When it comes to hemorrhoids, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Of course this is true of all medical conditions, not just hemorrhoids. It's easier to take medication for Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure than it is to accept responsibility for our health and lose weight and exercise. Unfortunately 10 million people in the U.S. have hemorrhoids; in most cases this condition is entirely preventable with a few simple lifestyle changes. Unlike type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, hemorrhoids are, for the most part, a minor health concern, but they can make life quite unpleasant, so avoiding them is in everyone's best interest. How to get rid of hemorrhoids is a lot easier than you might think.

So, why is fiber the best hemorrhoid cure and preventative measure? Well, it helps reduce constipation which is the absolute best thing you can do to prevent hemorrhoids. Far too many people feel the need to 'help' or 'push' while having a bowel movement. If you're one of these people, you may be surprised to find out that this is the leading cause of hemorrhoids. Straining puts pressure on the anal veins which may cause them to bulge out if the pressure is too much, this bulge is the hemorrhoid. Once this bulge forms, you may start experiencing hemorrhoid related symptoms. Another thing that fiber does is soften stools; this is beneficial for the anal canal and also for any existing hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids are graded on a scale from I to IV. No matter what grade of hemorrhoids you have, doctors always recommend that you start improving your diet at the first sign of symptoms. Patients with Grade I and II hemorrhoids can get significant hemorrhoid relief with just fiber alone, in fact fiber may be enough for these minor grades of hemorrhoids to reduce their swelling to the point that they no longer exhibit symptoms. Unfortunately patients with the higher two grades of hemorrhoids probably won't be able to reduce their hemorrhoid swelling, but the softer stools will provide relief and possibly keep the condition from getting worse.

Preventing and treating hemorrhoids really is as simple as an improved diet, getting 25 grams of fiber a day is all it takes to prevent hemorrhoids, but most people in the US only manage to eat about 11 grams of fiber. With most adults only getting half the recommended amount of dietary fiber, it should come as no surprise that so many people get hemorrhoids.