If you experience bleeding while using the bathroom it’s quite normal to be worried. The good news is that this is actually a common symptom of hemorrhoids and is quite common. The bad news is that any instance of anal bleeding always requires consulting with a doctor to rule out the possibility that your bleeding and/or other symptoms aren’t potentially related to something more serious such as colon cancer. Hemorrhoids are actually much more common than colon cancer, so it’s much more likely that your symptoms are related to hemorrhoids, but when it comes to colon health it’s always recommended that you stray on the side of caution, this is why a colonoscopy will usually be the recommended course of action to verify and diagnose hemorrhoids.
Hopefully I’ve convinced you about the importance of getting properly diagnosed, so now we can move on to prevention. When it comes to prevention, it helps to know what actually causes hemorrhoids in the first place, so let’s start there. There are actually several risk factors that may lead to hemorrhoids including obesity, colorectal surgery, genetics, aging, pregnancy, anal sex and straining while using the bathroom. Obviously not all of these risk factors are preventable or avoidable, but of all this potential risk factors, straining while using the bathroom is the #1 cause of hemorrhoid and this is a totally avoidable risk factor.
For most people, hemorrhoids are totally avoidable with one simple lifestyle change – a fiber rich diet. Fiber reduces straining and softens stools, both of which help to prevent hemorrhoids in the first place, but also helps to reduce irritation to already existing hemorrhoids. Although there is no real hemorrhoid cure, fiber comes pretty close. But not only can fiber can keep you from developing hemorrhoids, it can even help with existing hemorrhoids by softening stools and reducing irritation, it the ultimate preventative measure and also the best hemroid treatment option as it gets to the root of the problem.