Can You Get Hemorrhoids From Lifting Weights?

Can You Get Hemorrhoids From Lifting Weights?

If you lift weights using the wrong technique, you may develop new ones or worsen existing piles. (Remember, hemorrhoids are blood vessels in or around the anus and rectum that develop swelling after coming under excess pressure.) Weightlifting and this condition don’t have to go hand in hand, but lifting weights can cause hemorrhoids in several different ways.

Going too heavy

Can you get hemorrhoids from lifting? When weights are too heavy, you may strain to pick them up, putting pressure on your abdomen, lower rectum, and the blood vessels in those areas. Under that pressure, the veins can swell, causing hemorrhoids to form, or worsening existing symptoms if you already have piles.

Using the wrong form

You can get them from working out with weights if you aren’t careful about your form.

Cycling, squatting, and sit-ups

In addition to lifting weights, other forms of exercise may increase your risk. Use caution when cycling, since the hard seat of a stationary or outdoor bike can irritate existing ones.

Squatting can also increase your risk, especially if you hold weights while exercising, since the combination piles pressure on your lower body, including your rectum.

Sit-ups and crunches may even lead to the formation of hemorrhoids due to their potential to irritate the veins in and around the rectum.

How to Prevent Hemorrhoids When Lifting Weights

While you can get them from lifting weights, these tips can help protect you while you exercise.

Before starting to lift, bend your knees and turn on your core while keeping your spine in a neutral position. Move up and down slowly and steadily, avoiding any jerky or abrupt motions. When you lift weights or engage in any form of exercise, breathe slowly and steadily, trying to exhale at the most challenging moment of the movement.

If you’re just getting into weightlifting, or you haven’t worked out in a while, ease yourself into your routine, starting with lower weights and sticking to between 8 and 12 reps in each lifting set.

Also, make sure to engage in cross-training, trying different workouts all week to build up the muscles that support your weightlifting and to take some pressure off your rectum.

Focus on hydration, especially after a training session, to replenish fluids lost during your workout. Doing so will help prevent constipation and soften your stool, reducing your risk for developing hemorrhoids from weightlifting.

You can snack on fiber rich foods after a lifting session, focusing on choices such as nuts, since their combination of fiber and protein can reduce risk while supporting muscle growth and post-lifting recovery.

Seeing a Doctor for Your Hemorrhoids

While not typically dangerous, they can make you feel itchy or uncomfortable; they can also lead to bleeding when you pass bowel movements. As such, you should see a doctor when your symptoms are noticeable, as hemorrhoids treatment can provide relief and improve your quality of life—not to mention your weight-lifting routines.

Here at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute, our interventional radiologists provide minimally invasive treatment options. Conduction the Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization (HAE) procedure, they can shrink cases without surgery and with a reduced risk for complications. Schedule a consultationSchedule a consultationSchedule a consultation today to explore this treatment option.