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Further Reading on Straining, Hemorrhoids, and How to Poop

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Americans are seeing a spreading awareness of the importance of good posture on the toilet. (I hesitate to call it a “movement” for obvious reasons.)

A sentiment which began many years ago and has since gathered steam holds that squatting during defecation is far more comfortable, easeful and safe than the traditional 90-degree seated position we all grew up with. The Squatty Potty is one of many products capitalizing on this trend, although common sense also dictates that you could achieve largely the same effect with a simple footstool.

Interestingly, the tradition of sitting upright during pooping is fairly recent, and not at all the product of safety or convenience:

The first seated toilets ever built were used primarily for royalty and the disabled. However, after the advent of indoor plumbing in the 1800s, the water closet was adapted with a “porcelain throne” to fit the average home. That meant common folk could now poop in a “civilized” manner — just like the queen. But prior to that, our ancestors were squatting to relieve themselves, much like any other mammal. In fact, squatting is still the primary method for pooping in many cultures. Just visit any European, Asian or Middle Eastern country and you’ll soon discover that many public bathrooms consist of squatting toilets.

And indeed, the pendulum is swinging back. And not a moment too soon either: our poorly postured habits lead to greater strain, which can create issues from hemorrhoids to anal abscess.

Want the best advice for all things proctological? Contact the Proctology Institute for better hemorrhoid treatment in Los Angeles.

Further Reading On How To Poop

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There comes a time in every person’s life when they encounter the national sales phenomenon that is the Squatty Potty. Heralded on Shark Tank as a breakthrough, the Squatty Potty boasts countless rave reviews across social media. It’s widely loved because it does one simple thing very well: change the way you poop.

The logic behind the squatty potty is sound:

For hundreds of thousands of years, everyone used the squatting position, which may help by straightening the “anorectal angle.” There’s actually a kink at almost a 90-degree angle right at the end of the rectum that helps keep us from pooping our pants when we’re just out walking around. That angle only slightly straightens out in a common sitting posture on the toilet. Maximal straightening out of this angle occurs in a squatting posture, potentially permitting smoother defecation.

And why shouldn’t it? This is the only way people can defecate in nature, which makes it the most likely candidate for how people have been evacuating their bowels for millions of years. And there’s no question that raising the knees and legs helps reduce strain and lift pressure off this region when you’re trying to void the region.

Better positioning can help avoid strain, which can help in a number of ways. This is a recommended product, without reservation. As a bonus, straining less can help you avoid hemorrhoids, which means you may just avoid a trip to your hemorrhoid doctor.

Sitting Versus Squatting: What’s the Right Way to Poop?

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It is an age-old question: what’s the optimal position for human beings to be in when they defecate? Anecdotal evidence flies fast and free in many such debates, as do appeals to the animal kingdom and its favored techniques.

But settled science is squarely on the side of the squatting camp, which is one of the reasons products such as this one have become unadulterated sensations on the commercial Web.

Many of the data we marshal in support of the squat is based on this study, which found that straightening the bend between the rectum and the anus, called the anorectal angle, can greatly reduce straining and improve comfort and regularity:

[T]he participants who pooped in a squatting position needed less time and less straining to achieve a “sensation of satisfactory bowel emptying” compared to their toilet-sitting counterparts.

The benefits go beyond mere comfort and emptiness; when we strain, we increase the chances of developing hemorrhoids and even anal fissures which can impede our active lives. Hemorrhoids develop from engorging the veins of the internal hemorrhoids with blood, commonly due to increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, or the pressure inside the abdomen. As it is commonly known, hemorrhoids can be a real pain in the butt to treat!

Another quick tip to help you poop more effectively is to make sure your stools are the correct consistency, meaning, not too loose and not too hard. This can be best achieved with eating a healthy diet complete with lots of fiber.

Last, regardless of the postion you choose to “poop”, always remember to avoid sitting on the commode for long periods of time reading your favorite magazine or surfing the internet, as this will lead to hemorrhoidal swelling and engorgement.

Want to learn more about how to avoid butt pain and improve defecation to treat the problems you have seen from straining? Call the best hemorrhoid doctor in los angeles at the Proctology Institute today.