Hemorrhoids are veins in the lower gastrointestinal tract that have ballooned, or prolapsed.
They are caused by too much pressure on the perineum, or straining, or from too much tension in the pelvic floor.
How Hemorrhoids Develop
Hemorrhoids can develop from straining and placing pressure on the pelvic floor.
Holding your breath and pushing (also called valsalva), results in an automatic contraction of the pelvic floor, as the muscles in the pelvic floor attempt to brace against the strain to keep the organs in the body.
This can be a habit we have on the toilet or have developed to gain strength with lifting, it has also historically been coached as a pushing technique during childbirth.
During a valsalva, the muscles in the pelvic floor tighten and contract. When we add pressure from above, this can creates a ballooning in the veins down below.
Imagine squeezing a tube of toothpaste without a lid. The pelvic floor is your hand, the hemorrhoid is the toothpaste coming out the top when you squeeze it.
Hemorrhoids are also more likely to develop during pregnancy, where the uterus is creating constant pressure in the pelvis, and there is generally more blood flow to the area.
That said, it's not a guarantee you will develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy. If you do, there is a good chance you have tight pelvic floor muscles as well.
There are also postural reasons for hemorrhoid development and exacerbation. If we are overly reliant on the the pelvic floor muscles that surround our tailbone for stability, we may end up with chronic tension in the pelvic floor that will irritate or create hemorrhoids as we stand or move our bodies throughout the day.
Due to this, hemorrhoids can exist and flare even with healthy bowel movements and without straining on the toilet.
Do They Go Away?
Once developed, hemorrhoids remain scar tissue unless they are inflamed again by another bout of tension/pregnancy/childbirth.
Postpartum hemorrhoids may take some time to improve, but with good pelvic floor therapy, diet and regular. healthy bowel movements they will.
They do not go entirely go away. They flare and create discomfort, or they remain deflated and cause no issues at all.
If your hemorrhoids flare, it's a sign that something is not optimal regarding your bowel movements or pelvic floor health.
You Are Not Alone
A lot of people have hemorrhoids, and it does not mean anything bad about you. It simply means that there is tension in the pelvis that we need to manage, or you've had to strain hard during childbirth.
Either way, hemorrhoids are manageable and you won't even notice them once they heal. If you have developed a hemorrhoid either through chronic straining or childbirth, know that they are generally harmless.
Most people are not educated on how to prevent hemorrhoids, so there is no need to blame yourself. There is nothing wrong with you.
If you are worried you've developed hemorrhoids, make sure to book your session with pelvic floor PT today.
Click here to schedule with us!
Want to learn more about your pelvic floor or find out if pelvic floor physical therapy is for you? Make sure you check out our blog The Ultimate Guide to Know If Pelvic Floor PT is For You.
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