Whether you’re away on business or pleasure, hemorrhoids often come along for the ride.

Factors that cause hemorrhoids while you’re on the road include:

• Dehydration: In an effort to stay awake through different time zones, you may drink more coffee – which is known to cause dehydration.
• Dehydration caused by flying itself.
• Stress on your body caused by time zone changes. 
• Activity overload: whether work or leisure, you try to get a lot done in little time.
• Dietary changes: Eating different cuisines at different times causes havoc on your body.

They all can lead to a painful hemorrhoid flare-up while traveling, when it is especially difficult to find the time or the medication to properly treat it. For all these reasons, it is important to be prepared. If you suffer from hemorrhoids, taking a few travel precautions can go a long way.

When should you treat a flare-up? Immediately.

As soon as you feel a stinging and uncomfortable, tight sensation in your anal area, take care of it immediately. Waiting will only cause more pain, and may even result in a thrombosed hemorrhoid – a serious condition that may require medical intervention or surgical removal. So acting promptly will not only reduce your pain now, but save you time and money “down the road.”

What toiletry items can you use to relieve the pain and reverse the hemorrhoid flare-up?

Items you should have in your toiletry case include:

• Drug-free ointment
• Anuleaf AD
• Stool softener
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Wipes

In case of a flare-up:

First, take a warm bath to relieve the inflammation.

Second, apply your drug-free ointment. If you have a prolapsed hemorrhoid, this ointment can make it easier for you to push it back into the anal canal to avoid further strangulation. And don’t forget to apply this ointment BEFORE your bowel movements, as well.

Third, use Anuleaf AD. Wearing Anuleaf AD continuously will prevent the friction that makes your inflammation worse – something no pill or ointment can do.

Fourth, take a stool softener or an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory oral medication.

Lastly, keep wipes handy for cleanliness after bowel movements.

What should you avoid while on the road?

• Dehydration. Drink more water than usual to compensate.
• Creams and ointments that contain anesthetics or cortisone. These ingredients can make the condition worse by either desensitizing you so you don’t feel the damage being done by your body movements, or by thinning out your anal skin.
• Taking too much laxative or stool softener, which will further irritate your hemorrhoids.
• Wearing tight clothes, especially around your waist, which will also will further irritate your hemorrhoids.
• Taking too many pain killers, which may cause constipation.
• Strain from lifting your luggage: When you are traveling, have a companion do the heavy lifting for you.

How can you help speed up recovery?

• Rest as much as possible in a horizontal position. Change positions when you feel pressure in the anal area.
• Stop drinking alcohol or coffee.
• Avoid walking or sitting for long periods of time.

Although following these steps might seem difficult, having a hemorrhoid attack last any more than necessary is worse. The combination of all these actions should give you the immediate pain relief you need.