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Causes of Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoids are thought to be caused by constipation.  If you have constipation over a period of time and often have to strain to pass hard stools, this can damage the lining of the anal canal. If this happens often enough, the veins may lose their normal support and protection. Some people are thought to have veins especially liable to this kind of injury. This is probably just a matter of chance anatomical variation.

Haemorrhoids are not caused by sitting on cold hard surfaces, prolonged standing or sedentary work.

The veins around the anus drain into larger veins that carry the blood through the liver and up to the heart. This part of the system of large veins has no valves in it, and the whole weight of the blood bears down on the lowest veins in the system, which tend to stretch. Anything restricting the free upward flow of blood through these veins leads to an increase in pressure in them. This is why haemorrhoids are so common in pregnancy.

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