatment. Some patients may need gentle laxatives, while others need stronger treatments. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to constipation and hemorrhoids. Let your gastroenterologist assess your condition in an appropriate manner, do the necessary testing and decide the right treatment for you. If you are not having regular bowel movements, just increasing fiber may not help, and may actually.

Get moving to get your bowels moving

Does your job have you sitting at a desk for hours at a time? A sedentary lifestyle can slow down your digestion, leading to constipation, straining, and hemorrhoids. So get your heart rate up! Light daily activity, like walking, jogging, or yoga, can increase blood flow and cause waste to move through your digestive system more quickly.

Consult with a Baton Rouge digestive health expert today

If you suspect that you have hemorrhoids, you should not be embarrassed. They are a natural occurrence in the human body and are more common that thought. However, assumptions or self-diagnosis can be a slippery slope and consultation with a specialist in the field of gastroenterology will provide a more definitive assessment and personalized treatment plan. Contact the digestive health experts at Gastroenterology Associates today to get your digestion back on track.