Haemorrhoids or piles are a common health issue. The swollen and enlarged lumps could form on the inside or outside the rectum and anus. Most of the patients do not recognise the symptoms before experiencing rectal bleeding or painful bowel movements. Some patients don’t need piles treatment as the symptoms go away with lifestyle changes. In addition, you have the option of home remedies for treating haemorrhoids. However, surgical methods and other forms of medical treatment might be required in certain cases. Let us find out more about piles, their diagnosis, and recommended methods of treatment.
Types of Piles
Piles are swollen lumps around the anus or in the rectum. Swelling of blood vessels in the rectum is the primary cause of piles, which are tissue growths. Around 70-75% of people often develop the condition once in their lifetime, the chances are higher for people above the age of 50. Even though piles are a common health condition, you must know about their categories to avail proper treatment. The two types are internal and external piles.
Internal Piles
Internal piles, as the name implies, are the tissue growths in the rectum. It is difficult to diagnose internal piles through an external examination. The four-point scale of grading can help in identifying the severity of a patient’s condition.
- In Grade 1, the tissue growth does not showcase any symptoms and does not protrude from the anus.
- In Grade 2, piles could prolapse from the anus and return inside on their own.
- In Grade 3, piles would prolapse and would recede only through manual intervention.
- In Grade 4, piles prolapse, and it is impossible to push them back.
External Piles
External piles are visible in the form of small lumps on the external edge of the anus. The most common symptom of external piles is itching and discomfort. Subsequently, the lumps can become painful due to the formation of a blood clot which could block blood flow. External piles with clots would need immediate medical attention.
Common Causes of Piles
The foremost approach for treating piles relies on identifying the causes underlying the health condition. Any individual could show symptoms of piles, including teenagers, and they might take some time to develop.
The factors which expedite the development of piles:
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Lifting heavy objects regularly
- Prolonged time in the toilet
- Low-fibre diet
- Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Excessive straining during bowel movements
Are Anal Fissures and Piles the Same Thing?
Many people have doubts regarding the similarities between anal fissures and piles. Both conditions feature similar symptoms of bleeding, itching and pain. However, anal fissures happen for a completely different reason than piles. Anal fissures develop due to a tear in the anus lining, while piles are tissue growths due to swollen veins.
How Can You Identify Piles?
The faster you identify a health condition, the more likely you are to treat it effectively. Awareness of the symptoms could help you identify the best options for piles treatment as per your requirements. The problem is the difficulty in recognising symptoms of piles before it causes discomfort. You would not recognise symptoms of internal piles in the initial stages. As the internal piles develop, you may notice signs of rectal bleeding. External piles can show symptoms such as itching and pain in the anus and difficulty in sitting and bowel movements. In addition, external piles can also develop as hard lumps near the anus.
Recommended Home Remedies for Piles
The recommended course of treatment of piles generally starts with home remedies. If the symptoms do not go away, then you have to seek medical assistance immediately. One of the common home remedies for piles points to lifestyle changes, such as high fibre and water intake. You could also take warm baths regularly for 10 to 20 minutes. Most important of all, regular exercise and refraining from caffeine and alcohol can also alleviate symptoms of piles.
Some of the other practices for home remedies of piles include:
- Wiping your bottom with damp toilet paper after bowel movements.
- Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel for reducing discomfort.
- Warm baths for easing the pain and itching.
- Topical treatments such as over-the-counter haemorrhoid creams and corticosteroids
- Oral pain relievers for temporary relief from pain and discomfort.
- Stool softeners or laxatives could help in easier bowel movements without pain.
Medical Treatment Methods
The final option for treating piles would involve medical procedures such as rubber band ligation, infrared coagulation or sclerotherapy. Another popular treatment method is surgical removal of tissue growth. Surgical haemorrhoidectomy is recommended for patients with the condition for a prolonged duration with excessive pain and bleeding. Let us learn about the treatment procedures for piles in detail.
Rubber Band Ligation
Rubber band ligation or banding is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for piles. The surgeon would place rubber bands at the base of the piles for cutting off blood flow. Subsequently, the piles would wither away and fall off in one or two weeks.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy involves the use of medication by injecting it directly into the piles. The medication could help in shrinking the piles and ultimately removing it.
Infrared Coagulation
The infrared coagulation procedure for piles treatment involves the use of infrared light devices for burning the additional tissue growth.
Surgical Haemorrhoidectomy
Surgical Haemorrhoidectomy is the process of removing piles tissue completely through surgery. It is a reliable option for complete removal of piles, albeit with complications in certain cases.
Haemorrhoid Stapling
Another procedure for treatment of piles is haemorrhoid stapling, which involves the use of staples for blocking blood flow to piles tissue.
Conclusion
The perception of piles as a general health condition does not undermine the severity of its symptoms. Piles can affect your quality of life in many ways, and timely treatment can help you avoid the condition. Timely identification of symptoms alongside refraining from the risk factors combine for effective treatment of piles. You need to identify reliable and trustworthy medical service providers for piles diagnosis and treatment.
combine for effective treatment of piles. You need to identify reliable and trustworthy medical service providers for piles diagnosis and treatment.
Read more health blogs about Cervical Cancer Vaccine.
https://wholeworldnature.com/know-how-eating-more-fiber-can-help-you-to-prevent-piles/
