Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to have a bowel movement. Don’t hold it because the stool can become dry and harder to pass. This causes a person to strain while stooling, which in turn results in hemorrhoids. When you strain, or hold your breath when passing stool, it creates a greater pressure in the veins in the lower rectum. This straining will increase the damage to the veins and the potential to develop hemorrhoids.
Sitting on the toilet, to read or relax, will also cause an increased pressure in the veins which in turn results in hemorrhoids. This same situation happens when sitting in a chair for long periods of time. For this reason it is important to use the toilet only to have a bowel movement and get up immediately. Avoid sitting for long periods of time in a chair. If you are able to get up, even to stand and stretch next to your chair, do so at least every 20 minutes. While this will help reduce the potential to develop hemorrhoids, it will also reduce the potential for varicose veins in the legs and increase your productivity by increasing your blood flow.