Anybody can get hemorrhoids, especially now that diets have been leaning towards foods that have low fiber contents and a high content of processed ingredients. Lack of proper water intake and the design of current toilet bowls also make the chances of getting hemorrhoids bigger. The cause of hemorrhoids is an increased pressure in the hemorrhoidal veins but there are countless number of ways that this increased pressure occurs. These are the risk factors that general increase the chance of one developing a hemorrhoid.

Due to Diet

The diets of people nowadays are usually ones that are high-fat but low on fiber. This type of diet can be seen in any corner on any street of any city. That is, the diets of people are turning into a fast food diet; one that is packed full of salt, saturated fat and all kinds of preservatives and chemicals that pack on the flavor but hardly provide any nutritional value.

This type of diet usually causes constipation and, on the opposite spectrum, diarrhea as well. This then leads to increased pressure on the rectal veins and thus, increases the chances of developing hemorrhoids.

Due to Habits and Lifestyle

Habits of people also add to the risks of developing these irritants. Laziness can actually cause hemorrhoids since sitting down too much can lead to the increase in pressure that causes the hemorrhoids to appear. This is especially true if you have a bad posture and rarely get up on your feet move around.

People also usually like sitting on the toilet for longer periods of time than is actually necessary; whether to read a book or a newspaper while doing their business. This may seem innocent enough except that the design of the modern toilet bowl actually helps for hemorrhoids to develop.

Obesity also causes undue pressures on the rectal vein. Also, due to, usually, low nutritional value of the of the food being ingested, obese people also tend to be prone to constipation, which further adds to the risks of getting hemorrhoids.

Anal intercourse also causes an increase in the probability of developing hemorrhoids; this lifestyle activity significantly the pressures in the veins around the anal cavity and therefore increases the risks.

Due to Other Factors

Other risk factors are not controlled by the person. These include the age of the person; the higher the age the higher the chances of getting hemorrhoids. There are also some medical reasons that are considered risk factors for hemorrhoids; these include Cirrhosis (scar tissue in the liver), and chronic diarrhea or constipation. The use of laxatives also adds to the increased stress in the rectum that might lead to the growth of these irritants.

For women, being pregnant usually also means that hemorrhoids will be a big probability. The fetus or the baby inside the womb of the woman causes additional pressure and stress on the veins that, more likely than not, leads to the swelling of these veins.

Fortunately for everyone, hemorrhoids usually do not last for very long. In fact, if left alone (or sometimes pushed back into the rectum), hemorrhoids usually go away after a couple of days without any serious complications or discomfort.