Piles, also known as haemorrhoids, are the swelling and inflammation of veins in the anal canal. An increase in pressure in these veins due to straining during bowel movement, pregnancy, chronic constipation or diarrhoea leads to a condition known as piles. Piles may be internal or external, depending on their location.
Internal piles
Internal piles, also known as haemorrhoids, are found inside the rectum. They’re a common condition that affects over half of adults at some point in their lives.
Internal piles cause bleeding, itching and pain and may be felt as lumps or thrombosed (hardened) veins under the skin around your anus. Internal piles can develop for many reasons:
- 1. Straining during bowel movements or with constipation can cause internal piles to develop.
- 2. Diarrhoea can lead to internal haemorrhoids because it causes extra pressure on your rectum.
Causes of Internal Piles
Internal Piles are due to a dilation of the rectal veins. It can be caused by straining during bowel movements and pregnancy.
Symptoms of Internal Piles
Symptoms of internal piles include:
- 1. Anal pain, which may be sharp or dull. The pain may wax and wane or be constant.
- 2. Dribbling of mucus at the end of a bowel movement or after wiping.
- 3. Stool leakage (faecal incontinence).
- 4. Pruritus ani (itching around the anus)
- 5. Fissures and fistulas that occur in response to internal piles are rare but can also cause pain, bleeding and discharge from the anus.
Treatment of Internal piles
These are found in the rectum and may be prolapsed or thrombosed. They can cause bleeding, pain and constipation. Internal piles are treated by internal and external haemorrhoidectomy (cutting them out).
External piles
External piles are the most common type of piles. They are painless but can be itchy and uncomfortable. External piles are caused by a build-up of pressure in the rectum. This prevents blood from draining properly and causes swelling and itching. You may find that constipation makes them worse if you have external piles.
If left untreated, external piles can become infected or painful and cause internal bleeding. They can also lead to anal fissures (tears in the skin around your anus). Treatment for external piles involves medication or surgery, depending on the severity of your symptoms. You should only use over-the-counter treatments for your symptoms if they don’t improve with self-care measures like drinking lots of water and changing your diet.
Causes of External Piles
External piles are caused due to a dilation of the external hemorrhoidal veins. This type of pile is more common in women than men, as women tend to have more prolapsed rectum than men.
Symptom of External Piles
It is important to see your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- 1. Pain or discomfort in the anal area.
- 2. Itching in the anal area.
- 3. Blood in the stool or on toilet paper after a bowel movement.
- 4. Discharge from the anus that looks like mucus, pus or blood.
- 5. Sores on your skin around your anus.
Treatment of External piles
These are found outside the anus and may be prolapsed or thrombosed. They can cause bleeding, pain and itching. External piles are treated by rubber band ligation (putting a rubber band around them) or sclerotherapy (injecting a chemical solution).
Prolapsed piles
Prolapsed piles (also called haemorrhoids) are swollen tissue in the anus and rectum. They can be internal or external and may bleed, itch, or hurt.
External haemorrhoids are usually painless and don’t cause symptoms unless they become irritated by clothing. Internal haemorrhoids can be painful and uncomfortable when you pass stool.
Prolapsed piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen tissues in the anus and rectum. They can be internal or external and may bleed, itch, or hurt. External haemorrhoids are usually painless and don’t cause symptoms unless they become irritated by clothing or sitting for long periods of time. Internal haemorrhoids can be painful and uncomfortable when you pass stool.
Causes of Prolapsed Piles
When there is a prolapse or slipping down of the lining of the anus and rectum, it is known as Prolapsed Piles. It can also be called a Sigmoid volvulus, where the rectum twists around itself, causing obstruction and strangulation of blood vessels leading to severe pain and bleeding.
Symptoms of Prolapsed Piles
The main symptom of prolapsed piles is painless bleeding from the anus. In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all.
Other symptoms include:
- 1. Soreness around the anus
- 2. Itching around the anus or vagina
- 3. Painful bowel movements (constipation)
- 4. Blood in your stool (rectal bleeding)
Treatment of Prolapsed piles
These are found inside the anus but protrude outside it during straining, passing stools or coughing. Prolapsed piles can cause bleeding, pain and itching. Prolapsed piles are treated by rubber band ligation or sclerotherapy. If there is no improvement with these treatments, surgery may be necessary to remove them by haemorrhoidectomy (cutting them out).
Thrombosed piles
Thrombosed piles are blood clot that forms in the piles. The clot can cause pain, swelling and redness of the anus. Your doctor can remove the thrombus with a simple procedure called ‘pilonidal sinus puncture’, where he will use a needle to access the pocket where the pile is located. He may also refer you to have an ultrasound scan to look at this area better before doing this procedure.
