How to know if you have piles on HWN BLOGS

How do I know if I have piles?

First, your doctor will look at the anal area, perhaps by inserting a lubricated gloved finger or an anoscope (a hollow, lighted tube for viewing the lower few inches of the rectum) or a proctoscope (which works like an anoscope, but provides a more thorough rectal examination).

More procedures may be needed to identify internal haemorrhoids or rule out other ailments that frequently cause anal bleeding, such as anal fissure, colitis, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer.

Dr. Oyeyemi Olusegun Adeniyi say, To see further into the anal canal (into the lower, or sigmoid, colon), sigmoidoscopy may be used, or the entire colon may be viewed with colonoscopy. For both procedures, a lighted, flexible viewing tube is inserted into the rectum.

A barium X-ray can show the entire colon's interior. First a barium enema is given and then X-rays are taken of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
What are the treatments for piles?

There are treatments for piles available from pharmacies or through a GP.
Creams, ointments and suppositories can help relieve swelling and inflammation symptoms in the short term. Dr. Oyeyemi Olusegun Adeniyi further say, A GP may recommend corticosteroid cream for severe inflammation.

Warm (but not hot) sitz baths are a traditional therapy for piles: sit in about 8 cm of warm water for 15 minutes, several times a day, especially after a bowel movement.

Painkillers, such as paracetamol, can help relieve pain caused by piles. Products with local anaesthetic may be prescribed to treat painful haemorrhoids (PILE).

If you are constipated , a GP may recommend using a laxative.
However, these treatments do not get rid of the haemorrhoids themselves.
If symptoms persist, your doctor may suggest one of the following procedures. Dr. Oyeyemi Olusegun Adeniyi say, Many can be performed as a day-case:
Injection or sclerotherapy. An internal haemorrhoid can be injected with a solution that creates a scar and closes off the haemorrhoid.
The injection will only hurt a little.

Banding. Prolapsed haemorrhoids are often removed using rubber-band ligation. A special tool secures a tiny rubber band around the haemorrhoid, shutting off its blood supply almost instantly. Within a week, the haemorrhoid shrivels and falls off.

Coagulation or cauterisation. Using either an electric probe, a laser beam, or an infrared light, a tiny burn painlessly seals the end of the haemorrhoid, causing it to close off and shrink. This is most useful for prolapsed haemorrhoids.

Surgery: For large internal haemorrhoids (PILE) or extremely uncomfortable external haemorrhoids (such as thrombosed haemorrhoids that are too painful to live with), your doctor may choose traditional surgery, called haemorrhoidectomy.

Dr. Oyeyemi Oluegun Adeniyi say, The success rate for haemorrhoid removal approaches 95%, but unless dietary and lifestyle changes are made, haemorrhoids may recur.

Nutrition and diet:
You can prevent constipation by following a high- fibre diet. Meals and snacks should consist primarily of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and whole
grains, and as few processed foods and meats as possible. If this is a big change for you, introduce the new foods slowly, to avoid wind.
If you aren't able to eat enough high-fibre food, supplement your diet with stool softeners or bulk-forming agents. (Avoid laxatives, which may cause diarrhoea that can further irritate the swollen veins.)

Drink at least eight glasses of water each day; if your life is especially active or you live in a hot climate, you will need more.
Monitor your salt intake. Excess salt in the diet causes fluid retention, which means swelling in all veins, including haemorrhoids.

At-home remedies:
(1). Try not to sit for hours at a time. If you have to, take breaks: once every hour, get up and move around for at least five minutes. A doughnut- shaped cushion can make sitting more comfortable and ease haemorrhoid pressure and pain.
(2). Insert petroleum jelly just inside the anus to make bowel movements less painful.
(3). Consider dabbing witch hazel (a soothing anti- inflammatory agent) on irritated haemorrhoids to reduce pain and itching.
(4). Resist the temptation to scratch haemorrhoids, as it makes everything worse: the inflamed veins become more irritated; the skin around them
becomes damaged; and the itching itself intensifies. Instead, to help reduce swelling and irritation consider using an over-the-counter steroid cream to the skin (not inside the anus - on the outside only) and a cold pack. You might try over-the-counter haemorrhoidal creams for relief from itching.
(5). If you need a pain reliever, consider using paracetamol.
(6). Bathe regularly to keep the anal area clean, but be gentle: excessive scrubbing, especially with soap, can intensify burning and irritation.
(7). Don't sit on the toilet for more than five minutes at a time, and when wiping, be gentle. If toilet paper is irritating, try dampening it first, or use
cotton balls or alcohol-free baby wipes. You may prefer washing yourself and then dabbing the area dry.
(8). When performing any task that requires exertion, be sure to breathe evenly. It's common to hold your breath during exertion, and if you do, you're straining and contributing to haemorrhoid swelling.

How can I prevent piles?
A healthy diet and lifestyle are good insurance for preventing haemorrhoids, whether you already suffer haemorrhoid symptoms or are intent on preventing them. Regular exercise is also important, especially if you have a sedentary job.

Dr. Oyeyemi Olusegun Adeniyi further says, Exercise helps in several ways: keeping weight in check, making constipation less likely, and enhancing muscle tone.

Healthy bowel habits also help prevent haemorrhoids. Use the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to do so. Also, avoid sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods (more than five minutes) and avoid straining during a bowel movement.

[HWN/Dr. Oyeyemi Olusegun Adeniyi]