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Piles

Piles or hemorrhoids are lumps in and around your anus (bottom). The condition often gets better on its own within a few days, and there are things you can do to prevent and treat piles. 

Piles symptoms

  • Blood in your stool 
  • Itchy anus 
  • If you feel like you need to poop soon as going to the toilet
  • Mucus in your underwear or the toilet paper 
  • Lumps around your bottom 
  • Pain around your bottom 

Piles causes

There is no clear known reason for why the swollen blood vessel formation in the bottom, but the following things make piles more likely:

  • Constipation 
  • Pushing harder while pooping
  • Heavy lifting 
  • Pregnancy

Piles treatment

Consult your doctor if you develop the condition and there is no improvement even after seven days or if the condition keeps coming back. Ask your doctor about the suitable treatment for you, and remember that treatments don’t always prevent it from returning. 

Some common treatments are:

    Piles causes
    • Rubber band ligation: Where they will place a band around the piles to make them drop off
    • Sclerotherapy: Where they will inject to make them shrink
    • Electrotherapy: Where they will apply a gentle electric current to shrink them
    • Infrared Coagulation: Where they will cut the blood supply to the piles to make them shrink

    When these treatments don’t work, the doctor might suggest surgery as an option. Surgeries include:

    • Hemorrhoidectomy: Where they will cut it off
    • Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: Where they will staple the lump back inside
    • Hemorrhoidal artery ligation: Where they will use stitches to cut the blood supply to shrink them

    Preventions and home remedies 

    • Drink more water and consume plenty of fiber
    • Take paracetamol if piles hurt
    • Take a bath in warm water to ease pain and itching 
    • Place an ice pack to ease the distress
    • Keep your bottom dry and clean 
    • Exercise regularly
    • Cut down or limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption 
    • Don’t ignore the urge to stool
    • Avoid taking painkillers that contain codeine since they can lead to constipation 
    • Don’t spend more time than required on the toilet

    Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
    Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022