If squatting is a step beyond where you’re willing to go to deal with hemorrhoids, try raising your feet while on the toilet. Place a low bench or pile of books under your feet. This will improve your internal alignment and may help you pass stools faster and reduce hemorrhoid-causing pressure.

You can also find a range of products marketed as “hemorrhoid cushions” (or similar) online. There is no guarantee that any of these will help more than a pillow, but they might. “Donut” style cushions of the type used when someone has had surgery or suffered an injury in the anal region are another option to consider. Try them and see what works best for you.

Choose loose-fitting clothing (including undergarments) made of breathable fabrics like cotton. Change into a fresh pair of underwear if the ones you have on get damp from sweat.

Don’t linger on the toilet unnecessarily, for instance by finishing a chapter in your bathroom reading material of choice or playing on your phone. If your toilet routine takes more than a few minutes because of regular constipation, look into methods of relief like drinking more water, eating more fiber-rich foods, and taking fiber supplements and/or stool softeners. Also, “when you gotta go” — use the toilet right away. “Holding it in” can cause or exacerbate constipation.

When you do need to sit, take breaks to stand up and move around every so often. This can help prevent the pooling of blood that causes hemorrhoids, and can relieve some of the pain of existing hemorrhoids.

Exercise can also help you lose excess weight, which will in turn decrease the pressure on the veins in your posterior when you sit down.

One of the easiest ways to battle constipation is to drink more water. Women are recommended to consume 9 cups (2. 2 liters) of fluids daily and men are recommended to consume 13 cups (3 liters). Also, add more fiber to your diet. Eat more vegetables, fruits, and high-fiber grains like oats. Look at the side effects of any medications or supplements you are taking. Constipation may be caused by certain medications. Talk to your doctor about discontinuing or switching your medication if this is the case. Consider also using a fiber supplement or stool softener as well. Consult your doctor before undertaking any long-term regimen, however. Keep in mind that to most effectively avoid constipation, you will want to do a combination of these things. Increasing exercise, fluids, and fiber intake, as well as discontinuing any problematic medications, will all work together to ease constipation better than any one treatment done alone.

Shower or — preferably — bathe daily and gently clean the area with water alone. Pat the area dry or use a hair dryer on the lowest setting. You can also use a sitz bath, which is a basin that fits over your toilet bowl and allows you to soak and clean only the target area. Use clean, cool water and sit for 10 to 15 minutes, three times per day (or more as needed).

Hemorrhoid creams or ointments (such as a well-known “preparation”) can help shrink hemorrhoidal tissues and soothe itching and discomfort. Ointments or pads containing witch hazel may also be effective in dealing with itchiness and pain. On a more basic level, placing a wrapped ice pack or cold compress in your intergluteal cleft (or your “butt crack”) can provide temporary relief from pain and inflammation. Pain-relieving medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may also provide some measure of relief from hemorrhoidal discomfort.

While most hemorrhoids can be treated at home, some may require intervention by your doctor. Treatments can range from “banding” hemorrhoids so they wither and fall off to surgical removal (hemorrhoidectomy). The nature of your hemorrhoids, your level of discomfort, and many other factors will come into play as you and your doctor determine your best course of treatment.