Sitting Pretty: 2 Tips That Can Help You Avoid Hemorrhoids

Maintaining good gastrointestinal and rectal health is probably not something you think about a lot, but bad personal habits can lead to problems with your bowel movements, abdominal pain, bloating, and other issues that are distinctly uncomfortable -- like hemorrhoids. 

If you want to make sure that you're doing everything you can to prevent painful hemorrhoids from getting started, here's how to make sure that you're "sitting pretty" when it comes to your health

1. Be Picky About Where You Sit, and How Long You Sit

If you're like a lot of people in the U.S., you may spend the majority of your time sitting, whether that's at home or at work. That's just a facet of modern living. However, prolonged sitting can actually lead to painful hemorrhoids. 

When you sit for long periods of time, the muscles in your rear take on all your weight. That causes them to spread out, which pulls on the delicate tissues around your rectum, anus, and sphincter. Eventually, these tissues can get so stretched out that they actually lose their elasticity, and that makes it harder for the blood in the veins in that area to flow properly -- and you get hemorrhoids.

The solution, of course, is to watch where you sit, and how long. Hard surfaces, like wooden chairs, don't have any "give," so they should be avoided in favor of softer chairs or chairs with pillows or other supports that will take some of the pressure off your buttocks. You should also try to stand and move around a total of 10 minutes out of every 30 you sit.

2. Increase Your Fiber and Fluids, and Get Off the Toilet

A well-balanced diet is pretty essential when you're talking, even generally, about good health habits, but diet becomes even more pertinent when you're talking about your rectal health. 

If you lack enough fiber and fluid in your diet, you can end up with constipation or bowel movements that are simply hard and dry. Straining to empty your bowels can also cause damage to the anus and rectum, causing hemorrhoids to develop. Make sure that you drink plenty of water during the day and eat a high-fiber diet that's rich in vegetables, whole grains, and beans for optimum health.

Finally, don't try to force a bowel movement to happen by sitting too long on the toilet. Once again, that puts an incredible amount of strain on your rectum as your weight presses down on the toilet seat. Straining, too, can even cause blood vessels to burst. According to doctors, if you can't empty your bowels in five minutes, get off the toilet, have some more water or fiber, and try again when the urge hits.

If you do have rectal pain, itching, or bleeding, and you suspect you may have hemorrhoids, a rectal specialist can help. Contact a Rectal Condition Care Program.