Haemorrhoids/Piles

What is Piles?

Piles are hemorrhoids that become inflamed. Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal – they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers

Causes:

  • Irregular bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
  • Nutrition (low-fiber diet)
  • Increased intra-abdominal pressure (prolonged straining)
  • Pregnancy, genetics
  • Absence of valves within the hemorrhoidal veins
  • Aging.
  • Obesity and sitting for long periods of time.
  • During pregnancy, pressure from the fetus on the abdomen and hormonal changes cause the hemorrhoidal vessels to enlarge.
  • Delivery also leads to increased intra-abdominal pressures
  • Constipation
  • Modern day lifestyle
  • Irregular diet

Symptoms:

  • Itching, rectal pain, and rectal bleeding.
  • Mucous discharge and fecal incontinence. 
  • External hemorrhoids are painful, while internal hemorrhoids usually are not unless they become thrombosed or necrotic
  • The most common symptom of internal hemorrhoids is bright red blood covering the stool.
  • They may protrude through the anus.
  • Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include painful swelling and a lump around the anus.