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

Piles can be really painful and embarrassing but fairly common at the same time. it should not be taken as a social stigma as with awareness and proper treatment, the condition can be managed and treated well. If overlooked then it may lead to many complications which are difficult to manage.

In Ayurveda, a complete cure to haemorrhoids is possible, so seeking medical attention can be of great help to relieve you from this condition. Piles, also known as Haemorrhoids is a condition in which veins at the lower end of rectum get inflamed and enlarged. When pressure on the rectum and anus increases, it causes added pressure to these veins, resulting in formation of haemorrhoids. They may burst and cause rectal bleeding. Haemorrhoids are most commonly found in middle-aged and old people while also in people who suffer from regular constipation. 

Types of Piles -

Haemorrhoids are of two kinds, internal and external based on their location. Internal haemorrhoids are located in the inner lining of the anal tract. These veins within the rectum are concealed and cannot be felt so they are painless but when ruptured can lead to bleeding. External haemorrhoids are located on the outer surface of the rectum and can be seen, felt and when inflamed become painful. These are the more troubling type of piles. 

Causes and Symptoms of Piles 

Piles are caused mostly by constipation, but other causes may include untreated gastric conditions such as dysentery, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, genetic constitution and weight of increasing uterus during pregnancy. 
If you are experiencing bleeding in anal region during defecation without any pain; you are suffering from 1st stage of Piles. If problem is not treated at this stage; Pile masses start progressing. 
In starting, Pile mass come out during passing stool and go inside by itself (2nd stage). Later on these pile masses need to be reduced manually. If still Piles is not treated; Pile mass comes out again even after manual reduction while coughing, sneezing etc. (3rd stage). While piles may be an embarrassing issue to talk about, it should not be ignored either. It can be easily dealt with simple ways, and in most cases, all it takes is some lifestyle changes to get rid of the problem. 
However, if left untreated, there could lead to severe complications. Some of them have been listed below. 

Bleeding: In patients who have chronic bleeding, it could lead to chronic blood loss. Patient can develop anaemia because of this regular bleeding. 
Mass protruding out from anal opening: If Piles are not treated at 1st stage; it can lead to development of pile mass which protrudes out from anal opening while passing stool and go inside. In later stages; this pile mass come out even on sneezing and coughing. At this stage they are prone to get infected as most of the time Piles are outside the anal opening. 
Hygiene issues: The itching and discharges can lead to the patient having poor hygiene around the anal area. This further can lead to complications like infections. The area around the anus also becomes difficult to clean if the masses are more in number and size. 
Surgical correction may be attempted in severe cases, but this also can lead complications in some people. These include: 
Excessive bleeding which does not stop after the surgery. 
Postsurgical infection 
Anal fistula, which is a connection between the area of piles and the anal canal. 
Damage to sphincter muscles leads to faecal incontinence, which is a loss of control over passing stool.
Ayurveda Treatment of Piles 
Ayurveda has various approaches to the treatment of piles. Piles can be treated by diet, lifestyle, herbal supplements, Ayurvedic medication, and exercise. Ensuring good digestive health helps with piles if constipation is the cause of it. 

Vegetables such as onion, bitter gourd, radish, and turnip are high on roughage and are a must to add to your diet as well. 
Other than the diet you need to introduce specific lifestyle changes such as a colon cleanse every once in a while, and regular exercise. 
Increase water intake, up to 8 glasses per day. 
Keep away from processed foods 
Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables 
Do not sit for more than an hour in one position 
Stick to stool timings and develop good stool habits 
Do not suppress the urge to pass stools for too long and for too often 
So, follow the instructions of your Ayurveda doctor to embark on the road to cure. If these measurements are not successful; kshar karma or Ksharsutra ligation of Pile mass is necessary. In the ligation procedure; Ksharsutra   medicated thread is legated at the root of Pile mass. 

Medicine released from Ksharsutra blocks the blood supply to pile mass and Pile mass sheds off in 7   10 days. Ksharsutra ligation is a para surgical procedure done under local anaesthesia. No hospitalization or bed rest is necessary in Ksharsutra Treatment for Piles. Daily routine activities along with office work can be done during Ksharsutra Treatment. So Piles can be treated completely in all its stages with Ayurvedic treatment. However, this procedure is to be performed only by a surgical specialist of Ayurveda..

Painful Piles - Why You Should Not Ignore Hemorrhoids

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?

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

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

Piles, fistula and fissures are the most common problems affecting the rectum and the anus. Both the rectum as well as the anus has a very rich vascular supply. There could be swelling of these blood vessels or tearing which can lead to the above conditions. Read on to know additional details about each of these conditions. 

Piles: In simple words, swollen blood vessels of the anal region are called piles. It can be internal or external, depending on how far it is from the anal canal. If it is located farther inside the anal canal, it is called internal piles.

Causes:

Chronic constipation, where the person has to strain to pass stools
Smoking and genetics can also lead to piles.
Symptoms: Starts off as painless bleeding, which happens in drops after bowel movement; the swelling happens much later. They can continue to grow and develop blood clots.

Treatment:

In the early stages, once identified, simple topical medications for symptom relief are sufficient.
Diet should be rich in fiber, with fruits and vegetables
Increased water consumption
Surgery if the disease has reached the stage of blood clots
Prevention is advised if there is a family history by consuming a fiber-rich diet and maintaining hydration
Fistula: When an infected anal gland bursts into the anal canal, it constantly discharges pus into the anal canal and becomes a fistula. Hygienic toilet habits can help in preventing fistulas.

Symptoms:

A constant wet feeling in the anal area, due to pus discharge.
This would be intermittent, and there would be periods with no discharge.
There could be a foul smell due to pus discharge.
Diagnosis and Treatment:

Identifying the exact location is important as surgery may be required.
An ultrasound scan or an MRI is usually done.
Newer techniques like Video Assisted Anal Fistula Treatment (VAAFT) are used. This locates the piles accurately and uses electric current to seal it with staples and surgical glue.
Conventional surgery is also used for economic or accessibility reasons.
Fissures: These cracks anywhere in the length of the anal canal are extremely common.
Symptoms

Very painful and the person may not want to go to the toilet
Rarely bleeding is also seen, maybe in very small amounts
Treatment:

Over 90% of the fissures do not require surgery
Switching to a high-fiber diet and improving hydration will help in managing these symptoms.
Topical relief can be provided by medications.
When they are recurrent, a procedure known as lateral sphincterotomy is done. This is an outpatient procedure and provides immediate relief.
Though one condition can lead to another, in most people, there is a strong genetic component, and working towards prevention is highly recommended.

Piles, Fistula and Fissures - Can Ayurveda Help You?

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