Pain, burning, or itching around the anus? If you’re prone to haemorrhoidal attacks, read on for a list of the foods to avoid and prioritise, as well as some tips for reducing the chances of them coming back.
Haemorrhoids (also known as ‘piles’) are enlarged blood vessels either under the skin around the anus (external haemorrhoids) or inside the anal canal, under the mucous membrane (internal haemorrhoids).
What is commonly referred to as “having haemorrhoids” is therefore haemorrhoidal disease: irritation and swelling of these blood vessels.
The most common symptoms are itching, burning and/or pain in or around the anus. Haemorrhoidal attacks can cause severe pain and bleeding (1).
The main causes of inflammation of these blood vessels include:
Analysis of the causes of haemorrhoidal disease makes it easy to identify which foods to avoid in order to obtain relief (3):
In contrast, there are a number of foods to focus on in order to maintain the health of the blood vessels in this region:
In short, eating a healthy, balanced diet is an effective way of fighting haemorrhoidal episodes.
Finally, here are some excellent natural tips if you regularly suffer from inflamed haemorrhoids.
As a sedentary lifestyle and excess weight are common causes of haemorrhoids, it’s advisable to follow a weight-loss diet, as well as - and especially – to engage in regular exercise, even at a moderate level: walking, swimming, etc. (4).
Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor (Kegels) can also be particularly effective at improving muscle tone and motor control of the anus.
Proper intimate hygiene of the anal area is also important for reducing haemorrhoidal pain. Gently cleanse the area using moist, unscented wipes, to reduce irritation.
Sitz baths do not really reduce haemorrhoid problems, but they can ease the discomfort they cause, which can be very helpful in an acute haemorrhoidal attack. In the case of inflamed haemorrhoids, sit in a sitz bath containing lukewarm water (around 40°C) for 10-15 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day.
Horse chestnut, meanwhile, has been used for thousands of years as a venotonic. And for good reason, as it contains aescin which reduces the permeability of the vein wall and maintains its tone, thus facilitating the return of blood to the heart, especially in superficial blood capillaries. That’s why horse chestnut supplements (such as Horse Chestnut Extract) are very often recommended for combatting haemorrhoids (5).
There are also synergistic formulations developed specifically to fight the discomfort of haemorrhoids, in which horse chestnut extract is combined with other active ingredients (one such example is Hemo Comfort).
It goes without saying that if you suffer a painful haemorrhoidal attack lasting more than 48 hours, consider consulting a doctor for advice on how to treat your haemorrhoids.
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