Piles, also known as haemorrhoids, are enlarged blood vessels inside or around the anus (the opening at the lower end of the intestines which connects to the outside of the body). It’s completely normal to have blood vessels in the anus, as they play an important role in continence. However, piles can develop if these blood vessels become enlarged.
Piles – An Insight
Spongy tissue with blood vessels line the anus, serving as cushions that help the anus to close. These are very normal but sometimes they can develop into piles, which usually look like small, round, discoloured lumps. One might be able to feel them on the anus, or as they hang down from the anal canal. The anal canal is the short muscular tube with blood vessels at the end of the rectum measuring 1 1/2 inches in length (about 4 centimeters), that connects the rectum (back passage) with the anus. Muscles (anal sphincters) that surround the anal canal relax to allow waste to leave the body.
Types of piles
Internal piles start inside the anal canal, but they might hang down and come out the anus. They’re graded according to whether they come out, and if so, how far they come out.
- First degree piles may bleed but don’t come out of your anus.
- Second degree piles come out of your anus when you have a poo, but go back inside on their own afterwards.
- Third degree piles come out of your anus and only go back inside if you physically push them back in.
- Fourth degree piles always hang down from your anus and you can’t push them back in. They can become very swollen and painful if the blood inside them clots.
External piles are swellings that develop further down your anal canal, closer to your anus. They can be really painful, especially if they have a blood clot in them.
It’s possible to have both internal and external piles at the same time.
Causes of Piles
Piles can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to:
- Straining during bowel movements.
- Having anal intercourse.
- Eating low-fiber diets.
- Being obese.
- Being pregnant.
- Regular heavy lifting.
- Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet.
- Having chronic diarrhea or constipation.
Symptoms of Piles
Piles don’t always cause pain or other symptoms, but if you do have symptoms, they might include:
- bright red blood after you poo.
- an itchy or sore anus.
- feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet.
- mucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottom.
- lumps in or around your anus.
- pain around your anus, especially after defecation.
These symptoms may vary among individuals, and may also be caused by problems other than piles.
Home Remedies
- Warm baths – gSitting in a tub of warm water that is filled just enough to cover the legs may help to ease the swelling and reduce irritation caused by hemorrhoids
- Coconut oil
- Witch hazel
- Ice packs
- Aloe vera
- Avoid late supper
- Drink enough water
- Go for light meals
But if the condition is chronic and all these remedies seem to be of no use, a very potent pack has been put together to stop all the symptoms associated with piles.This it does by
- Stopping constipation, This means straining during stooling will stop
- Consrticting enlarged around the anus
- Fighting obesity
- Reducing time spent on toilet
