Haemorrhoids are also popularly recognized as piles. Piles are swollen and inflamed veins that occur in the rectum and anus that cause discomfort and bleeding.

Symptoms of Piles.

Symptoms of haemorrhoids can be uneasy and alarming but they usually improve on their own after a few days. Symptoms of haemorrhoid are as follows:

• bleeding
• Itching or irritation in the anal area
• discomfort, pain or soreness around the anus
• swelling around the anus

Although haemorrhoids can be particularly uncomfortable, they aren’t life-threatening and usually go away on their own without medication or therapy.

Causes and risk factors associated with Piles

Haemorrhoids arise when there is too much pressure on the veins around your anus. Other possible causes and risk factors are as follows:

• straining during a bowel movement
• sitting for a long time, especially on the toilet
• having a family history of haemorrhoids
• engaging in consistent heavy lifting or other activities that strain your body
• having obesity
• having anal sexual intercourse, which can irritate haemorrhoids
• Being over the age of 50, with poor lifestyle.

How are haemorrhoids diagnosed?

Haemorrhoids can be diagnosed by visual examination of your anus and based on the symptoms you may have. There might be certain tests as well that a doctor could perform for the diagnosis including:

– Digital rectal exam: Your provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for swollen veins.

– Colonoscopy: Your provider uses an anoscope (lighted tube) to view the lining of the anus and rectum.

These tests might be uncomfortable but they aren’t painful, and depends on the severity of the issue.

Treatment for Piles

You can have haemorrhoids treated at home or at doctor’s office. Symptoms like pain and bleeding may last one week or slightly longer. In the meantime, you can take these steps at home to ease symptoms:

• Drink more water.
• Increase fiber intake through diet and supplements. Try to obtain at least 20-35 grams of daily fiber intake
• Soak in a warm bath and sit in a warm water tub for 10 to 20 minutes a day.
• Soften stool by taking laxatives.

You should consult a healthcare provider if the symptoms keep on getting worse. Also seek help if signs don’t improve after a week of at-home treatments. Your healthcare provider may treat haemorrhoids with:

• Rubber band ligation: A small rubber band placed around the base of a hemorrhoid cuts off blood supply to the vein.
• Electrocoagulation: An electric current stops blood flow to a hemorrhoid.
• Infrared coagulation: A small probe inserted into the rectum transmits heat to get rid of the haemorrhoid.

Which type of doctor treats Piles? – Specialist dealing in piles

Patients suffering with Piles can consult with a gastroenterologist or a general or laparoscopic surgeon for the treatment of piles/haemorrhoids. In Siliguri we have Senior Gastroenterologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon available daily at our Clinic who have treatment many patients with effective results.