Can Running Make Hemorrhoids Worse?

Andy Paras

27 Jul, 2026

Personally Researched | Last Updated: July 2026 | Based on Clinical Studies & Personal Experience.

If you're a runner dealing with hemorrhoids, you've probably wondered whether lacing up your shoes is doing more harm than good.

Hemorrhoids affect roughly half of adults at some point, and for runners, the concern is understandable:

Doesn't all that pounding and abdominal pressure make things worse?

Running doesn't cause hemorrhoids outright, but it can temporarily aggravate Symptoms in people who already have them, especially during high-intensity or long-distance efforts.

Understanding why this happens — and how to manage it — can help you stay active without setting your recovery back.

This article breaks down the connection between running and hemorrhoids, what the evidence says, and practical steps to keep symptoms in check.

Does Running Cause Hemorrhoids

Running itself is not considered a direct cause of hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids typically develop from repeated straining during bowel movements, Chronic Constipation, Prolonged Sitting, Pregnancy, Obesity, or a Low-Fiber Diet — factors that increase pressure on the veins in the anal canal.

In fact, regular moderate exercise is generally recommended as a preventive measure, since it improves circulation and helps regulate bowel movements, reducing the constipation that often triggers hemorrhoids in the first place.

That said, running doesn't cause hemorrhoids isn't the same as running has no effect on hemorrhoids.

If you already have them, certain aspects of running can aggravate existing symptoms, even if they don't create new problems from scratch.

How Running Can Aggravate Existing Hemorrhoids

Several mechanics of running can worsen symptoms for someone who already has hemorrhoids:

- Increased blood flow to the pelvic region. Exercise pumps more blood throughout the body, including to the veins around the rectum.

This added blood flow can cause existing hemorrhoids to swell and become more noticeable or uncomfortable.

- Impact and pressure. Running is a high-impact activity. Repetitive jarring motion and increased intra-abdominal pressure during hard efforts can irritate swollen veins.

- Dehydration and constipation risk. Long runs, especially in heat, can lead to dehydration if fluid intake isn't managed well.

Dehydration is a known contributor to constipation, which in turn increases straining and pressure on hemorrhoidal veins.

- Gastrointestinal distress on long runs. Extended running can cause GI upset, urgency, or the need for a bathroom stop mid-run, all of which can involve straining that aggravates symptoms.

Importantly, medical experts note that this worsening tends to be temporary. Exercise-induced symptom flare-ups generally settle down after the activity, and the underlying hemorrhoids don't become permanently worse simply because you went for a run.

What the Research and Doctors Say

Colorectal specialists and health organizations generally agree on a few key points:

- Vigorous exercise, Heavy Lifting, and any activity involving straining or breath-holding (the Valsalva maneuver) can cause hemorrhoids to swell temporarily.

- Running with mild to moderate hemorrhoids is usually safe, and most people can continue their routine with some adjustments.

- People with severe hemorrhoids — such as those that are prolapsed, thrombosed, or actively bleeding — should check with a doctor before continuing intense training, since running could worsen a serious flare-up or delay healing.

- There is no reason to give up exercise altogether because of hemorrhoids unless symptoms become genuinely unacceptable; a sedentary lifestyle carries its own risks, including a higher likelihood of constipation and hemorrhoid recurrence.

Tips for Running Safely With Hemorrhoids

If you want to keep running while managing hemorrhoid symptoms, consider the following:

1. Stay well hydrated: Adequate fluid intake helps prevent constipation, one of the biggest drivers of hemorrhoid flare-ups.

2. Eat a high-fiber diet: Fiber softens stool and reduces the need to strain during bowel movements.

3. Avoid running immediately after a large meal: or when you feel the urge to have a bowel movement — address that first to reduce in-run straining.

4. Wear moisture-wicking: breathable clothing to minimize friction and irritation in the area.

5. Scale back intensity during hemorrhoid crisis: Swap hard intervals or long runs for easy, low-impact sessions like walking, swimming, or light cycling until symptoms calm down.

6. Don't hold your breath during effort: Breath-holding increases abdominal pressure; focus on steady, controlled breathing.

7. Use topical treatments as needed: Over-the-counter creams, Witch Hazel Pads, or Sitz Baths can relieve discomfort after a run.

8. Know when to stop and see a doctor: Persistent pain, significant bleeding, or a hemorrhoid that doesn't reduce on its own warrants medical evaluation.

When to See a Doctor

While most hemorrhoid symptoms improve within a week with at-home care, you should seek medical attention if you experience heavy or persistent rectal bleeding, severe pain, a hemorrhoid that has prolapsed and won't go back in, or symptoms accompanied by fever or abdominal pain.

These can signal complications or a different underlying issue that needs professional treatment, ranging from dietary and lifestyle changes to procedures like rubber band ligation or, in more severe cases, surgery.

Conclusion

Running doesn't cause hemorrhoids, and for most people, it's safe to continue running even with mild to moderate hemorrhoids.

However, the physical demands of running — increased blood flow, abdominal pressure, and dehydration risk — can temporarily aggravate existing symptoms.

The key is listening to your body: stay hydrated, eat enough fiber, ease off intensity during hemorrhoid crisis, and don't ignore warning signs like heavy bleeding or a prolapsed hemorrhoid that won't resolve.

With a few adjustments, most runners can keep their training on track while managing hemorrhoids effectively.

If symptoms are severe or persistent, a conversation with your doctor is the safest next step.

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📚 Medical Sources

Mayo Clinic — Hemorrhoids
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) — Hemorrhoids
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons — Hemorrhoids
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Anorectal Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use
MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Hemorrhoids
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH — Treatment of Hemorrhoids
Cleveland Clinic — Hemorrhoids: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Harvard Health Publishing — Exercise and Hemorrhoids
LA Colon (Gary H. Hoffman, MD) — Hemorrhoids and Exercise: Ask the Proctologist