Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy

By Heather-Jane Hunter

Hemorrhoids are much more common in pregnant women than women who are not pregnant. Hemorrhoids can cause severe pain and discomfort and can develop into a very serious problem.

Women can get hemorrhoids while pregnant or after giving birth. Constipation, which is fairly common among pregnant women, is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids.

Another factor which leads to hemorrhoids in pregnant women is increased blood pressure in the lower half of the body (and increased blood volume). This increased blood pressure causes the veins to swell and makes them highly prone to becoming hemorrhoids.

Constipation is also more likely in pregnant women due to secretion of progesterone. Progesterone secretion causes the vein walls to relax and the intestinal tract to slow down. This leads to extra straining and this straining leads to constipation. Constipation is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be prevented. Some of the keys to prevention of hemorrhoids include not straining during bowel movement, exercising regularly (aim for 20 minutes per day), drinking plenty of water, and eating foods which are high in fiber. Foods such as fruit and vegetables are goods, as are cereals and beans. These foods help to soften stools and avoid constipation.

In the event that you are pregnant with hemorrhoids, there are a couple of things you can do to prevent them from worsening. Firstly, it is very important that you carefully and thoroughly clean the hemorrhoid after bowel movement. Using a damp tissue or cloth as an alternative to toilet paper will be softer and cause less aggravation. Take a sitz bath three or four times each day to sooth the hemorrhoid, this will help the healing and reduce pain.

As hemorrhoids during pregnancy are a common illness, a lot of creams and topical ointments are available in pharmacys and drugstores. Be wary when using these as many of them only work to reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids. Some patients report that burning sensations actually increased when using creams.

Hemorrhoids can also occur after child birth as a result of the straining required to give birth to the child. Most of the time they are not serious but it is still important to do something to cure the hemorrhoid as soon as possible because there is always a chance they will worsen.

Hemorrhoids during and after pregnancy can become a serious and painful problem if they are not treated immediately. Natural hemorrhoid treatments are recommended as they are both free from side effects. They also result in fast and effective pain relief as well as actually curing the hemorrhoid.

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