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by shawn 2856 days ago
Toilet paper might also be causing hemorrhoids.

Consider that our bodies were not evolved to use toilet paper, and that hemorrhoids are virtually unheard of in third-world countries that lack TP.

(I haven't confirmed that latter claim. It's just something I read once, somewhere.)

Anyone who's been sick and had to go to the loo multiple times in a row will notice how painful it becomes. I'm not sure it would be painful if washing was used rather than rubbing.

My comment here is full of assumptions and wildly unsupported by evidence. But I thought it might be best to post it so that it can swiftly be disproven or shown to have a grain of truth.

The topic is gross, but it's a serious issue that you don't think much about until suddenly you have to.

7 comments

I think the ideas that hemorrhoids are not prevalent in third-world countries, not using toilet paper for cleanup and that using a western-style commode (and not squatting) is the source of problems is probably incorrect.

I base this on observations on the large numbers of advertisements for hemorrhoid treatment (most magazines, billboards, etc) in India, the fact that most people in India use water for cleanup and on the fact that squatting-type toilets are in common use in India. Again, just observation...

Most likely it's just physiology and diet.

I think it's not the TP as much as it is pushing due to a) constipation which is usually due to a lower fiber diet, and b) not squatting.

https://www.nadialabs.com/pages/how-to-use-the-toilet-correc...

It takes me less time to pass a number 2, than to go number 1. It is not loose, but it is soft and just ... blooop, done. When it's like modeling clay - not getting enough fiber! :-D

Since you're the one bringing this this time up I'll throw this out there: fiber is the source of as many problems as solutions. The idea that high fiber diets are appropriate for everyone is not supported by the science, and there are tons of places where reducing fiber is tremendously beneficial. Look into the FODMAP diet, for one obvious example.
I've read that the culprit is not toilet paper, but the face that we sit when we shit, while we ostensibly evolved to squat. So the bowels don't straighten out as they should, and the excessive pushing leads to pressure which gradually causes blood vessels to bulge over time.

Also, baby wipes work for adults too.

Don’t flush baby wipes, or anything except fences or toilet paper. They clog drains and interfere with the sewage treatment process.
I'm guessing that fences might also be a slight problem for the sewer system.
Just make sure you include a gate.
You could always put them through a meat grinder or dissolve them in acid pre flushing! Just don't use the bath for the dissolving. The tub won't keep the acids contained.
I sometimes use tissues when I run out of toilet paper. I hope that's not a problem ... (?)
Tissues are not designed to break down in water like toilet paper is.
Buy backup TP to your TP
Do you run out of toilet paper often?
flush fences‽ obvious typo, should have been "feces"
Curse you, overly prude auto-correct!
It's a jobs program for plumbers!
Very informative video about this subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q
Informative is...one way to describe that video...
“leads to pressure which gradually causes blood vessels to bulge over time”

Genuinely curious, are there any studies that have shown that?

this is one idea I think we can borrow somewhat from third world countries which only have squat toilets (basically a hole in tbe ground)
Well, yeah, if I rub any other place on my skin with toilet paper sufficiently long enough, it starts to hurt. I don't see a reason why it should be different down there.
Copper deficiency combined with pressure causes them.
Curious, can you name one country that lacks toilet paper or where hemerroids are unheard of?
You're wiping too hard.