
Did Hemorrhoids Take Down the French Empire?
- Napoleon’s struggle with a well-known medical condition may have rendered him useless to his army
- 75 percent of all people may find themselves enmeshed in a battle with this uncomfortable condition during their lifetime
- Don’t let pain and discomfort change the course of your history. Find out how to prevent it with these easy tips
Dear Reader,
Picture it.
It’s a warm June day in Europe. You can feel the pounding of horse hooves shaking the ground beneath you and smell the cannon fire hanging in the air. You sink deeper into sullen feelings as you hear the sounds of swords making contact and men screaming as they meet their fate on the battlefield. You are forced to lie paralyzed by great pain in your commander’s tent — knowing you are in too much pain to help your army as they continue to battle the British and Prussian armies.
Suddenly, a high-ranking French officer bursts into your tent and demands you mount your horse and go survey the battlefield.
“We need you out there! It’s the only hope we have to win, sir!” he screams.
You try to stand up. But, you fall right back down. The pain, burning, bleeding, and itching are just too intense for you to go on. As you lie in the tent, you know that you have lost not only this battle, but your reign as emperor of France.
In this scenario, it’s June 18, 1815, and you are Napoleon Bonaparte. You have just succumbed to defat in the Battle of Waterloo.
And the reason why you couldn’t mount your horse to survey the battlefield? Or help your men stave off the advances of the enemy? Or defend your title as the emperor of France?
Because your body is already at war. And not with opposing military forces, but with a hellacious bout of hemorrhoids (also called piles).
That’s right. According to some historians, Napoleon may have lost the Battle of Waterloo due to an extreme case of piles.2

An accurate portrait of Napoleon at Waterloo — standing while in visible pain.
Photo Credit: sainthelenaisland.info
It’s pretty shocking to think such a common, slightly embarrassing condition may have changed the course of history.
But when faced with the fact that 75 percent of people will suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in their lives, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched.2
Today, Living Well Daily is going to lead your through the facts about hemorrhoids. We will discuss what hemorrhoids are, how they are formed, and, most importantly, how to prevent them from becoming your personal Battle of Waterloo.
The Battleground in Your Body
Have you gone to the bathroom and found blood in the water when you’re done? Or experienced itching, burning, pain, and pressure of the rectum?
These are the common symptoms of hemorrhoids. And if none of this sounds familiar now, as I mentioned above, you have three in four chance of experiencing at some point in your life.
If you are over age 50, there is a one in two chance that you already have.2
You may be wondering by now: What exactly are hemorrhoids? Let me explain…
Located just under the lining of the bottommost portion of the anus and the rectum, there is a network of soft veins. When these veins become enlarged and inflamed (usually cause by pressure), it creates a hemorrhoid. Hemorrhoids come in two different varieties, internal and external.

Figure 1 Photo credit: webnat.com
Internal hemorrhoids happen in the lower rectum. While internal hemorrhoids are typically painless, they can produce bleeding than can be seen in the toilet bowl on or on toilet paper after a bowel movement. However, if an internal hemorrhoid becomes prolapsed (when the vein protrudes beyond the anus) it can cause irritation or itching at the site.3
External hemorrhoids can cause pain because they develop under the skin near the anus. In fact, this type of hemorrhoid compromises the skin and causes irritation, and sometimes results in a blood clot. If a blood clot forms, it can cause extreme pain along with a lump close to the anus.3 If Napoleon did have hemorrhoids, it was likely this type.
Hemorrhoids can be caused by any type of added pressure on your blood vessels. This includes actions like straining you muscles during bowel movements, pregnancy, obesity, sitting for long periods of time on the toilet, and improper diet.
And while hemorrhoids already disrupt the lives of over 10 million Americans at any given time, Google Trends indicate this number could be increasing.
America’s interested has almost doubled over the last 10 years.
When I did a trend search, I found that Google searches for “hemorrhoids” has come close to doubling in the last 10 years.
In fact, hemorrhoids was the most searched health term on Google from 2012–2014.4
While factors like growing computer use and competency may play a role in this climbing number, it may also indicate that lots of cases of hemorrhoids going unreported.
The rapid increase in obesity may also be to blame here. Extra weight on the body can result in restricted blood flow and increased pressure on blood vessels. This added pressure can compromise vein strength and cause the veins to erupt. Obesity is also linked to sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, low levels of physical exercise, and irregular bowel movements, which is the main source of hemorrhoids growth.5
Even though it may seem inevitable that you will experience your personal Battle of Waterloo with hemorrhoids, there are a few ways to keep them at bay.
Exercising for 20–30 minutes a day may help stimulate regular bowel movements, which can be helpful in the battle against hemorrhoid development.
Another preventative measure against hemorrhoids is collagen. A study published in Colorectal Disease found that patients suffering from hemorrhoids have significantly reduced collagen ratios compared with those without hemorrhoids.6
Because collagen may help to support vein repair, adding a collagen supplement may be a good defense tactic in your battle against hemorrhoids.7
It’s important to note that hemorrhoids symptoms may sometimes be indicators of more serious conditions like colon cancer and irritable bowel disease. Be sure to contact your health care provider if you experience any blood in your bowel movements or any changes in your digestive health.
If Napoleon had only know hemorrhoid prevention and was so easy, perhaps we would all be reading this article in French.
If you have any natural hemorrhoid hacks, tell me about them! Nmoore@lfb.org
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] 7 Things You May Not Know About the Battle of Waterloo
[2] Hemorrhoids
[3] Hemorrhoids and what to do about them
[4] Eliminating Hemorrhoids Once And For All
[5] Obesity And Hemorrhoids: What’s The Connection?
[6] Haemorrhoids – a collagen disease?
[7] Linus Pauling’s Unified Theory of Human Cardiovascular Disease

