Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen veins that may occur either inside or outside the anal opening. Piles occur in the lowermost part of the anus and can cause a considerable amount of pain and discomfort. When the blood vessels of the anal region get enlarged, it leads to stretching of the skin and pain. Piles that can be felt bulging out near the anal opening are termed external haemorrhoids. On the other hand, piles that occur on the inner part of the anus cannot be felt and are termed internal haemorrhoids.
Piles can affect people of any age, regardless of their gender. However, haemorrhoids generally do not affect children. This condition can cause a lot of stress and difficulty in your life, but the good news is it can be treated very effectively with a simple piles surgery.
External piles are lumps on the outer region of the anal area. External piles can be felt by the patient or visible to the patient or a doctor. You may also feel these as water-filled swellings around the anal opening. External piles start off near the external surface of the anus and can extend below a few centimeters inside the back passage. With external piles, you may experience symptoms like anal itching, one or more hard and tender lumps near your anus and pain near the anal area, especially when sitting.
Too much straining while passing bowel movements, rubbing the affected area or cleaning too much of your anus with agents that are not gentle on the skin may aggravate your symptoms and make them worse. For many people, the symptoms of external piles may go away within a few days with proper care. However, diagnosis and treatment by a doctor are very important for piles.
As the name suggests, piles that occur internally and cannot be seen are internal piles. They are more like protrusions inside your anus, on the walls of your anal canal. Sometimes, less serious cases of internal piles are tiny lumps inside the anal area.
Internal piles can also form in the upper part of the anal canal or in the lower rectum area. Internal piles are usually not painful unless they are prolapsed in nature. If you are suffering from internal piles, you may experience bleeding from your rectum in the form of bright red blood on your stools, on the toilet paper or on the toilet sheet after passing stools.
Strained bowel movements due to constipation may put pressure on the blood vessels in the region of the anus and cause piles.
A diet low in fiber causes strain on the movement of bowels due to harder and smaller stools.
Passage of loose stool for a prolonged period causes strain on the anus, which may cause haemorrhoids.
Pregnancy causes an enlarged uterus that may put pressure on the colon, which is connected to the anus. Pressure on the anus can lead to internal piles.
Heavy weight lifting or excessive strain during exercise can also be a cause of piles.
Haemorrhoids can cause excessive itching around the anus, especially if they occur externally.
Swelling (small balloon-like swelling/ swellings that can be felt in the anal region) is an indicator of haemorrhoids, and it causes the anus to feel very tender.
External Piles cause pain in the anal region and make it very difficult for a person to pass stool or even sit.
Blood being passed along with stools can be an indicator of internal piles.
Lumps on the anal surface that may seem hard or tender are major piles symptoms.
A slimy discharge from the anus may stain your underwear or even be passed along with stool.
Sore skin on the surface of the anus or skin sticking out after bowel movement is generally a symptom of haemorrhoids.
Staying hydrated and eating a diet rich in high-fiber foods can help keep stools soft and make their passing easier.
Straining when passing stools can increase the risk of developing piles.
Regular heavy lifting is a risk factor for piles. Limiting heavy exertion and practicing proper lifting techniques can help a person prevent the development of piles.
Being overweight raises the risk of having piles
Exercise can help food passage through the digestive system and make stools more regular. This can reduce the risk of piles.
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