Hemorrhoids are certainly one of the most common health issues among adults. It is estimated that close to 50% of all adults will suffer from hemorrhoids, also known as 'piles', at some point during their life. If you have experienced this tremendously uncomfortable condition then you know how hemorrhoids can negatively affect your life.

Most people that suffer from piles treat the symptoms with over the counter medicines. This can be due to the fact that hemorrhoids are a delicate subject matter and even approaching a medical professional with the problem can be uncomfortable. The makers of these treatments depend on this fact and continue to produce medications, ointments and creams that simply cover the symptoms without actually treating the reason for the problem. What is not well known is that there are natural remedies for piles that actually treat the cause and can offer a permanent cure to the problem.

Hemorrhoids are actually swollen and enlarged veins in and around the rectum. They are similar to varicose veins located in the extremities, mostly in the lower legs. There are many factors that lead to this disorder and it is reasonably common in people who are required to spend most of their day sitting down. Frequent constipation sufferers can develop hemorrhoids due to the strain of hard stools and prolonged sitting on the toilet. Expecting women are also common sufferers.

There are two forms of hemorrhoids, internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids appear within the anus and generally cause bleeding at the end of a bowel movement. This may or may not be accompanied by pain, and there will usually be some noticeable irritation as well as itching. Sometimes they will stretch and can actually be seen coming from the anal canal.

External refers to hemorrhoids that form outside the anus, usually in the form of a bulb-like lump. They can be very painful, particularly when accompanied by a blood clot, known as a thrombosis. External hemorrhoids can last up to a week and, if left untreated, can persist for much longer.

Find immediate treatment for external hemorrhoids. The pain and discomfort will be much shorter and this will speed up recovery time the quicker you apply treatment. Home therapy should start with a warm Epsom Salt bath. Using a dilution of 1/2 cup of salts per gallon of water, remain immersed in the bath for a minimum of 20 minutes and then dry completely. Following the warm bath, apply Witch Hazel at the affected areas. This is common at most drug stores and is available in liquid, cream and treated pads. Witch Hazel will help in decreasing bleeding, can relieve some of the pain and itching, and can help shrink the affected area.

Natural cures for hemorrhoids can be very effective and, if used properly, are better at relieving the symptoms of piles in comparison with over the counter medicines. There can be a disposition to believe that "natural remedies" are somehow less effective than medication which is supplied with a prescription or bought over the counter. With hemorrhoids, this is certainly not the case.

By now, you have addressed the symptoms and should consider what is possibly causing the hemorrhoids in the first place. A diet plan low in fiber and high in processed foods will harden your stools causing them to become difficult to pass. Bowell movements associated with hard stools tend to strain veins in your rectal area and can lead to hemorrhoids. Proper exercise is important for several reasons but, in the case of piles, exercise aids in proper digestion and also helps in proper elimination.

If your profession involves sitting for most of the day, like driving a truck or sitting at your computer, take normal breaks, stand up and move around to get the blood circulating again. Even with these precautions, there is no guarantee that you won't experience piles. If that happens, address the problem immediately and follow proven natural hemorrhoid treatment.

If you're sick and tired of living with this painful condition, the only real way to a permanent cure is by treating the true cause. Now the good side of all this, is that it is actually possible to be totally free of this condition within a very short time and that there are indeed ways of getting relief and cure with natural remedies.