Hemorrhoid causes can be as diverse as hemorrhoid symptoms, ranging from diet to hypertension. Basically, hemorrhoids are caused by too much pressure on the veins in the pelvic and rectal area. With pressure, the veins in the rectum become swollen and inflamed. This pressure can be traced to many sources:
Straining to have a bowel movement can cause a hemorrhoid to form because it puts undue pressure on the veins in the rectal area. This causes them to swell and stretch. Normally, tissue in the rectal area fills with blood to regulate bowel movements. If a person strains too long and too hard with a bowel movement the veins can become hemorrhoidal. A bowel movement should be natural, spontaneous and not forced. Bowel movements vary from individual to individual as to frequency. Normal is regarded as anywhere from three times a day to three times a week. So avoid straining when sitting on the toilet because of the added pressure that you put on the rectal area.
Diarrhea can also cause severe strain on internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids. Loose stool will irritate the sensitive tissues of the hemorrhoids causing them to further enlarge and inflame. Diarrhea may be associated with the flu, traveling, emotional upset, or overuse of laxatives. Usually, diarrhea clears up in a day or two, but chronic diarrhea will present a serious situation for the hemorrhoid sufferer. Furthermore, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time adds more pressure to the veins.
Being overweight pressures the circulatory system adding to the burden the veins in the rectal area must carry. Obesity is a leading contributor to a host of diseases and a shortened life span. It is estimated that 64% of the population in this country is obese and has been growing more so in the last forty years. One of the best things that you can do for yourself is to get your weight under control. Learn you body mass index or BMI number because it takes into account your weight along with your height. Adding a more balanced diet and exercise program to your lifestyle will go along way in shedding those extra pounds. Use the BMI calculator at then end of this article to get your body mass index.
Pregnancy exerts tremendous pressure on the rectum. It is a primary hemorrhoid cause, affecting a woman usually in the last 6 months of pregnancy and immediately postpartum. The enlarging uterus increases the burden on the pelvic veins and this slows the return of blood from your body’s lower half. The added pressure on the veins below the developing baby causes the tissue to dilate and swell. The hormone progesterone, which is secreted in greater amounts during pregnancy, causes the veins to relax increasing the swelling in them. Progesterone also slows down the intestinal tract, leading to more constipation during pregnancy as a hemorrhoid cause.
The aging process also contributes to hemorrhoid causes and symptoms. As with constipation, your chance of suffering with hemorrhoids increases with age. About half of the population over the age of 50 has hemorrhoids. Generally, older people neglect to exercise and take-in less fluids, which contributes to constipation. Moreover, muscles in the rectum lose their elasticity with age, so older people strain more and are more likely to develop hemorrhoids symptoms.
Heredity cannot be discounted as a hemorrhoid cause. Doctors believe there is a genetic link to developing hemorrhoids because in certain families the incidence of hemorrhoids is much higher than the norm. If either of your parents had hemorrhoids, it is very likely that you will also develop them in your lifetime.
Constipation is defined as bowel movements that involve excessive straining, difficulty, or discomfort, or that occurs less than three times a week. Constipation results in hard, dry stools which aggravate the sensitive tissue in the anal canal. Constipation can lead to more serious problems, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and damage to the muscles and supportive tissues of the rectal area. A diet lacking in fluid and fiber, in combination with poor bowel habits, such as holding back a bowel movement, is the most common cause of constipation. to stress on the circulatory system. Portal hypertension is named for the portal vein which gathers blood from the stomach, intestine, spleen and pancreas. Smaller veins descend from this larger one and travel through the liver. If veins are blocked in the liver, high blood pressure results in the portal system. Hemorrhoids can develop when the blood tries to find other ways to get around the blockage in the liver.