Piles

Health Piles

हिन्दी मराठी عَرَبِيّ Bahasa বাংলা español Filipino русский தமிழ் తెలుగు

Dilated veins in the anal canal

Symptoms of Piles

The following features are indicative of Piles:

painless bleeding during bowel movements
itching in the anal region
discomfort
pain
swelling around the anus
lump near the anus

It is possible that Piles shows no physical symptoms and still be present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Piles

The following are the most common causes of Piles:

straining during bowel movements
sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
constipation
obesity
anal intercourse
low-fiber diet

Other Causes of Piles

The following are the less common causes of Piles:

pregnancy

Risk Factors for Piles

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Piles:

higher prevalence among white race population
commonly found in individuals with higher socioeconomic status
constipation
prolonged straining
intake of spicy foods
alcohol consumption

Prevention of Piles

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Piles. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:

eat high fiber diet
not straining during bowel movements
not sitting on the toilet for long periods of time
avoid regular heavy lifting
drink plenty of fluids

Occurrence of Piles

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Piles cases seen each year worldwide:

Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Piles most commonly occurs in the following age group:

Aged between 45-65 years

Common Gender

Piles can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Piles

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Piles:

Digital rectal exam: To view inside the anus and rectum
Anoscopy: To view the lining of the anus and lower rectum
Rigid proctosigmoidoscopy: To view the lining of the rectum and lower colon

Doctor for Diagnosis of Piles

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Piles:

Gastroenterologist
Rectal surgeon

Complications of Piles if untreated

Yes, Piles causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Piles is left untreated:

anemia
strangulated hemorrhoid
blood clots in an external hemorrhoid
skin tags
infection of a sore on an external hemorrhoid

Procedures for Treatment of Piles

The following procedures are used to treat Piles:

External hemorrhoid thrombectomy: To remove the clot with a simple incision and drainage and provides relief
Rubber band ligation: Heals bleeding or painful hemorrhoids
Sclerotherapy:To shrink the hemorrhoid tissue
Coagulation technique: To treat painful hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoidectomy: To treat severe or recurring hemorrhoids by eliminating excessive tissue that causes bleeding
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: Inhibits blood flow to hemorrhoidal tissue

Self-care for Piles

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Piles:

Eat high-fiber foods: Softens the stool and increases its bulk
Soak anal area in a warm bath or sitz bath: Relieves the pain and inflammation of hemorrhoids
Keep the anal area clean: Helps in preventing hemorrhoids

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Piles

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Piles:

Apply ice packs or cold compresses: Helps in relieving swelling

Time for Treatment of Piles

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Piles to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:

Within 1 week

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