What causes hemorrhoids and what actually helps?

Straining, constipation, long toilet sitting, pregnancy and heavy lifting swell the cushions of veins at the rectum. Phones deserve honorable mention: nobody strained for twenty minutes before they scrolled.

What works: fiber and water to keep stools soft, short toilet visits, warm sitz baths for flares, and over-the-counter creams briefly for symptoms. Most flares settle in days.

Bleeding should be checked at least once even if hemorrhoids are the likely cause, and persistent lumps, pain or bleeding have office procedures that work well when home care is not enough.