7Risk Factors
There are some things that don’t directly cause hemorrhoids but can increase your risk to have them and we call these risk factors [10]. Some risk factors for hemorrhoids include things such as low fiber diet, anal sex, inactive lifestyle, and genetics. Fiber [11] is found in foods such as whole-wheat grains, green leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. A low fiber diet can contribute and/or cause constipation which is one of the main causes of hemorrhoids. Anal sex can weaken the muscle tone of the rectal and anal muscle walls. When these are weakened, it increases the risk of those blood vessels bulging out. There isn’t much evidence that can cause hemorrhoids but definitely worsen current ones or reaggravate ones that may have been healing. Inactivity also can cause muscle weakness or atrophy over time. This similarly increases the risk of the vessels bulging through the weak tissue. Therefore, it is important to exercise and be active. Genetics usually play a role in the development of medical issues. A person can be predisposed to have an increased probability of having hemorrhoids due to a family member’s medical background. Genetics can also predispose a person to have weak muscle or skin tissue which also increases the risk for hemorrhoids.
