Lifestyle advice

Eat high-fibre foods

• Avoid food and medication causing diarrheal or constipation
• Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help you avoid the straining that can cause haemorrhoids. Add fibre to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.

Drink plenty of fluids

Drink plenty of fluids.

Fibre supplements

• Fiber intake should be increased to 25 to 30 grams per day psyllium or hydrophilic colloid are often required
• Most people don't get enough of the recommended amount of fibre — 20 to 30 grams a day — in their diet. Studies have shown that over-the-counter fibre supplements, such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel), improve overall symptoms and bleeding from haemorrhoids.
  If you use fibre supplements, be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water or other fluids every day. Otherwise, the supplements can cause or worsen constipation.

No straining at defecation

• Straining and holding your breath when trying to pass a stool creates greater pressure in the veins in the lower rectum.
• Squatting position is better with hip flexed at 30 degrees. This can be achieved by slightly lower toilets or placing a stool under feet while sitting on toilet.

Avoid delaying urge to open bowels

• If you wait to pass a bowel movement and the urge goes away, your stool could dry out and be harder to pass.

Regular exercise

• Stay active to help prevent constipation and to reduce pressure on veins, which can occur with long periods of standing or sitting.
• Exercise can also help you lose excess weight that might be contributing to your haemorrhoids.
• Walking daily up till 30 minutes /day is a good start. This helps with bowels to move and stay active

Avoid long periods of sitting

• Sitting too long, particularly on the toilet, can increase the pressure on the veins in the anus.