Piles or haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus. They can have a lot of possible causes, but the exact reason is still unknown. The one most common reason that researchers cite is the excessive straining during bowel movement and increased pressure on the veins during pregnancy. Some of the common signs of this condition include discomfort, bleeding, and itching. A clot can be witnessed occasionally. There could be swelling around the anus as well.

How is a pile diagnosed?
Doctors often recognize this condition just by doing a physical exam of the rectum. By lubricating the glove and inserting a finger into the rectum, a doctor can gauge any unusual growth around the rectum area. A doctor might also use a sigmoidoscopy or a proctoscopy to witness the lower portion of the colon. Apart from this, a doctor might prescribe a colonoscopy, if he fathoms that there is a possibility of colorectal cancer or a disease related to the digestive system.

Treatment of piles

Medication: In case of mild discomfort, a doctor might prescribe over-the-counter pads, ointments, creams or suppositories. Products such as these contain lidocaine, witch hazel or hydrocortisone that can relieve a person from itching and pain. One should stop consuming over-the-counter medicine, if there is no change in the condition.
Haemorrhoid thrombectomy: If a clot has appeared along with a pile in the rectum, a doctor can remove it by making an incision and draining the clot. This can fetch instant relief. The best time to do this is within 72 hours of clot formation.
Minimally invasive procedures: 
Rubber band litigation: This form of surgery involves placing of a couple of rubber band at the base of the piles to cut off blood circulation. In due course, the haemorrhoids fall off. Although this form of treatment works for many people, the patient has the risk of bleeding within few days of placing the rubber band.
Sclerotherapy: This form of treatment involves injecting a chemical into the haemorrhoid. The chemical shrinks the piles within few days. There is hardly any pain involved with sclerotherapy.
Surgical procedure:
Haemorrhoidectomy: This is the process by which a surgeon eradicates the excess tissue that might be causing the piles. The patient is sedated before performing this procedure. Some amount of pain is experienced after the procedure is over. The temporary difficulty of urination can be faced by a patient after this procedure.
Stapled hemorrhoidopexy: This surgery is only performed for internal haemorrhoids. The process involves blocking the blood supply. The process of stapling has less pain compared to a Haemorrhoidectomy. On the flip side, studies have shown that this procedure has an increased chance of recurrence of haemorrhoids.


Piles - Diagnosis and Treatment

Is Constipation the Only Cause of Piles? + It's Symptoms

Piles, which are also called hemorrhoids, refer to the swelling of the veins near the anus and rectum, which get irritated during bowel movements, causing pain and bleeding during stool motions. The veins near the rectum or the anus may rupture during strained bowel movements and thus, cause the blood to come out with the stool. This can be very painful for the patient and has a very disruptive effect on their lives.

Causes of Piles

There may be many causes for piles or hemorrhoids and the cause may vary from patient to patient. Let's have a look at a few of them.

Straining when passing a stool - This is by far the most common reason for piles and this is what causes the irritation on the veins or causes them to rupture

Chronic Constipation: People suffering from chronic constipation due to gastrointestinal problems may also suffer from piles due to putting pressure constantly to relieve themselves.

Lifting a heavy weight or doing strenuous work: This can also put physical stress on the anus or rectum and cause swollen veins, which may then rupture during the passage of stool.

Pregnancy - Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes in the body and the strain may also result in piles.

Symptoms of Piles

Some of the symptoms of piles or hemorrhoids are:

- Painful bowel movements, which hurt the rectum or the anus, accompanied by general tenderness within the region
- Bleeding or seeping of a bright red color blood onto the stool on the toilet or even on toilet paper
- Itching in the anal areas, which may be continuous or intermittent
- A swelling or lump near the anus, which is painful
- A mucus-like discharge from the anus

There may be one or more factors present in particular cases and if there is a pain in the rectal area, it is best to get it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

Is Constipation the Only Cause of Piles? + It's Symptoms

Rarely do people ascribe Erectile Dysfunction to Hemorrhoids. Yet the correlation between the two is not far-fetched. Research has suggested that men who have suffered from Hemorrhoids in the last year are at an increased risk of developing Erectile Dysfunction. These two conditions are apparently incongruous. For someone suffering from Erectile Dysfunction, there is a lack of blood flow to the penis. For someone suffering from Hemorrhoids, there is swelling of veins inside the rectum. 

