Doctor reveals the simple lifestyle changes that could prevent haemorrhoids – the painful condition affecting millions

One in four Britons suffers from haemorrhoids; However, simple lifestyle changes can prevent this painful condition from occurring.

Hemorrhoids, also known as hemorrhoids, are caused by swelling and inflammation of the veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus.

They can cause itching, pain and bleeding, especially during bowel movements. The problem can usually be caused by constipation and straining to go to the toilet, but chronic cough and heavy manual labor can also cause them.

Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar, Clinical Lead at Medical Express Clinic, tells the Daily Mail it is almost impossible to avoid them.

‘They’re common because the modern lifestyle is almost designed to cause them: low-fiber diets, too much sitting and straining on the toilet.

‘These problems appear in about half of people by the age of 50. This is one of the disorders that patients are most embarrassed to talk about. This is a shame because it’s usually easy to treat.

‘Being overweight and pregnancy can also increase the risk.’

‘Anatomically, we all have small pads of blood vessels lining our back passages. They help with incontinence, and most of the time you’ll never know they’re there.

‘Hemorrhoids are swelling and obstruction of the cushions, usually due to repeated pressure,’ says Dr Bakhtiar.

‘Anything that increases the pressure in these veins can lead to hemorrhoids; including lifting heavy while holding your breath, which is why weightlifters often get them.

‘Struggling to go to the toilet is the biggest problem and is often the result of constipation.

‘Sitting for long periods of time is also a big deal, and the modern culprit is the phone. ‘People sit on the toilet reading for ten or fifteen minutes and that constant pressure is exactly what we’re trying to avoid.’

Some people inherit weaker tissue in and around the back passage, making them more prone to hemorrhoids no matter how careful they are.

But regardless of whether you’re genetically predisposed to hair growth, there are steps everyone can take to keep their back passages bulge-free.

The most obvious of these is to make sure you’re eating a diet with plenty of fiber and staying hydrated.

‘This is where most of the prevention happens,’ says Dr Bakhtiar. ‘Fiber softens and bulks up the stool so it passes effortlessly, eliminating the strain that causes the pressure in the first place.

‘The evidence here is really good: increasing fiber intake roughly halves the risk of persistent symptoms and bleeding.’

The NHS recommends adults eat around 30 grams of fiber a day; but the average Briton consumes only half this amount.

Piles are caused by swelling of blood vessels in the rectum

‘Increase gradually with whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes,’ says Dr Bakhtiar. ‘Drink enough water too, as dehydrated fiber will make constipation worse, not better. The two work as a couple.’

Another ‘lightened up’ suggestion is to exercise and this can be as simple as a daily walk. This helps keep bowel movements regular and also prevents people from becoming dangerously sedentary.

One caveat is very heavy dumbbells.

‘Holding your breath and bending down increases abdominal pressure in the same way as straining,’ says Dr Bakhtiar. ‘If you’re prone to pressing, breathe in on your lifts rather than holding your breath.’

But even with the best willpower in the world (and perfect weightlifting form), pileups can still happen.

If you think you have hemorrhoids, the biggest mistake you can make is to wait for them to go away on their own.

Dr Bakhtiar often sees patients who have been suffering in silence for months, too embarrassed to speak out.

‘Another mistake is to reach for creams and ignore the cause,’ he adds. ‘Over-the-counter creams can relieve symptoms, but if you don’t address the constipation and straining problem, the hemorrhoids keep coming back.

‘Some steroid-containing creams can thin the skin when used for weeks, so they are not suitable for long-term use.’

But the biggest mistake is to assume that any bleeding is ‘just a pile’.

‘Most spills are harmless, but some symptoms should never be ignored because other conditions, including bowel cancer, can mimic them,’ says Dr Bakhtiar.

More than 2,400 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK, and the number of cases among young adults has increased by 25 per cent in the last decade.

Cancer researchers have long suspected that changes in modern diets and lifestyles are helping fuel the alarming rise.

When it comes to colorectal cancer, early diagnosis is very important because it allows for more treatment options and often the first symptom is blood when going to the toilet.

‘See a doctor if you notice a change in your normal bowel habits lasting more than a few weeks, with blood mixed in the stool rather than just paper, dark or tarry stools, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, which could signal anemia from ongoing blood loss,’ says Dr Bakhtiar.

‘New symptoms over the age of 40 or a family history of bowel cancer also require appropriate assessment.

‘The principle I give every patient is simple: rectal bleeding deserves examination and you shouldn’t make assumptions. It’s usually something minor, but it’s not something to self-diagnose.’