Hemorrhoids are actually caused by a vein or blood vessel that has been enlarged due to straining. They actually look like a tiny cluster of grapes and can be quite large getting up to the size of about a walnut but most commonly they are about the size of a pea. Sometimes you might have only one, but many times they appear in a cluster. Sometimes they can be internal at other times they can protrude out.

But no matter what they look like, we all know what they feel like and that's a feeling we don't really want to experience. So what can you do to avoid getting hemorrhoids? The key is in knowing what causes them in the first place.

What Causes Hemorrhoids?

In addition to wondering what do hemorrhoids look like, you're probably also wondering what the heck you did to deserve them. It might seem like you're alone with this embarrassing problem but the fact is that many people have hemorrhoids and it's basically due to the lifestyle we lead and the foods we eat,

You see, hemorrhoids are caused by pressure on the bowels and/or straining during bowel movements. If you notice that you are constipated a lot, chances are that if you don't already have hemorrhoids, you will be getting them. While sometimes this is genetic, usually it is caused by simply not eating enough fiber and inactivity. Increasing your fiber intake and getting a good exercise program can go a long way to preventing and relieving hemorrhoid problems.

What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids?

While many people use creams and other topical treatments to relieve the painful symptoms of hemorrhoids, this simply masks the symptoms and doesn't do anything to correct the underlying problem. You are simply relieving symptoms temporarily which might seem fine now, but eventually those symptoms will come back again and again.

What you need to do is eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly. You don't have to go out and run marathons, but adding a half-hour walk to your daily routine will do wonders for your digestive system and bowel movements.

But adopting a healthier lifestyle is just part of the solution. You also need to work on bringing the veins which have hemorrhoids as well as all your veins back to good health to get rid of existing hemorrhoids and prevent future ones. The best way to do this is actually from the inside out, by using natural substances such as herbs that will help your body regain good anal health. This is really the only way to stop hemorrhoids from happening as using creams and other preparations is equal to simply putting a Band-Aid on the problem which will keep reoccurring over and over again.