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.

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

5 Foods to eat if you suffer from Piles

Piles, commonly known as hemorrhoid is a condition that leads to pain, discomfort and irritation while passing stool. It is caused due to inflammation of the veins in the lower rectum area. Piles is of two types: internal and external, one can suffer from both simultaneously. The damage in the lower rectum area is a result of aging, chronic constipation, pregnancy, diarrhea and consuming processed food on a daily basis. Piles also lead to bleeding not just while passing the stool but anytime. It is recommended to monitor one's diet and construct a plan that helps to diminish the problem. Here are certain types of foods which can help you deal with Piles better.

Whole grains

People suffering from piles are recommended to include a lot of healthy whole grains into their diet like bran cereal, brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta. These fiber rich foods soften the stool and help reduce the pain.

Leafy green vegetables

Green vegetables are packed with antioxidants and nutrients that help with digestion. Strengthening the digestive system is important while treating piles. Broccoli, sprouts, carrots, brussels, cabbage, tomato, asparagus, cauliflower, onions, cucumber are some of the vegetables that one should consume while battling piles.

Fruits

Fruits are high in nutrients, fiber, minerals and vitamins that help to regulate the bowel movement. Fruits that can be eaten with their skin on like apples, prunes, raisins, grapes, berries are full of fiber and are very beneficial. The ones that have to be eaten without the skin are good too, for example, papaya, banana, oranges.

Beans

Beans are high in fiber content and should be included in regular meals of a piles patient. Kidney, black, lima, navy beans, black-eyed peas, legumes are some good options.

Water

Although it is not a food, water is an important ingredient when it comes to treating piles. It is advisable to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water daily which helps with the smooth functioning of the bowel movement.

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5 Foods Items You Should Eat In Piles Problem

How to Manage Piles at Home and with Medication

Piles or hemorrhoids can be a debilitating disorder of the rectum and anus where passing stool becomes painful. It is the swelling of the veins in the anus and the rectum, which may then be bruised by hard stool passing through it or due to excessive pressure being put on it. This can be a very painful and embarrassing condition for many people to go through.

Remedies for piles at home

There are many remedies that you can try at home to reduce the pain and swelling and even reduce the hemorrhoids themselves over time. Let's look at a few of the options.

Radish for treatment: In this treatment, a radish should be crushed and mixed with appropriate amounts of milk to form a thick paste, which is to be applied on the anus twice daily, and washed off after 15 minutes. This should relieve the symptoms in a few days.

Cumin seeds paste: You can take a tablespoon of cumin seed powder, make it into a paste after adding water and then put it on the affected area. After leaving it for 15 minutes or so, it should be washed away with water. Repeating this twice daily will help with the symptoms and reduce pain.

Diet: Lack of a balanced diet can be problematic for those with piles, and thus, it is recommended that enough roughage such as green leafy vegetables and fruits are included in the diet as well.

Figs: Dried figs are also another great weapon against piles. Soaking some dried figs in warm water overnight and then having them in the morning is known to be good for smooth bowel movements, thus, relieving pressure on the rectal veins.

Some Ayurvedic Medications that May Prove Effective with Piles:

Some of the specific ayurvedic medication that are known to be helpful in treating piles are:

Hareetaki: This is the fruit peel of Harad and if taken with 1 cupful of jaggery, it can reduce the symptoms of constipation as reported by many patients.

Castor oil: Mixing a small teaspoon of castor oil with a glass of milk can also help soften the stool and reduce the stress on the rectal walls.

Nagakesara: This is also an ayurvedic medicine, which is usually prescribed as oral medication three times daily and has proven its effectiveness many times over.

Abhayarishta: 30 ml of this ayurvedic herb is also given to patients after food with equal parts water and has been known to be very effective.

Kasiaditaila: This is an oil, which should be applied externally and it can help reduce the inflammation and itching caused by piles.

10 Best Home Remedies to Treat Piles  - Natural Treatment

Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal - they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers.

Although hemorrhoids are thought of as unpleasant inflammations, we all have them.1 It is when the hemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed) that problems occur - when this happens they are called piles or pathological hemorrhoids.

"Piles" are the swollen ones that are painful and cause problems, hemorrhoids can refer to the swollen ones (pathological hemorrhoids) or simply the normal structure. 

Piles can be of various sizes and may be internal (inside the anus) or external ones (outside the anus). Typically, internal piles occur from 2 to 4cm above the opening of the anus. External piles (perianal hematoma) occur on the outside edge of the anus. The internal ones are much more common.

Internal hemorrhoids -

They are classified into four grades:

Grade 1 - there are small inflammations, usually inside the lining of the anus. They are not visible.
Grade 2 - larger than Grade 1 hemorrhoids, and also inside the anus. When passing a stool they may get pushed out, but soon return.
Grade 3 - often called 'prolapsed hemorrhoids'; these appear outside the anus. The patient may feel them hanging out. They can be pushed back in if the patient presses with his/her finger.
Grade 4 - these cannot be pushed back in and need to be treated by a doctor. They are large and stay outside the anus all the time.
External hemorrhoids -

called perianal hematoma. These are small lumps that are located on the outside edge of the anus. They are extremely itchy and can be painful if a blood clot forms inside (thrombosed external hemorrhoid). Thrombosed external hemorrhoid requires medical treatment straight away.

What are the signs and symptoms of piles?

A symptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as a pain, while a sign is something everybody can see, such as a rash.

A hard lump may be felt around the anus. It consists of coagulated blood, called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. This can be extremely painful.
After going to the toilet, a feeling that the bowels are still full.
Bright red blood after a bowel movement.
Itchiness in the anus area.
Mucus discharge when emptying the bowels.
Pain while defecating.
The anus area may be red and sore.
When passing a stool the person may strain excessively.
Why do piles occur?

The blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum will stretch under pressure and may swell or bulge. Inflamed veins (hemorrhoids) can develop when pressure increases in the lower rectum. This may be due to:

Chronic constipation
Chronic diarrhoea
Lifting heavy weights.11
Pregnancy.12
Straining when passing a stool.13
The tendency to develop hemorrhoids may also be inherited. The risk of developing piles grows with age

What are the treatment options for piles?

In the majority of cases, piles resolve on their own without the need for any treatment. Treatments can help significantly reduce the discomfort and itching that many patients experience.

A good doctor will initially recommend some lifestyle changes.

Diet - piles can be caused by too much straining when doing bowel movements, which is the result of constipation. A change in diet can help keep the stools regular and soft. This involves eating more fiber, such as fruit and vegetables, or even switching your cereal breakfast to bran.16

Water is the best drink, and the patient may be advised to increase his/her water consumption. Some experts say too much caffeine is not good.

Body weight - if the patient is obese, losing weight may help reduce the incidence and severity of hemorrhoids.

Simple things you can do yourself to help prevent piles:

Try not to strain when you go to the toilet.
Avoid laxatives.
Exercise.
HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT FOR PILES

it is treated  in homeopathy by constitutional medications which relives ressure and which initiates free stools. Thus, constitutional homeopathic medications restore your body s normal functions.

Hemorrhoids - Everything You Should Know About It!

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins or blood vessels, which can be internal (located inside rectum) or external (located outside rectum). They might be managed by increasing fluid intake and a high-fiber diet. Sometimes, Hemorrhoids might get infected and irritated to an extent that they require surgical removal.

Causes of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in blood vessels around the anus, causing them to swell and inflame which might be caused by a number of reasons.

Prolonged constipation

Chronic diarrhoea

Obesity

Aging

Pregnancy as it increases pressure on pelvic blood vessels

Weight lifting

Family history of Hemorrhoids

Persistent cough

Vomiting repeatedly

Sitting continuously for a very long period of time.

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

Some of the common symptoms of Hemorrhoids are:

Internal Hemorrhoids might bleed painlessly after bowel movement, but are problematic if they bleed too heavily.

External Hemorrhoids might also bleed after bowel movement, but often become irritating and painful.

External Hemorrhoids can lead to blood clots inside the vessel, which can cause severe pain. Proper treatment for such Hemorrhoids involves  incision and drainage  procedure.

Itchy and sore bottom.

A lump hanging off the anus.

Types of Hemorrhoids:

The type of Hemorrhoids decides the course of action for treatment.

First degree Hemorrhoids are small swellings which develop on inner lining of anus, being invisible from outside.

Second degree Hemorrhoids are larger swellings which might come out of the anus during bowel movement before disappearing inside again.

Third degree Hemorrhoids are lumps hanging off the anus which can be pushed back inside.

Fourth degree Hemorrhoids are larger lumps hanging down from the anus but cannot be pushed back inside.

Surgeries without Anesthesia:

Banding or rubber band ligation involves using a tight band around the base of Hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply. It takes two or more procedures to be performed about two months apart.

Having the best success rate for small and internal Hemorrhoids, sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical into Hemorrhoids, causing them to shrink and stop bleeding.

Coagulation therapy or infrared photocoagulation uses infrared light (heat or extreme cold) to retract and shrink the Hemorrhoid and is usually performed along with an anoscopy.

Hemorrhoidal artery ligation (HAL) or transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) locates blood vessels causing Hemorrhoids to close them off.

Surgeries with Anesthesia:

Hemorrhoidectomy is used for large and external Hemorrhoids which do not respond to non- surgical intervention. So, they are cut out. Anesthesia can be general, regional, or local in this procedure. It takes longer time to recover completely.

Hemorrhoidopexy or stapling requires general, regional, or local anesthesia, and is used to treat prolapsed Hemorrhoids. A surgical staple cuts off the blood supply to Hemorrhoids to make the tissue shrink and reabsorb. It takes relatively less time for a full recovery.

Post- Surgical Care:

Some of the post care instructions are as follows

Painkillers might be prescribed for rectal and anal pain.

Consumption of a high-fiber diet prevents constipation and recurrence of Hemorrhoids.

Staying hydrated helps a lot.

Avoid heavy weight lifting and pulling.

Sitz bath helps to deal with post- surgical discomfort.

Seek medical help if having painful urination, fever, or dizziness.

Non-surgical Management of Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids can be managed non-surgically by reducing strain in and around the anus.

Consuming a high fiber diet including cereals, fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, etc.

Consuming healthy fluids like water but avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

No delaying the emptying of the bowels.

Preventing constipation.

Weight management to lose excess body weight.

Regular exercise.

Take Away:

Hemorrhoids, if not severe, can be managed non- surgically. But if they get very painful and severe, surgical intervention through a number of techniques might be required; each one of them being safe, depending upon the severity of the situation.

Surgery For Hemorrhoids - What Should You Know?

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?

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