Does Spicy Food Cause Hemorrhoids?
Spicy food can cause issues like gastric or diarrhea but they for sure cannot cause hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids mainly happen due to constipation. Due to excessive straining, many times the veins near the anus become inflamed. The prolonged swelling of the veins become hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids can also develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to:
- Straining during bowel movements
- Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
- Having chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Being obese
- Being pregnant
- Eating a low-fiber diet
- Regular heavy lifting
Not all haemorrhoids require surgery. Some can be managed with home treatments.
Some of the recommended home treatments are:
- Consume foods high in fibre. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk thus reducing risk of straining during defecation. In case there is difficulties meeting the fibre requirement in the body, seek for alternative supplements like psyllium husk.
- Keep hydrated. Sufficient amount of water in the body makes stool softer and passes through easily.
- Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter haemorrhoid cream or suppository containing 1% hydrocortisone. Alternatively, use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent.
- Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath. Soak your anal area in plain warm water for 15 minutes several times a day.
- Take oral pain relievers. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) temporarily to help manage your pain and discomfort.
- Stool Softeners. Stool softeners and laxatives are not the same. Laxatives induce diarrhea and for someone with hemorrhoid’s, it is not recommended as it will only irritate the hemorrhoid’s. Stool softener works by increasing water and fats absorption into the stools.
References:
1. Red hot chili pepper and hemorrhoids: the explosion of a myth: results of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, Dis Colon Rectum, Pub Med.
2. Hemorrhoids and what to do about them, Harvard Health Publishing School.