Suppose there is no improvement after initial treatment. In that case, he may prescribe medication for treating acute episodic attacks of piles (painful), such as ibuprofen or paracetamol tablets taken three times daily until it settles down (this usually takes 1–2 weeks). If they do not work well enough, then some other options include injections of corticosteroids into affected areas or surgery, which involves removing sections of skin surrounding affected areas.
Causes of Thrombosed Piles
Thrombosed Piles are also known as Haemorrhoids which are caused due to an obstruction in blood flow through veins in the rectal area due to straining during bowel movement or pregnancy.
Symptoms of Thrombosed Piles
Here are some symptoms of thrombosed piles:
- 1. Painful swelling or lump in the anal canal
- 2. Difficulty passing stool
- 3. Bleeding from the anus (rectum)
- 4. Feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel motion
The pain associated with thrombosed piles may be mild or severe and can last for several days. In many cases, it is caused by straining during bowel movements. The pain may also be caused by an underlying condition such as haemorrhoids, which are varicose veins in the anal area.
Treatment of Thrombosed
Treatment for a thrombosed pile generally involves taking pain medication and applying a warm compress to the area. If the pain is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the clot. Surgery is usually only recommended if other treatments have failed.
To prevent a thrombosed pile from recurring, you can take steps to reduce your risk of constipation. This includes eating a high-fibre diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and exercising routinely. You should also avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
What are the 4 Stages of Piles
There are four main stages of piles, each with its own set of symptoms.
Stage 1: Hemorrhoids bleed when they are irritated. This can happen when you wipe too hard, have a bowel movement, or lift something heavy. You might see blood on toilet paper after use.
Stage 2: Hemorrhoids prolapse or bulge out, but they go back inside on their own. You might feel them protruding after a bowel movement and see them during a physical exam.
Stage 3: Prolapsed haemorrhoids always bulge out of your anus and cannot be pushed back inside. They require manual reduction by your doctor during an office visit.
Stage 4: Thrombosed haemorrhoids are painful because they contain clots of blood that have formed inside them. They also appear as bluish-purple lumps on the outside of your anus and can be very tender to touch.
When to See the Doctor for Piles
If you’re experiencing haemorrhoid symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor confirm the diagnosis and rule out any other potential problems. You should also see a doctor if your haemorrhoids are bleeding excessively or if you’re in pain.
Your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and perform a digital rectal exam. In some cases, they may recommend additional testing, such as anoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. These procedures can help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential causes of your symptoms.
Treatment for piles often begins with lifestyle changes, such as increasing fibre intake and drinking plenty of fluids. You may also be able to find relief by applying topical cream or ointments to ease discomfort and swelling. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove haemorrhoids that don’t respond to other treatment methods.
If you’re concerned about haemorrhoid symptoms, book an appointment with Glamyo today!
List of Foods During Piles Treatment
One of the most important things you can do when treating piles is to increase your fibre intake. This can be done by eating more high-fibre foods or taking a fibre supplement. Some good options include:
-Fruits and vegetables, especially those with skins or peels that you can eat (such as apples, berries, squash, and potatoes) -Beans, lentils, and other legumes -Whole grain bread and cereals -Nuts and seeds
In addition to increasing your fibre intake, you should also make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Water is always a good choice, but you can also try juices or herbal teas. Just be sure to avoid caffeinated beverages, as they can contribute to dehydration.
Piles are uncomfortable, but you can find the right treatment by understanding the different types.
You are not alone if you have piles.
It is estimated that about one in five people in the UK suffers from piles. Piles can cause much embarrassment and discomfort, but treatments are available to help reduce your symptoms.
Piles are small growths on the lining of the anus and rectum caused by internal haemorrhoids (piles inside). They usually develop as a result of straining when passing a bowel motion or due to pregnancy, chronic constipation and many other factors such as being overweight, which puts pressure on veins around the anus (haemorrhoids). Other common symptoms include bleeding, itching and pain when passing stools. External haemorrhoids may become thrombosed and inflamed with blood clots forming under them, which causes more pain than an ordinary external pile.
Conclusion
If you’re dealing with piles, the best course of action is to consult a doctor. Although many haemorrhoids will go away on their own without treatment, some may require medication or even surgery. The key is to get a proper diagnosis from your doctor, who can give you the appropriate treatment for your type of piles.
Haemorrhoids can often go away on their own, but some may require medication or surgery. The key is to get the right treatment for your specific type of haemorrhoid. If you’re concerned about haemorrhoid symptoms, book an appointment with Glamyo today!
Related Posts