Piles is a collection of tissues that are swollen and inflamed, and grow in the anal region. Piles may vary in sizes and can be found inside or outside of the anus. It is extremely important for you to live a healthy life if you have piles as it helps in relieving pain and discomfort caused by this disease. There are two types of piles, basically known as internal piles and external piles. In case of internal piles, the symptoms develop inside the anus whereas in external piles, the symptoms develop under the skin around the anus.
Causes Of Piles
It is not proven yet that what exactly causes the veins around your anus to swell and bulge. However, there are some common factors that contribute to the formation of piles. Below are the common causes of piles.
- Stress
- Obesity
- Bad diet
- Pregnancy
- Family history
- Less fluid intake
- Anal intercourse
- Chronic diarrhea
- Lack of fiber diet
- Cigarette smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Regular heavy lifting
- Chronic constipation
- Alcohol consumption
- Previous bowel surgery
- Straining during bowel movements
Symptoms Of Piles
The symptoms of piles may become less severe on their own in a few days. However, these should not be ignored. Because ignoring the initial symptoms can lead to serious complications. Below are the most common symptoms of piles.
- Pain
- Leakage of stool
- Mucus discharge
- Itching around the anus
- Painful bowel movements
- Swelling or lump near the anus
- Sore and redness around the anus
- Irritation and pain around the anus
- Bleeding during or after bowel movements
Conditions Of Piles That Need Medical Intervention
- Fecal incontinence
- Strangulated hemorrhoid
- Infection in or around the anus
- Extreme bleeding in stool that leads to anemia
Piles Laser Surgery
The treatment for piles varies on several things such as the types and severity of piles. Piles in their initial stage can be treated with medications and home remedies. However, once they become severe, surgery is the only option. Surgery can be done either traditionally or with the help of the laser. Laser surgery is considered as the best and permanent treatment of piles.
Laser surgery is a modern and advanced way of treating piles. It is a daycare surgical procedure and is performed in 30-40 minutes. The doctor gives your general anaesthesia at the beginning of the surgical procedure. Then the doctor uses the laser probe with the required amount of frequency to shrink the piles. the surrounding tissues are left intact during the whole surgical procedure. It is a painless and bloodless procedure. There are almost no chances of wounds, scars, infections post surgery.
Things To Do After Piles Laser Surgery
You can expect mild rectal or anal pain post your piles laser surgery. However, your doctor will probably prescribe medication to ease the pain. Also, you can aid in your own recovery by eating diet high in fiber, staying hydrated by drinking adequate water – 8-10 glasses of water per day and using stool softener so that you will not have to strain during bowel movements. Also, you should avoid activities that involve pulling or pushing heavy weights.
You may try a sitz bath as it helps in easing post-surgical discomfort. During sitz bath, you soak your anal area in a few inches warm water several times a day. The recovery time may vary from patient to patient as it may be affected by various factors such as your health and the severity of the problem. However, you can resume your daily life activities 48 hours after the surgical procedure. There is almost no chance of any complications post piles laser surgery.
When you follow up with your doctor, they will probably recommend diet changes such as eating foods high in fiber and drinking a right amount of water per day, making lifestyle changes such as losing weight and adopting a doing exercise on a regular basis. After your piles laser surgery, instead of dry paper, use moist toilet paper or baby wipes to clean the affected area. Try to wear loose cotton clothes and be comfortable.
Avoid drinking too much tea, coffee or smoking cigarettes. Refrain yourself from sitting on the toilet for long hours. Most importantly, do go to the toilet when you feel the urge. Ignoring the need to go to the toilet can increase constipation that can worsen your piles. These adjustments will surely help you in recovering quickly and easily. Also, if you notice any problem, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Complications Of Piles
Sometimes piles can lead to other complications. Experts believe that external piles may develop painful blood clots. If they occur, they are called thrombosed piles. Internal piles may turn into prolapse, which means, they drop through the rectum and bulge from the anus. External or prolapsed piles can become irritated or infected and may need surgery.
Significant blood loss from chronic piles has been associated with the development of anemia in rare cases. Another rare complication is a strangulated piles, when the blood flow to an internal piles is cut off, which can cause extreme pain. Strangulated piles bring risk of infection, so it is important to seek medical care in order to prevent this outcome.
Conclusion
Living a healthy life can help you avoid piles. Eating foods high in fiber and drinking plenty of fluids and water keep you hydrated and your digestion smooth. Avoiding sitting for a long period of time also helps in avoiding piles in the first place. However, if you get piles, going for laser treatment is the easiest and best option to choose.
