Hemorrhoids and Diet: What’s the Connection?

Hemorrhoids are vascular cushions in the anal region that perform two key functions: maintaining continence to properly close the bowel and providing protection by preventing injury, such as tears, prolapse, or fistulas. When these hemorrhoids become inflamed, enlarge, and swell, the tissues holding them in place weaken and fail to function correctly, leading to a condition known as ‘hemorrhoidal disease.’ This condition significantly reduces quality of life and causes daily discomfort. Hemorrhoids affect at least 50% of the global population by the age of 50, especially in Western countries. The primary causes include constipation and hereditary factors. Abandoning the Mediterranean diet, adopting diets high in meat, sugar, and processed foods, combined with a sedentary lifestyle and stress, contribute to constipation and hemorrhoids. Additional factors like increased intra-abdominal pressure due to pregnancy, obesity, heavy lifting, coughing, and aging can also trigger this condition. Symptoms often include minor bleeding during bowel movements, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, itching, irritation around the anus, fluid leakage, and severe pain. Nutrition plays a crucial role in the onset and management of the disease. Diets low in fiber, essential fats (like omega-3), micronutrients, and high in animal products and alcohol increase the risk. Conversely, consuming fiber-rich foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains acts as a catalyst to prevent constipation. Obesity and pregnancy can also be contributing factors, along with a sedentary lifestyle. It’s important to be mindful of both the quantity and type of food consumed, while also limiting alcohol intake, which research shows does not help combat the condition. While hemorrhoids may shrink over time and cease to be problematic, some cases require surgical intervention, especially when they are large, painful, or frequently bleed. Recent advancements in radiofrequency technology have introduced minimally invasive methods. Using these technologies, we target the affected tissue precisely without damaging surrounding tissues. These painless procedures last no more than 15–20 minutes and result in the shrinkage of pathological tissue, restoring it to normal. Unlike traditional surgery, we do not remove or cut the tissue but treat the hemorrhoids while avoiding complications such as incontinence or recurrence. This leads to rapid recovery and a quick return to daily activities. The Surgical Clinic at Athens Medical Group, under the direction of Dr. Anastasios Xiarchos, is the only clinic in Greece and one of the few in Europe offering these revolutionary methods for the first time in the country. Continuous investment in biomedical equipment ensures we provide the latest in modern surgical care for anal conditions. Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team allows us to offer personalized solutions for even the most complex cases.