What is the treatment for haemorrhoids?
Avoid constipation and straining at the toilet
Keep the faeces (sometimes called stools or motions) soft, and don't strain on the toilet. You can do this by the following:
- Eat plenty of fibre by eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, cereals, wholemeal bread, etc.
- Have lots to drink. Adults should aim to drink at least two litres (10-12 cups) per day. You will pass much of the fluid as urine, but some is passed out in the gut and softens faeces. Most sorts of drink will do, but alcoholic drinks can be deydrating and may not be so good.
- Fibre supplements. If a high fibre diet is not helping, you can take bran, or other fibre supplements ('bulking agents') such as ispaghula, methylcellulose, or sterculia. You can buy these at pharmacies or get them on prescription. Methylcellulose also helps to soften faeces directly which makes them easier to pass.
- Avoid painkillers that contain codeine such as co-codamol, as they are a common cause of constipation.
- Toileting. Go to the toilet as soon as possible after feeling the need. Some people suppress this feeling and plan to go to the toilet later. This may result in bigger and harder faeces forming which are then more difficult to pass. Do not strain on the toilet. Haemorrhoids may cause a feeling of 'fullness' in the rectum and it is tempting to strain at the end to try and empty the rectum further. Resist this. Do not spend too long on the toilet which may encourage you to strain. (For example, do not read whilst on the toilet.)
The above measures will often ease symptoms such as bleeding and discomfort. It may be all that you need to treat small and non-prolapsing haemorrhoids (grade 1).
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STEVE HOGG, over 2 years
I FOUND THE READING VERY INFORMATIVE, I DONT KNOW IF I HAVE PILES, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING STICKING OUT OF MY BUM, AND I BLEED AFTER HAVING A POO, IS THIS A SIGN OF PILES, MY GIRLFRIEND TOLD ME NOT TO STRAIN WHEN I GO FOR A POO, AS SHE SAID THATS WHY I GOT THEM, AND I ALWAYS READ ON THE TOILET WHY SHOULD I NOT SIT AND READ A BOOK WHILST HAVING A POO?
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kelly butler, 9 months
my two year old daughter has been havin trouble opening her bowels was wonderin if this was piles? can toddlers get them? she isnt great at eatin fruit and veg either
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