Younger people are more at risk unlike most diseases like High blood pressure, Alzheimer s diseases etc which are progressively more likely to occur in older men, this problem is more likely in younger than in older men. The study found that about 24.9% men under 40 years, who had been diagnosed with hemorrhoids in the last year, had suffered from Erectile Dysfunction. So the correlation is more prevalent in younger men than older men. According to the findings of the study, men aged 30 or less are more likely to experience Erectile Dysfunction after being diagnosed with Hemorrhoids in the last year. Moreover, men between the ages of 30-39 are twice more likely to suffer from Erectile Dysfunction if diagnosed with Hemorrhoids in the last year.

The correlation between age and likelihood of occurrence of Erectile Dysfunction due to Hemorrhoids is quite clear from these findings. The Apparent reason according to researchers in the study, localized swelling of varicose veins in the deep anus region may be responsible for some local irritation which can give rise to Erectile Dysfunction. Manage the Pain First Young men, who are suffering from Erectile Dysfunction, ostensibly arising out of the presence or history of Hemorrhoids in the past year, need to first manage the pain due to Hemorrhoids. Pain arising out of Hemorrhoids can be very difficult to put up with. A decrease in hemorrhoids pain can reduce the discomfort to some extent. Bleeding during bowel movement, intense pain during and after sitting, a feeling of itchiness or irritation near the anus etc are all indicators of hemorrhoids. If one has to habitually push hard during a bowel movement, he/she is more likely to suffer from Hemorrhoids, since the varicose veins can swell up during such hard pushing. 

The solution to alleviate pain, one can use various topical solutions containing Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera. These are anti-inflammatory herbs. Most of the anti-hemorrhoid creams contain either of these two. Apart from using topical solutions, one needs to change his dietary habits. One should abstain from foods that upset the stomach and adopt foods that soften the stool. This can help one avoid straining while moving bowels and spare the varicose veins from being inflamed. One can also benefit by practicing anal breathing which exercises the PC muscles and the anal sphincter. This could benefit both Hemorrhoids and Erectile Dysfunction.

Hemorrhoids - How It Increase Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction?

Piles or Haemorrhoids is a disease of the anal canal. The veins in this region get affected. They swell as blood stagnates inside them. This causes discomfort while passing stool. The most obvious symptoms of piles are bleeding and pain at the time of excretion or passing of the stool. For most of the patients with piles, sitting or standing becomes a tedious task.

What causes piles?
The primary reason behind the occurrence of piles is a patient s sedentary lifestyle. Most of it also depends on upon his or her diet intake. Many of us consume a lot of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in our regular meals. But, we forget or are simply reluctant to take up physical exercises. This, in turn, leads to increase in body weight and hampers the activity of our digestive system. As a result, patients develop diseases like piles.
Diet plays a vital role in preventing piles. If we don t add an adequate amount of fibre or roughage to our diet, there is a potential threat of developing piles. Fibres help with the convenient evacuation of the stool. In fact, fibres form the bulk of the stool. Besides, insufficient intake of water may also cause this disease.

Natural ways to tackle Piles
Piles can be managed or tackled by bringing in some changes in our lifestyle. Some of the ways of managing piles have been listed below:

Add more roughage and fruits to your diet
Exercise regularly
Avoid laxatives
Sit in a tub of hot water to get relief from the pain
Drink plenty of water
Homoeopathic treatment for Piles
When it comes to the treatment of piles, Homeopathy is quite safe and an effective method to get rid of the problem. It doesn t have any side effect on the patient s health. It doesn t include any painful surgery for removal of piles. Moreover, homoeopathy is budget-friendly. Here are some effective homoeopathic medicines, useful in curing piles:

Hamamelis: This medicine is useful in stopping the bleeding in piles. It can cure any venous congestion and bleeding. It can also be taken when the patient develops a feeling of soreness.
Ratanhia: It gives relief from the pain due to piles. A patient suffering from piles feels immense pain and a burning sensation at the time of stool evacuation and even for hours after that.
Graphites: It is prescribed to a patient suffering from both constipation and piles. It is given to them who are obese, have skin eruptions and constipation.
Nux Vomica: It is given to patients who have a sedentary lifestyle, take spicy food and are active smokers and alcohol drinkers. Usually, patients who have been advised to take Nux Vomica are aggressive in nature. It cures piles as well as digestive disorders.
Things to remember: These medicines are only some of the homoeopathic remedies available in the market. It is best to consult a homoeopathic practitioner for the perfect treatment.

