The Common Signs & Symptoms Of Piles That You Should Be Aware Of

Piles, which are also referred to as hemorrhoids, are the clumps of dilated vessels resulting in lumps inside and around the end parts of the rectum and anus. The end area of the intestine before the exit of the anus is called the rectum. Feces are excreted through the body by the end part of the digestive tract called the anus. When veins enlarge and their wall becomes thin and stretched due to passing the stools and these are liable to discharge blood resulting in piles. Keep reading to learn more about it.

Piles are classified into two categories
Here are two categories of piles.
1.Internal pile
Internal piles originate from the rectum
The internal pile lies inside the lining of the rectum and can be felt only if enlarged.
It is usually painless
It may protrude outside the anus, and it looks pinker and moist on touch
It may be very painful and hurt because its surrounding area is dense with pain-sensing nerves.
They may recede into the rectum back on their own
It can be pushed gently back to the place.
2.External pile
External pile originates from the anus
It is situated under the skin surrounding the anus
It can be felt easily as it swells
External piles may cause itching, burning, bleeding, and pain

Prevalence of Hemorrhoids:
Most of the people suffer from the piles. Prevalence peaks after the age of 45, and it is found equally in both men and women.
What Are the Causes of Piles?
Here are some common causes of piles.
Persistently passing hard stools
Pregnancy
Heavy lifting
Obesity
Prolonged sitting or standing
Excessive straining required while passing the stool
Chronic constipation
Low fiber intake in the diet
Chronic forceful coughing
Excessive sneezing

What Are the Various Grades of Piles?
There are four types of grading categorized for piles:
1.First Degree piles
Veins are slightly enlarged and may bleed but do not protrude outside the anus.

2.Second Degree piles
Enlarged veins prolapsed and retract on their own, maybe present with bleeding.

3.Third Degree piles
Piles prolapse and need to push back manually.

4.Fourth Degree piles
Piles prolapse and can’t be pushed back manually to the anal canal. It contains blood clots.

What Diet Should be Followed When You Are Suffering from Piles?
Here are some dietary tips to follow when you are suffering from piles.
Increase the fiber intake in your diet. Fiber content is high in foods are vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, cereals. and whole grains. Have 20-30 grams of fibers is per day recommended.
Go for stool softeners.
Increase your intake of fluid.
Use laxatives in severe constipation.

How Long do Piles Take to Heal?
Piles, in many cases, recur after certain years of treatment. It may come and go and may get triggered by your faulty dietary habits and lifestyle, mostly occur in people over the age of 50.

Do Piles Go Away on their Own?
Sometimes, piles may go away completely in a certain duration. Keep your affected area clean and hygienic to avoid its recurrence.

How to Get Rid of Piles?
You can try home remedies and maintain healthy dietary habits to get rid of it. Severe chronic cases can’t be treated by self at home; you need a holistic treatment in chronic cases as they may not go away on their own. You need to talk to your doctor.

How to Diagnose Piles?
Most of the people having piles discover them by palpating the lumps of external piles while wiping the anal region after defecation.
By observing blood drops in the toilet
Piles prolapsed from the anus after passing stool.

How Can You Prevent or Treat Your Piles?
Here are some helpful tips to treat your piles.
Drink a lot of fluids.
Eat plenty of fibers.
Keep your stool soft.
Wipe your anus with damp toilet paper.
Take painkillers if it’s aching severely.
Take a warm bath to reduce the pain.
Use an ice-pack to reduce the discomfort.
Gently push the pile back inside the anus.
Maintain hygiene and keep the anal region dry.
Do regular exercise and brisk walk.
Avoid alcohol or caffeine intake.

What Should Not Be Done If You Are Having Piles?
Here are some things which you should avoid when suffering from piles.
Do not wipe your anal region too harshly after passing the stool.
Do not avoid the urge to pass the stool.
Do not give much pressure when passing the stool
Avoid pain-reliever containing codeine, as it may cause constipation.
In the case of bleeding piles, Ibuprofen should not be taken.

How Can Food or Wrong Diet Influence Piles?
Diet has a big impact in causing or preventing the piles. If you consistently taking a high-fiber rich diet, you will have less chance of getting piles. Highly processed foods have a high risk of causing constipation and piles. A less intake of fiber results in constipation which may promote hard stools, straining, irritation, and swelling of veins which may lead to the development of piles.

What are the Symptoms of Piles?
Here are some common symptoms of piles.
Bright red blood on the stool or toilet
Lumps around the anus
Itching in the anus
Unsatisfactory stools
After going toilet, you feel like you still need to go for passing the stool
Slimy mucus in your underwear after wiping your bottom after passing the stools.
Pain and discomfort in the bottom

Home Remedies for Treating Piles:
The occurrence of piles is a common problem; it may go away in a few weeks on its own in case of mild discomfort. The home remedies which can reduce your suffering and make it tolerable are:
Witch Hazel Bath: It helps to reduce the itching and pain. Also, it acts as an anti-inflammatory that reduces swelling.
Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera gel helps in soothing the skin and acts as an anti-inflammatory, thereby reducing inflammation.
A Warm Bath with Epson salt: It helps to soothe the irritation of the skin.
Cold Compresses: Applying ice packs can reduce extreme pain; it can relieve swelling for at least 15 minutes at a time.
Stool Softeners: Stool softeners such as psyllium can reduce constipation and make your stool soft so it passes easily without pain.
Cold packs to reduce discomfort
Apply over-the-counter ointments for relief from the pain and swelling
Wipes after defecation can soothe your irritation & discomfort around the anal region.
Wear loose cotton clothes: Clothes made of ultra-breathable cotton fabrics, particularly cotton underwear will help to clean and dry your bottom area.
Steps to Prevent Piles:
Here are some simple yet effective tips to prevent the development of piles.
Lifestyle and dietary changes can help you best to prevent constipation and piles.
Stay physically active.
Eat regularly on time to keep your bowel movement regular.
Eats plenty of fiber-rich foods
Drink plenty of water.
Do exercises regularly.
Go to the toilet on the first urge you feel. Do not delay a bowel movement, as it will reabsorb water from the stool.
Rectal bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. So, consult your doctor first for the correct diagnosis and discuss if you are going for any home treatment before implementing it.