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
The TRUTH About Supplement "Liver Dangers" REVEALED
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about liver damage from supplements—so, let’s talk about it. Reports of supplement-induced liver injuries have some folks wondering, “Could my natural remedy actually be harming me?” But before you toss all your supplements in the trash, let’s separate fact from fear—and talk about how to use supplements safely....
The 10,000 Steps LIE That's Ruining Your Health
I’ll be honest—I’m a little sick of the 10,000-steps theory. You know, the one that insists you need to take at least that many steps daily to stay healthy? You won’t believe where that claim originally came from. The 10,000-steps theory wasn’t handed down from the fitness gods on stone tablets. It originated from a...
“Brain Games” Failed You? Try THIS For Better Memory Instead
You know all those brain-training apps, supplements, and “miracle” memory-boosters that promise to keep your brain sharp as you age? Here’s the truth… There IS evidence they support brain health—and that’s why I’ll be the first to recommend them. But they aren’t the most powerful brain-boosting tool available to you. Another surprising solution has earned...
Mailbag: 5 Powerful Ways to Shield Your Prostate from Cancer
“What are your tips to avoid prostate cancer?” —Keeping Cancer at Bay Hi Keeping, You’re right to be concerned—prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. And there were an estimated 268,490 new prostate cancer...
Popular Drinks Quintuple THIS Deadly Risk
We all know that sugary drinks aren’t good for our teeth. But new research reveals a far more sinister link between sweetened beverages and oral health. Your soda habit could be putting you at risk for something far worse than cavities… Research published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery has uncovered a shocking...
Depression AGES Your Body 30% Faster—Here's How to Stop It
Recent research highlights the profound connection between the mind and body. The eye-opening new study shows how battling depression could put you on the fast track to physical decline. Depression is the most common mental health condition worldwide. We’ve long known that it’s linked to an increased risk of illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes....
Study Reveals Not All Generic Drugs Are Created Equal
Like most folks, you probably don’t think twice about whether you’re getting a brand-name or generic drug when you pick up a prescription. After all, the FDA insists generics are just as safe and effective as their pricier brand-name counterparts. But what if that’s not always true? A disturbing new study has uncovered evidence that...
Feed Your Good Gut Bugs with this Produce Aisle Staple
Improving your health doesn’t always have to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes, it’s as simple—and tasty—as a handful of berries. We’ve long known that blueberries pack a serious nutritional punch. But this latest research takes things by revealing exactly how these berries enhance your gut microbiome—the community of beneficial bacteria living in your digestive system....
Harness the Forgotten Superpower of Boredom
From the moment we crawl out of bed in the morning until we hit the hay again at night, we’re bombarded with stimulation. With screens everywhere, including in our pockets, we’re surrounded by entertainment. But with constant notifications and endless scrolling, we’ve forgotten how to be bored. In fact, most of us avoid it at...
The Forgotten Nutrient That May Save Your Memory
Some nutrients, like vitamin D and vitamin C, get all the attention. But almost no one’s talking about vitamin K. However, this overlooked nutrient could be key to preserving your memory as you age. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests vitamin K plays a critical role in keeping your brain sharp well...