Piles - How Homeopathy is the Best Way to Treat it?

Piles are uncomfortable and painful. It can also be embarrassing and for this reason, many people delay their treatment. Piles usually affect middle aged people but at times, it can also affect younger men and women. Chronic constipation is one of the most common factors that can trigger piles. This is a condition where the veins near the anal opening in the rectum get inflamed. Any pressure that is put on the rectum puts pressure on these veins which may lead them pain and bleeding.

Luckily this is not a condition you need to live with and it can easily be treated with Ayurveda. Ayurveda approaches the treatment of this disease in multiple ways through dietary and lifestyle changes, medication, exercises and even massage therapy. It has negligible side effects and the potential to greatly improve the quality of your life even if you already have painful piles.

Dietary changes: Preventing constipation can prevent the development of piles. Hence, include plenty of fiber in your daily meals and cut down on starchy food. Adding sesame and mango seeds can also help prevent constipation. Fruits like jambul, papaya and dried figs are natural stool softners and should be eaten regularly.
Lifestyle changes: Along with eating the right food it is also essential to drink plenty of water. This helps the digestive system work smoothly. Avoid sitting in the same position for extended periods of time and only use soft, cushioned seats. Set aside at least an hour every morning for regular exercise such as walking, swimming, cycling or yoga. Certain yoga positions such as the downward facing dog and seated twist can make the process of eliminating waste easier. Scheduling a colon cleanse once in a while can also help treat piles.
Medication: Ayurvedic medication is based on herbs which have negligible side effects. Nagakesara is one such herb that is used to treat piles associated with bleeding. Haritaki and jimikand are two Ayurvedic herbs that can also help regulate your digestive system and treat piles. Abhayarishta is another herb that is often prescribed to treat piles. Kasiaditaila is an Ayurvedic medication that can be applied externally to help shrink piles and manage itching. It can also help relieve pain and bleeding. 
Though they have no major side effects, Ayurvedic medication should never be self-prescribed. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic doctor who will be able to prescribe the right medication in the right dosage for your problem.

How Ayurvedic Remedies Are Good For Piles?

Homeopathy is the best alternative to avoid surgery specially, in the cases of piles, fissure, fistula. There are many cases that were recommended operation but with homeopathy not only they were treated successfully but the surgery was also not done.

Piles or haemorrhoids cause severe bleeding in the anal region due to an abnormal enlargement of the rectal veins. The bleeding occurs as a result of a sudden increase in pressure in the rectal area. The haemorrhoids which tend to grow in the exterior part of the anus tends to be severe painful as compared to the internal haemorrhoids (which are invisible and grows in the interior portion of the rectal area).

The major causes of haemorrhoids are genetic factors, pelvic tumours, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of regular physical exercise, undiagnosed and chronic gastric disorders like dysentery, diarrhoea or constipation and a significant increase in the weight of the uterus during pregnancy.

The sign of piles might include intense pain and irritation in the rectal area along with the presence of blood in the faeces and abnormal swelling of the affected area. If taken in a prescribed dosage, homeopathy can be very effective in curing piles. The most beneficial homeopathic preparations for piles are:

Nux vomica: This homeopathic preparation is useful in curing piles which display symptoms of extreme aggressiveness and intolerance to cold weather. If piles are caused due to excessive intake of spicy foods and alcohol or cigarettes, this homeopathic preparation can work as an effective cure.
Hamamelis: This preparation is useful to cure piles which show symptoms of blood in the faeces along with a sensation of discomfort and contusion.
Ratanhia: This preparation provides a remedy for severely painful hemorrhoids (which causes complications during excretion). Symptoms include severe pain which stays for several hours after excretion along with a burning sensation. It may be relieved with the help of cold water.
Graphites: If you suffer from the symptoms of chronic constipation, frequent skin eruptions and recurrent instances of menstrual anomalies in females along with piles, this homeopathic medication can provide effective cure to you.
Aesculus Hippocastanum: This homeopathic preparation provides an effective remedy for non-bleeding hemorrhoids along with the symptoms of severe back pain and pain in the anal regions.
Arsenic Album: This homeopathic preparation can prove effective in curing piles with the symptoms of a burning sensation during any forms of physical movement. If the hemorrhoids bleed extensively and are bluish in color, this homeopathic preparation can be beneficial in such cases.

Homeopathic Treatment for Piles

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