Study: 3 Sleep Habits That May Cause Hemorrhoids

A new study found that insomnia, longer sleep duration and daytime napping are each individual causes of hemorrhoids, those swollen, painful veins around the rectum that affect more than half of people over the age of 50.

The study, published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Research , was conducted by researchers at Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing. Instead of relying on patient questionnaires which tend to be unreliable, the scientists used a genetic technique called Mendelian randomization to investigate data from massive databases such as the UK Biobank and a Finnish health database called FinnGen, according to Study Finds .

They were able to screen variants such as body weight, smoking, and alcohol use to keep the analysis clean. The dataset included more than 218,000 cases of hemorrhoids and 725,000 controls.

The data showed that people genetically predisposed to insomnia had a 23.3% higher risk of hemorrhoidal disease. Longer sleep duration was linked to a 16.2% higher risk, while daytime napping was associated with a 14.1% higher risk. Surprisingly, the researchers also found no evidence that hemorrhoids caused sleep problems, suggesting that disrupted sleep may be a contributing factor rather than simply a symptom.

The study authors theorize that sleep problems may raise hemorrhoid risk because they can disrupt normal digestion and bowel habits. Poor or irregular sleep may slow digestive movement, which can lead to constipation and straining — two major contributors to hemorrhoids. Lack of sleep can also increase inflammation in the body, which may make veins around the rectum more likely to swell. And if someone naps a lot during the day or sleeps for long periods, they may be less physically active, which can also contribute to constipation and pressure in the rectal area.

The researchers suggested that sleep hygiene interventions, including cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia, consistent sleep schedules and an improved sleep environment could help in the management or prevention of hemorrhoids. Dietary changes to support bowel health and regularity and regular physical exercise, could also be beneficial.  

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