Simple Lifestyle Changes To Help Manage Hemorrhoid Discomfort

Most people don’t realize how common hemorrhoids are until they start poking around the internet, looking for answers. It’s not a topic many people enjoy sharing. While we totally understand not wanting to bring up hemorrhoid discomfort over Sunday brunch, it can be hard to find solutions that actually work for a problem that no one talks about. That’s why we’re here—to help you care for your body’s most sensitive areas.

Here, we’ve gathered our best tips for managing and relieving hemorrhoid discomfort through simple lifestyle changes.

5 Things You Can Do Today to Relieve Hemorrhoid Discomfort

1. Amp up your exercise routine. Exercise is one of the best things you can do to manage hemorrhoids. Getting your heart rate up can help promote healthy blood flow, prevent constipation, and strengthen the muscles around your pelvis and lower back. Just remember to breathe through your exercises—straining during heavy lifting may make hemorrhoids worse.
2. Make fiber your new best friend. Fiber is always an important part of a balanced diet, but this superstar carbohydrate is the M.V.P. of treating and preventing hemorrhoids. Adding fiber to your diet can help add bulk to stools and make them softer and easier to pass. (When you’re trying to manage hemorrhoids, less straining is always a good thing.)
3. Go when you gotta go. A lot of times, hemorrhoid flare-ups can be traced back to two things: spending too long on the toilet and straining to have a bowel movement. Putting off a bathroom break may make constipation worse, so it’s best to go when you feel the need—even when you’re dealing with hemorrhoid pain. Then, do your business and get out of there when you’re done. (It may help to leave your phone in the other room, so you aren’t tempted to sit around longer than you need to.)
4. Go for a soak. Hemorrhoid flare-ups are the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a warm, relaxing bath. The warm water can soothe pain and irritation from hemorrhoids by increasing blood flow to the area. If you like, you can add Epsom salt to your bathtub to reduce swelling and irritation even further.
5. Get your body moving. Sitting for long periods of time can put added pressure on the blood vessels around the anus, making hemorrhoids worse. If you spend a lot of your day sitting at a desk or in a car, try to plan for regular breaks to get up, walk around, and get your blood flowing.

Other Treatments for Hemorrhoid Discomfort

Sometimes, you may want to pair these lifestyle changes with over-the-counter treatments for more immediate relief from hemorrhoid discomfort. Treatments can include ointments, wipes, and creams, like our Bloop Hemorrhoid Relief Topical Cream that soothes hemorrhoid pain and reduces the risk of developing new hemorrhoids.

At-home treatments are great, but you shouldn’t be afraid to bring up your hemorrhoid problems to your healthcare provider, especially if lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies don’t help you find relief.

Click here to learn more about finding fast-acting, maximum strength hemorrhoid relief with Bloop Hemorrhoid Relief Topical Cream.