Symptoms and Causes of the Piles or Hemorrhoid
Round swelling on the short, muscular pipe that connects your anus to rectum, called the anal canal, is known as piles. Many people suffering from piles don’t approach a doctor and hence to know the exact number of people suffering from the disease is a bit difficult. But it is estimated that four to 25 in every lot of 100 people in the United Kingdom suffer from the disease.
Piles originate from the inside of your anal canal but can spread and hang down out of your rectum as well. Piles can be of different types. First degree piles are swellings on the inside lining of your anal canal that may bleed but would not be visible from outside the anus whereas second degree piles are larger and hang out (prolapse) from the anus whenever one has a bowel movement and return to the original position afterwards on their own. Third degree piles are similar to the second one but they hang out from one’s anus and return inside only when pushed back in. Fourth degree piles permanently hang down from the anus and they can’t be pushed back inside. There is also a possibility of them getting swollen and painful if the blood in them clots in case of fourth degree piles.
Symptoms of piles
Piles is a disease that should be dealt with the moment it is figured out. Hence knowing the symptoms becomes a necessity here. Some common symptoms of piles are painless bleeding from the anus that can be noticed in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper, a lump on the anus, a slimy discharge of mucus giving you a feeling that your bowels have not emptied properly, itchy skin or swelling around your anus and pain after the bowel movement in case of external piles. These symptoms might or might not be because of piles but it is highly advisable to visit the doctor in case any of these is tracked.
Causes of piles
Though the exact cause of piles is not known, it is believed to be caused because of weakness of connecting tissue between the anal cushions and the muscle layers underneath it. Weakness of the tissue when combines with frequent straining while passing hard bowel movements results in the anal cushions sliding out of their usual place. It is believed that you are most likely to suffer from piles if you eat a low-fibre diet or if you have a weak rectum by birth or you have a family history of piles. Piles can also be caused due to regular straining done to empty your bowels or weakening of your rectum support structure with age.
In case of the diagnosis or the symptoms, you are advised to visit your doctor to avoid any further possible damage and curbing the nip in the bud. Your GP will examine your state and after analysis of your symptoms and necessary tests, will advise the best course of action.
