Facts About Piles And Their Treatment
The cause of much classroom giggling , piles still cause cringing and wincing when discussed by adults. Indeed , it's very easy for sufferers to ignore them for fear of embarrassment when visiting a GP. The truth is that roughly half of us will suffer from them by the time we're 50 , so with that in mind , exactly what are piles and why the embarrassment?
What are piles?
At their most basic level , piles are swellings which occur in and around the anus/lower rectum. These swellings occur in blood vessels that line an individual's "back passage" and ultimately can result in discomfort varying from mildly uncomfortable , to extremely painful and troublesome.
Resultant symptoms can vary a great deal and may include:
- Varying levels of pain before , during and after passing stools
- Small swellings emerging from the anus during bowel movements
- Larger swellings emerging from the anus that can be pushed back inside
- Hanging lumps which cannot be pushed back inside the anus
- Bleeding during and after a bowel movement
- A feeling of a full anus despite having already passed a stool
- Itching and irritation in and around the anus
- A mucus-like discharge from within the anus
- More severe symptoms such as external bleeding and external piles which appear around the edge of the anus.
Hemorrhoids or piles?
So , you have some of the symptoms described above , but do you have hemorrhoids or piles? Well , if you do have piles , then suffice to say you have hemorrhoids too. They're the same thing , but simply different terms used.
Why do you get piles?
Piles can occur for a number of reasons , and it's often difficult to pinpoint the precise cause for their emergence in different individuals. Perhaps the main reason for their unwelcome appearance is increased pressure and strain on the anus. Indeed , there are a number of scenarios that make an individual more susceptible to hemorrhoids; these include:
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Being pregnant
- Advancing years
How to treat piles
It's rare that piles need medical treatment of any kind and instead an individual can alleviate the symptoms themselves in a number of simple ways such as:
- Not pushing too hard during a bowel movement
- Having a fiber rich diet and drinking lots of water
- Not rushing a bowel movement , but letting "nature take its course"
- Going to the toilet as and when needed rather than waiting until a more opportune moment
Should symptoms persist and become increasingly uncomfortable , a number of treatments are available over the counter such as fiber supplements , creams to ease itching and anesthetic based ointments.
Of course , if you are particularly worried about your piles or if your symptoms become unbearable , you need to consult your GP who may prescribe steroids or in the most severe of cases; recommend a surgical solution.
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