Piles Treatment Options
HemorrhoidWhat are piles? Piles are similar to hemorrhoids, which are inflamed or varicose veins in the anal or rectal area. Piles are areas of tissue in the anal canal that swell due to a variety of reasons (such as stress, overexertion, pregnancy, cancer, smoking, or chronic alcohol use) and cause blood to pool. This then results in a knot of swollen tissue that is sensitive, painful, and often bloody. Piles usually reach the size of a penny in diameter and can resemble grapes in size and shape.
Symptoms and Causes
Constipation is the number one cause of piles. Any systematic disorder can cause piles. Some of these disorders are cirrhosis, prostate enlargement, pregnancy, and chronic coughing. For the most part many will only become aware of piles when they start to bleed or there is extreme pain. This will only happen when infection sets in. This is why you should never ignore any bleeding from the anal area. Bleeding can be the first sign of colon cancer so you should always get checked if you start to bleed from the anal area regardless how small the amount of blood is. There might even be some mucus discharge with the blood from the piles as well. This discharge is what causes the extreme itching associated with the piles.
Different Piles Treatment Options for you to consider
There are normally two piles treatment options; one is self help or home remedies and then of course professional medical help. A combination of medical and behavioral treatments will make up your basic self help options. Some most common forms of self help are:
- Eating food that is rich in fiber is a great way to prevent piles or to make them easier to treat. Good foods to eat include bread made with whole wheat, brown rice, whole-grain pasta, fruits (apples, berries, etc.) and leafy green vegetables.
- Ointments and medicated creams are very effective in temporarily relieving (but not curing) pain and discomfort, and often can be found over the counter in any local drug store.
- Another good form of piles treatment is by using a squatting toilet rather than a normal one.
These next listed piles treatment options are professional medical options and are available to most if you are seeking professional help.
- A banding procedure is an option. This is when an elastic band is put around the pile to cut off the blood supply so that the pile will shrink and eventually fall off.
- Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure in which hardening agents are injected into the affected area.
- A hemorrhoidectomy is an inpatient surgical procedure for advanced cases of piles that involves surgically removing the pile.
These professional piles treatment options are always used if all else fails. Some of these procedures are painful but overall are always affective in treating the problem. If you have tried all other home remedies and failed then it would be wise to seek professional medical help right a way, especially if you are bleeding. Like I mentioned before not all bleeding from the rectum or anal cannel can be linked to piles or hemorrhoids. This can only be determined by a license professional medical doctor.