What you should know about piles

August 10, 2022

Piles, also called haemorrhoids, are collections of inflamed tissue in the anal canal that contain blood vessels, support tissue, muscle, and elastic fibres. Piles are also called haemorrhoid are displaced or prolapsed vascular cushions in the anal canal and contains blood vessels. Normally these vascular cushions are in the anal canal at 3, 7 and 11 o’clock position and help in the smooth passage of stools.

A lot of people have piles, but symptoms aren’t necessarily noticeable symptoms for almost half of all cases. The size of piles varies and they can be found both inside or outside the anus. They usually occur due to constipation, diarrhoea, heavy lifting, straining when passing stool and pregnancy. Some pules become so large they need to be removed surgically.

Piles can be internal or external, most common symptoms of piles is bleeding, which normally occurs after the passage of stool. Its bright red blood can either flow in drops or trickles down in a stream. Patient may experience a mass protruding out of the anal canal after passage of stool which he may or may not be able to push back with a finger, which can cause external piles.

Symptoms of piles

For most cases, symptoms of piles will not be serious and will resolve on their own after a few days under normal circumstances.

A person who has piles may experience a hard, and maybe painful lump around the anus, which may contain coagulated blood. called thrombosed external haemorrhoids.

After passing stool, individuals might get the feeling the bowels are still full. There may be painful and/or bright red blood after bowel movement with soreness and itchiness around the anus.

Severe cases of piles can cause excessive anal bleeding, also anaemia, infections, faecal incontinence, a fistula in which a new channel is created between the surface of the skin near the anus and the inside of the anus.

There may also be a strangulated haemorrhoid, in which blood doesn’t reach the haemorrhoid; which can cause complications such as infections or blood clots.

Causes of piles

Piles are essentially caused by an increase in pressure on the lower rectum, when blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum begin to stretch under the pressure, and as a consequence may swell or bulge and form piles. Conditions that lay extra pressure on the rectum and cause piles include chronic constipation and diarrhoea, being pregnant, lifting heavy weights and exerting pressure when passing a stool.

There is also growing evidence that suggests there is a tendency to develop piles due to a family history. The chances of developing piles also increase with age.

Diagnosing piles

If you suspect you have piles, visit a doctor who will correctly diagnose your condition after a physical examination and some questions. For internal piles, a doctor may perform a DRE (digital rectal examination) or use a proctoscope.

If an individual with piles also displays symptoms of other digestive diseases, a colonoscopy may be needed as well.

Treatment for piles

For most cases, piles resolve on their own without any treatment but some measures will help reduce the discomfort and itching that people experience with piles. Your doctor will surely prescribe medications for the same if needed. About 1 in 10 cases of piles will require surgical removal and treatment. We at Sehgal Neo Hospital use minimally invasive methods to treat piles, it is painless, with faster recovery, SNH offers state-of-the-art care and personalized #healing experience in Paschim Vihar, New Delhi.

Get second opinion from our expert clinicians, write to us sehgalnh@yahoo.co.in, call us at +91 85275 97171 or 011 4556 5656 to book an appointment. Visit us at www.sehgalneohospital.com to learn more.