One of the most common medical problems yet least talked about is piles. Men in particular who often avoid sharing their personal problems tend to ignore the condition and pass off the discomfort as temporary pain. If any individual is feeling any sort of discomfort in anus while sitting or experiencing pain while defecating or see blood in poop or even if anus is itchy sometimes then it is likely that he or she may have piles. Please do not take it lightly as this could aggravate into a more serious medical problem. Piles can be easily treated with some care, precautions, therapy and surgery.
What is Piles?
Commonly referred Piles or medically referred as haemorrhoids or Bawaseer in hindi is a condition that affect the anal or rectal region i.e. where we pass stools from. Piles is a mass that is around anal region and when the blood vessels mainly veins, dilate i.e. become larger or more open due to downward sliding, they get irritated and bleed.
What are the symptoms that can be easily identified by the individual themselves?
Bleeding (Blood colour bright red like
splash in a pan) is the most common symptom.
Itchiness in anal area.
Sticky discharge
Painful mass protruding outside anus
Pain occurs if there is associated infection, anal spasm or in cases of prolapsed piles.
What can cause Piles?
Chronic constipation
Low fibre diet
Straining while passing stools
Lifting heavy weights
Increasing age
Increased anal tone
Constipation is the major risk factor associated with piles.
Why should you not delay treatment?
Delaying treatment for piles may cause problems that are not severe but can create a lot of discomfort. Haemorrhoids can lead to the following problems such as,
Anaemia (Loss of blood, leading to decrease in oxygen carrying capacity)
Masses of tissue hang out on the skin
Infection
Progression of disease from Grade 1 to Grade 4
Thrombosis of piles
Persistent pressure while passing of stool may lead to prolapse of rectum
Can problems in piles be prevented?
Yes, generally problems in piles go away on their own as constipation is a major cause which can be naturally treated. When diagnosed early then the disease progression can be slowed by following simple home remedies and by undergoing nonsurgical treatments.
How can it be confirmed if you have piles?
Generally, piles can cause bleeding after passing stools. Hence, the doctor would do a physical check. Based on history, physical examination and anoscopy, the doctor can diagnose piles.
During a digital rectal examination, a gloved and lubricated finger is inserted to get a feel inside the anus. Then a small camera (anoscope / proctoscope) is inserted and anal / rectal area is examined to check for any abnormalities.
What is the treatment?
Home remedies
Have a diet rich in fibres (legumes, green vegetables, whole grains, cucumbers, apples, triphala). This helps in the generation of a good amount of poop which gets excreted comfortably without much pressure or strain.
Drink plenty of water.
Do not hold stools for a longer time or postpone it. You must attend your nature calls whenever you feel the urge to go to the toilet!
Avoid sitting on the toilet seat (asian or western type) for a long time beyond necessary. Nowadays use of mobile phones or reading something while sitting is common because of which you could lose track of time and also focus on defecating thereby putting continuous or more excessive pressure while pooping. Try a step stool to elevate your feet while sitting on the toilet.
An individual can use an ice pack or take a warm bath to ease pain and keep the anal region clean and dry.
Avoid low fibre foods such as
Dairy products
White flour
Fried foods
Salty foods
Red meat
Spicy foods
Caffeinated beverages
Alcohol
Medications
If one does not get any relief from the home remedies, then there are several medicines a doctor can prescribe,
Local applications such as ointments or creams to relieve itching and swelling.
Laxatives to ease constipation.
Sitz bath which is a warm therapeutic bath for the delicate genitals, it cleanses the anal region and fastens the healing process by increasing the blood flow in the area.
Taking pain relief medicines like paracetamol (one should not use medicines that contain codeine as it can increase constipation). One should avoid pain relief medicines like ibuprofen if they have bleeding due to piles.
Several ayurvedic preparations are also available for managing piles, such as Vijaya Churna or Pathyadi Kwatha.
Procedure / Intervention / Nonsurgical options
If piles do not improve by home remedies and prescription medicines, then they can be treated by non surgical / surgical options
Surgical treatment is one of the best options to achieve long-term success from piles. Nowadays, surgery methods have advanced to be painless and minimally invasive for easy recovery and minimum to no pain.
Few research studies have shown improvement in erectile dysfunction problems, if any in male haemorrhoid patients post Haemorrhoidectomy.
Irrespective of the severity of piles, it can be easily treated and must not be ignored. Many Doctors have confessed that patients do not approach them in the initial stages due to unwarranted attention or shame, they consult only when the problem is unbearable.
At Best for Him, we are reaching out to everyone with a dedicated, unbiased, open, guilt free and simple online space which helps all males to know, explore and understand how they can improve their health.
Modern medical practices have advanced enough to #simplify things. It is always more comfortable to consult and take treatment from a reliable and trusted Doctor or #righthospital. One’s good health and bodily comfort is paramount hence we must not give attention to what others will think about it rather must consult our doctor at the earliest on priority.
You can simply take advice, support and guidance on How to go about it? Which doctor to go to? etc. by contacting online healthcare professionals of #HexaHealth which has top doctors, top surgeons and best hospitals empanelled in their network that provides complete care services and #hasslefree #surgery experience at the right hospital and the right price. Your one simple phone call with them will ease out all your worries, doubts and concerns.
About the Author – Dr. Aman Priya Khanna
Dr. Aman Priya Khanna is a Bariatric Surgeon,Laparoscopic Surgeon and General Surgeon in Gurgaon Sector 51, Gurgaon and has an experience of 10 years in these fields. Dr. Aman Priya Khanna practices at Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon Sector 51, Gurgaon. He completed MBBS from Bharti VidhyaPith Pune in 2011,DNB – General Surgery from National Board Of Examination in 2016 and MNAMS – General Surgery from National Academy of Medical Sciences in 2019.
He is a member of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI). Some of the services provided by the doctor are: Inguinal Hernia,Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA),Colostomy,Laparoscopic Surgery and Laser Circumcision Treatment etc.