Dealing with Bleeding from Hemorrhoids

Dealing with bleeding from hemorrhoids is just one of the many frustrations. The symptoms related to the presence of hemorrhoids can be painful, particularly in the cases of those suffering from external hemorrhoids. Common symptoms of hemorrhoids may include pain, swelling, itching, redness, dryness, and worst of all, bleeding.

Fiber can help reduce bleeding

Many doctors are currently focused on improving their patient's diets to improve the symptoms of hemorrhoids, especially painless (or painful) bleeding. Recent research has shown that the addition of fiber to a person's diet can help reduce bleeding. Studies have shown that adding psyllium or other commercially available fiber supplements to a person's diet reduced bleeding significantly. Psyllium is a bulking agent, which means that they add bulk to stools, making them softer and a bit easier to pass through the anal canal. Fiber supplementation appears to be one of the easiest and safest ways to achieve reduction in bleeding. When fiber consumption is stepped up, it is important that a person also consumes more fluids.

Some patients may object to taking bulking agents or difficult to consume fiber supplements. In these cases, doctors will most likely prescribe a diet rich in high-fiber foods like fruits and vegetables. The vegetables that are the most rich in fiber include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and beans. If you are a fruit-lover, you should consume more peaches, oranges, apples and bananas—all high in fiber content. Most doctors aim for a steady consumption of approximately 20 to 30 grams of fiber each day.

By eating healthy levels of fiber and other good lifestyle choices, the bleeding long associated with hemorrhoid conditions can be easily controlled and managed to provide maximum comfort to hemorrhoids sufferers.