Haemorrhoids- the Painful Piles

Hemorrhoid or piles is one of the common problems associated with indigestion and constipation. In my clinical practice, I have came across many people being silent sufferers of this disease for years.

Before going further, let’s understand piles. Piles are the dilated blood vessels, in the rectal mucosa forming a mass in the rectal canal. They can be internal or external types.

Talking about the symptoms, the main ones include swelling, irritation and bleeding during defaecation.

Treating Piles:

Seeing the magnitude of the ailment, treating piles is highly important.  

Many viewpoints are available for the treatment or management of piles. They are:

1. Sclerotherapy- injecting a chemical solution around the dilated vessels causing their shrinkage.

2. Cryotherapy- low temperature is used to shrink the vessels.

3. Band Ligation- Rubber banding is also done.

4. Sitting in shallow bath of lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes

    to reduce swelling.

5. It is seen that relatively minor piles can treated effectively by creams or

     ointments locally.

Important Causes:

1.     Straining during defaecation

2.     Sedentary lifestyle

3.     Chronic constipation

4.     Aging

5.     Obesity

6.     Lifting heavy weights

Effective Prevention Measures:

Prevention largely depends upon adapting changes in lifestyle.

1.     Intake of high- fibre foods eg. Green leafy vegetables, fruits and whole grains .

2.     Avoid constipation.

3.     Drinking 10-12 glasses of water daily is found to be very effective in regulating proper evacuation of bowels.

4. Avoid too much intake beverages and spicy foods.

      5. Reduction of weight, if obese.

      6. Avoid sedentary lifestyle because it pressurizes the anorectal region.

7.     The undergarments worn should be of cotton.

8.     Maintaining Good Personal Hygiene and keeping the anal area clean.

We will notice the condition to be common in both men and women. Around 40% of the people worldwide suffer from piles. Piles are also quite common in pregnant ladies. Both young and old are affected by th disease and about 50% of the people have experienced piles at some or the other point in their lives.

Undoubtedly piles are a painful disorder, but not a life threatening one. Proper toilet hygiene and dietary habits are found to be highly curative. Oftentimes, I have noticed, people suffering from haemorrhoids and living a normal healthy life by adopting favourable changes in their dietary pattern and lifestyle too. Smoking also turns about to be aggravating factor, so it should be shunned. Be careful with your dietary habits.