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What is piles?
Piles are swellings or swollen haemorrhoids that occur inside and around the anus, and along the anal canal. Haemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers in the anal canal.
Everyone has haemorrhoids. However, when the haemorrhoids guarding the anal passage become too big due to inflammation, so that the vein walls become stretched, thin, and irritated by passing bowel movements, that is when piles develops.
In most cases, piles goes away on its own.
Piles can be broadly classified into two categories:
Internal Piles - are located far within the rectum, and can’t be seen or felt. The only symptom is usually bleeding.
Internal piles can be classified into 4 grades:
Grade1: These are tiny haemorrhoids within the lining of the anus.
Grade 2: These haemorrhoids too lie within the anus and are slightly larger than grade 1 haemorrhoids. These haemorrhoids may get pushed out while passing stool but return to the original position on their own.
Grade 3: These are also known as 'prolapsed haemorrhoids'. They appear outside the anus. The patient can push them back in by pressing against them with his fingers.
Grade 4: These haemorrhoids cannot be pushed back and stay outside the anus at all times. They need to be treated by a doctor who usually suggests a surgery.
External Piles - are located around the anus right under the skin, where there are many pain-sensing nerves. They, therefore, hurt as well as bleed.
Anyone at any age can be affected by piles. Though it has been observed that people over 45 years of age usually get affected by piles.
About 50% of people experience this condition at some time in their life. Women who are pregnant too experience it. Though it is not clear what causes haemorrhoids, researchers think this might be an inherited condition of weak veins or varicose veins leading to haemorrhoids.
Who are the right specialists for performing Piles Surgery?
You can find a list of top Piles Surgery doctors & centers in your city at the following links:
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Bangalore
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Hyderabad
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Delhi
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Mumbai
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Pune
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Chennai
Top Piles Surgery doctors in Gurgaon
What is the cost of Piles Surgery?
Piles surgery cost varies based on location and hospitals.
You can find more information on Piles Surgery cost in your city at the following links:
Cost of Piles Surgery in Bangalore
Cost of Piles Surgery in Hyderabad
Cost of Piles Surgery in Delhi
Cost of Piles Surgery in Mumbai
Cost of Piles Surgery in Pune
Cost of Piles Surgery in Chennai
Cost of Piles Surgery in Gurgaon
How does piles occur?
Haemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers in the anal canal. Piles are haemorrhoids that have become inflamed.
Internal haemorrhoids form when blood vessels inside the rectum become swollen and engorged.
External haemorrhoids can occur due to increased pressure caused by obesity, pregnancy, sitting or standing for long hours at a stretch, straining on the toilet, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, and holding your breath while straining to do strenuous physical labour.
Who is prone to piles?
Some people are more prone to developing piles than others. There could be a variety of reasons for it:
genetic predisposition to piles, meaning weak veins can be genetic leading to weak rectal vein walls or week venous valves
less fiber in the diet can cause constipation which can lead to the formation of piles
poor bathroom habits
pregnancy
excessive coughing or sneezing
constant sitting or standing for long hours at a stretch
excessive straining, rubbing or cleaning around the anus
regularly holding breath while straining to perform some physical labour
being obese
What are the causes of piles?
The primary causes of piles include:
genetic predisposition to piles
lack of fiber in the diet
inadequate fluid intake
sedentary lifestyle
stress
straining while passing stool
constipation and diarrhea
constant sitting or standing for long hours at a stretch
sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
anal intercourse
pregnancy
constant heavy lifting
being obese
previous surgery of bowel
constriction of intestine following a surgery
spinal cord injury that leads to bladder and rectal dysfunction
dysfunction of the floor of pelvis
What are the symptoms of piles? How is piles diagnosed?
The symptoms of piles include:
bright red bleeding from the anus. Blood may streak the bowel movement or the toilet paper.
pain during bowel movements
painful swelling or a lump near the anus
anal itching
mucous discharge from the anus
hard lump around the anus
area around the anus becomes red and sore
Diagnosis
If the doctor suspects you have piles, he will perform a visual examination of your anus to diagnose haemorrhoids. He may also perform a digital rectal exam to check any sign of piles within the anus.
The doctor may also prescribe an additional test called a sigmoidoscopy.
A sigmoidoscopy (a small fibre-optic camera) involves your doctor using a small camera to diagnose an internal haemorrhoid. The sigmoidoscope is fitted into a small tube and inserted into your rectum.
It provides a clear view of the inside of your rectum and displays the abnormalities if any within the rectum. The doctor may also prescribe other tests such as colonoscopy, anoscopy, and proctoscopy which can clearly show internal haemorrhoids if any.
What are the complications of piles?
The complications of piles include:
bleeding during bowel movements
anemia
pain during bowel movements
piles cause complications associated with hygiene, as the anal area becomes difficult to clean after defecation
poor hygiene around the anal area can lead to several infections
itchiness around the anal area
gangrene, if the blood supply to an internal haemorrhoid is cut off
What is the treatment for piles?
Medical Treatment
Piles often clear up on their own but may require treatment or even surgery if the symptoms are severe.
The treatment of piles varies for internal and external piles.
Grade one, and two, of internal haemorrhoids, is usually treated with medicine and a planned diet of fibrous non-spicy food. In some cases, the doctors may also prescribe a topical cream.
Grade three of internal haemorrhoids is also treated with medicine and a change of diet but may require surgical intervention if the symptoms are severe. Treatment of grade four internal piles requires prompt surgical intervention especially if gangrenous tissue is found.
To treat external piles your doctor might suggest hemorrhoid creams, or ice packs to reduce the swelling. If the case is too severe, the doctor may suggest surgery which can include:
removal of haemorrhoids
using an infrared photo, laser, or electrical coagulation to burn tissue affected by piles
sclerotherapy to eliminate varicose veins which could be the cause of piles
Exercise
Exercising can easily reduce the symptoms of piles. You can go for exercises such as :
In The Spotlight
Here are some of the latest news on piles/haemorrhoids from around the world:
Take Psyllium Husk
This supplement will increase your fiber intake, and soften your stools. It will make your bowel movements more smooth. Too much intake can cause gas or stomach cramping.Take Triphala Powder
Take 4 grams of triphala powder, mix in a glass of hot water and drink every night before going to bed. This works like magic to reduce your piles symptoms and do away with constipation, which is a major cause of piles.Castor Oil
Consuming castor oil regularly and also applying it topically in affected areas helps to alleviate the symptoms of piles.Increase in Water intake
This is the most simple way to cure piles. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water each day will prevent constipation and regulate your digestive system.Eat a Light Dinner
One of the main causes of piles is the diet we eat. Refrain from eating a heavy dinner. Have a light dinner and which is not too high in fibrous content, or too hot and spicy. Consuming these foods especially in case of bleeding piles, can cause excruciating pain and hence must be avoided.Eat Salads
Consume salads such as cucumber, carrots, broccoli, every day, especially right after breakfast. Carrots have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial for curing piles.