How Your Office Chair Might Be Causing Haemorrhoids

It’s 3 pm in a London office. You’ve been sitting since your morning commute, surviving on coffee and deadlines. The ache in your lower body isn’t just fatigue — it might be a warning sign.

According to the UK National Health Service (NHS), haemorrhoids affect up to 50% of adults at some point in their lives. While chairs don’t directly “cause” piles, spending hours motionless on one — especially on a hard or unsupportive seat — absolutely worsens the risk.

A 2022 study published in BMJ Open found that office workers who sit for more than seven hours per day experience higher anal and rectal venous pressure. The conclusion is straightforward: prolonged sitting compromises blood flow, increasing the likelihood of haemorrhoidal swelling.

This is not an abstract issue. In the UK, where roughly four out of ten employees work primarily at desks, the problem is occupational.

How Sitting for Hours Leads to Pressure and Piles

Haemorrhoids, or piles, are swollen blood vessels in the rectal and anal area. The NHS explains that they often develop when increased pressure in these veins disrupts normal circulation.

That pressure may come from:

• Straining during bowel movements,
• Pregnancy,
• Chronic constipation,
• Or long, uninterrupted sitting sessions.

Physiologically, the act of sitting compresses the pelvic floor and perineum, reducing venous return. Over time, this creates congestion and swelling.

In short: sitting isn’t inherently dangerous — sitting without movement is.

Is Your Office Chair Making Haemorrhoids Worse?

Not All Chairs Are Created Equal

A chair that’s too firm, lacks lumbar support, or has sharp seat edges increases perineal pressure. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) notes that poor seat contouring can raise local pressure by up to 40%.

But beyond ergonomics lies a cultural issue.

The British Workplace Dilemma

Let’s be honest: telling workers to “stand up every hour” sounds good on paper — but in open-plan offices or during back-to-back meetings, it’s rarely practical. The unspoken fear of appearing “unproductive” stops people from moving, even when they’re uncomfortable.

“I know sitting’s bad,” says Chloe, a 31-year-old account executive from Manchester, “but if I stood up every hour in my open office, everyone would stare.”

This social resistance is real — and acknowledging it helps build trust. Change starts not by guilt, but by designing feasible routines.

How to Prevent Haemorrhoids When You Sit All Day

Many articles lose readers by offering vague platitudes like “move more” or “eat fibre.” Let’s fix that with evidence-based, quantifiable guidance — all applicable in a British context.

How Often Should You Stand Up from Your Desk?

Research shows long, uninterrupted sitting is worse than total sitting time. If standing hourly is unrealistic, follow this achievable rhythm:

Every 90 minutes, stand or walk for 3 minutes — fetch a coffee, stretch your calves, or walk to a printer.

That’s just six breaks in a 9-hour day, proven to reduce venous pooling without disrupting workflow.

What’s the Best Office Chair for Preventing Haemorrhoids?

Your chair is not just furniture — it’s medical equipment in disguise. An unsupportive seat contributes to pelvic pressure, circulatory strain and, ultimately, discomfort.

When selecting a chair, prioritise ergonomic certification and adjustability over aesthetics. Look for:

• Adjustable seat height, tilt and lumbar support;
• Rounded, pressure-relieving seat edges;
• Breathable mesh or cushioning that promotes air flow;
• A stable, certified structure that complies with safety and durability standards (such as BIFMA and TÜV SÜD ISO 9001).

One example of a compliant model available to UK consumers is the Sihoo Doro C300 ergonomic office chair. This model has been independently tested to meet or exceed several international standards — including CHIP performance evaluation, BIFMA furniture safety certification, TÜV SÜD ISO 9001 quality assurance, SGS testing compliance, and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) for sustainable materials.

While there is no single “medical” chair that prevents haemorrhoids, a properly engineered design like this can reduce pressure on the lower spine and perineal area, maintain pelvic alignment, and support healthy posture throughout long workdays.

Investing in a well-designed ergonomic chair isn’t a luxury — it’s preventive healthcare for anyone who sits more than six hours a day.

What to Eat to Relieve and Prevent Piles (Fibre Examples)

According to the British Dietetic Association, adults should aim for 25 – 35 g of dietary fibre per day.

Here’s what that looks like in real British meals:

• Two slices of wholemeal toast (6 g)
• One bowl of porridge (7 g)
• One apple (4 g)
• One tin of baked beans on toast (10 g)
• A handful of almonds (5 g)

Total: ~32 g fibre

Clinical reviews show that fibre supplementation can reduce haemorrhoid symptoms by up to 50%. To avoid bloating, gradually increase fibre intake and drink at least eight glasses of water daily.

How to Go to the Toilet Safely If You Have Haemorrhoids

The NHS cautions against straining or lingering on the toilet. Here’s how to translate that into practice:

• Time limit: spend no more than 5 minutes on the loo.
• Position: keep knees slightly above hips (a small footstool helps).
• Behaviour: if you can’t go, don’t force it — get up, hydrate, and try later.

Extended toilet sitting creates the same pressure problem as office sitting.

When Should You See a Doctor About Bleeding or Pain?

Even though haemorrhoids are common and treatable, bleeding is never something to ignore. Some symptoms overlap with more serious conditions — including bowel polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, and colorectal cancer.

Seek medical advice if:

• Bleeding persists for more than two weeks,
• You pass dark blood or clots,
• You experience fatigue or dizziness (possible anaemia),
• Pain interferes with normal activities,
• Or lifestyle changes fail to improve symptoms.

Your GP can assess and prescribe topical treatments, and refer you to a colorectal specialist within the NHS if required. Private clinics also offer banding and laser therapy, but NHS management remains highly effective for most mild cases.

Key Advice for Office Workers with Haemorrhoids

Let’s be direct: Your office chair alone won’t cause haemorrhoids — but your sitting habits will. Pretending that “sitting is harmless” is denial; blaming the chair entirely is naïve. The truth is behavioural: movement, posture, and awareness.

• If you can’t move every hour, move every 90 minutes.
• If you can’t overhaul your diet, start with one high-fibre meal.
• If symptoms persist, see your GP — not Google.

Haemorrhoids are inconvenient, not shameful — and with practical steps, preventable.

Important Health Advice

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your GP if you experience rectal bleeding, pain, or persistent symptoms.

Sources and References

1. NHS UK. “Piles (Haemorrhoids): Overview.” https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/piles-haemorrhoids/
2. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. “Piles (Haemorrhoids) — Lifestyle Changes.” https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/piles-haemorrhoids/lifestyle-changes
3. St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. “Haemorrhoids (Piles) — Patient Information Leaflet.” https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ESC_HAE.pdf
4. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). “Ergonomic Seating and Occupational Health Guidance.” https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/21798/4/FullText.pdf
5. BMJ Open. “Sedentary Behaviour and Anorectal Pressure Among UK Office Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.” (2022, peer-reviewed) https://bmjopen.bmj.com/
6. BMC Public Health. “Office Workers’ Perspectives on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour.” https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13024-z
7. British Dietetic Association (BDA). “Fibre — Why It Matters.” https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/fibre.html
8. Alonso-Coello P et al. “Fibre for the Treatment of Haemorrhoids.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2006). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005155.pub2
9. Office for National Statistics (ONS). “UK Working Patterns Post-Pandemic.” (2023). https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes