Dealing with Haemorrhoids (Piles) – Tips and Treatment

Dealing with Haemorrhoids (Piles) – Tips and Treatment
Hemorrhoids, which are commonly known as piles, is not easy to deal with. By definition, hemorrhoids represent the swollen and the inflamed veins in your rectum or anus. More often, these hemorrhoids don’t show any symptoms that some people, who are actually having the condition, don’t even know that they have them. While this can be taken as an easier thing, this condition when they show symptoms, it will cause the pain, itching, as well as bleeding around the affected area that makes it difficult for the person to carry out his/her normal day-to-day activities.
But, all this doesn’t mean that there is no solution to the problem. Even the most painful piles can be dealt with effectively by acquiring proper knowledge about the condition. Read the following article to know, what are piles and how to deal with the condition effectively…
Two Types of Piles:
Piles are of two types:

1. Internal piles: These represent the deeper piles that will develop above a point (about two to three cms) inside your back passage (anal canal) in the upper part. Although this type is called internal piles, these can increase in their size and prolapsed, which means that they can be seen outside of your anus.
2. External piles: These are the piles that will initiate near the outer surface, that is, below a point (about two to three cms) inside your back passage. Although this type is called external piles, not always can you see outside of your opening of the anus.

While most people will have either of these types, there are also possibilities that an individual may contain both these types at a time.
Besides these two major types, piles are also classified based on the size and severity of the inflammation.
What Causes Haemorrhoids (Piles)?
The major reason why a person gets piles is due to an increase in pressure in the lower part of his/her rectum because of:

• Strains caused during the bowel movements
• Sitting for a long duration, mainly on the toilets
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Anal sex
• Low-fiber diet
• Spinal cord injuries
• Poor sitting posture

It’s to be noted that most people will experience these hemorrhoids at some point in life. Most often, they tend to occur in the later part of life because of the age-related weaknesses and/or due to the stretching of the tissues that support the veins in the person’s rectum.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Haemorrhoids?
Although the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids will depend on its type and severity, the most common signs include the following:

• Pain/discomfort while sitting
• Pain, especially during bowel movements
• Itching/irritating surrounding the anus
• Blood in stools
• Swelling/inflammation surrounding the anus
• Lumps near the anal region

When should you Consult a Physician?
Even though the presence of blood in the stools is considered to be the most common indication of the hemorrhoids, you should remember that rectal bleeding can also signify a more serious medical condition like the cancers of bowel and anus. So, you should consult a physician if you see one or more of the following symptoms:

• Frequent or excessive bleeding
• Self-treatment is unsuccessful
• Changes in bowel movements
• Stools are black or maroon in colors
• Blood clots
• Blood is mixed with the stools

What are the Self-Care Options for Haemorrhoids?
If you are just diagnosed with haemorrhoids or at your initial stages of the inflammation, self-care is possible. Know the options below:
Self-care for External Piles:
For the external piles that have swollen and painful, taking a bath with plain, warm water will help. While doing so, soak your affected region in the warm water for at least ten minutes. Alternately, you can also try a sitz bath (a small bathing bowl that can be filled with water). You can keep your bathing bowl over the toilet bowl and then, sit in the bath. Do this several times a day with warm water, especially after passing your stools.
To help with the pain, you can consider taking pain-relieving medications like paracetamol. Alternately, you can also alleviate the pain, swelling, and the discomfort caused by them by using cold compresses.
To help reduce the size of the inflammation and relieve the discomfort, you can consider using topical creams like Anocream from PharmaSynth Formulations Ltd. This topical cream, which contains Beclomethasone Dipropionate 0.025%, Lidocaine 3%, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 0.1%, and Zinc Oxide 5%, will not only help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by the piles but will also help soothe the itching caused by the inflammation.
Anocream and its Contents – An Overview:
The Beclomethasone Dipropionate is the steroid component that helps reduce perianal inflammation. Lidocaine is the anesthetic component that helps block the pain signals. It also will effectively numb your skin at the point of inflammation during the course of its action. Phenylephrine Hydrochloride is the vasoconstrictor that helps reduce the swelling and inflammation. Finally, the zinc oxide content of the cream helps ameliorate the irritation that is caused by the piles.
Note: If using the Anocream to the exteriors of your anal region doesn’t provide any relief, you may have to apply it internally using the applicator that comes along with the product.
Now, coming back to the self-care options, you can also try using over-the-counter suppositories that are available at pharmacies. These again will help reduce the itching and therefore, discomfort for a short period. Be sure to consult with a physician if the symptoms are not going off in a few days of using the suppositories.
Finally, you are advised to wash your external piles after every bowel movement using warm water and clean the area with disposable baby wipes.
Self-care for Internal Piles:
For the internal piles that are protruded, you may have to gently push it back inside your anus. Only your physician can offer the best piece of advice regarding this.
How to Prevent Haemorrhoids?
Rather than struggling with the piles after you get it, it’s always better to prevent it from occurring. The best way to keep hemorrhoids at the bay is to prevent constipation. For this, you need to consume a diet that is rich in fibers, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. Finally, you need to avoid straining or spending a lot of time in the toilets. If you follow these tips, you need not worry about hemorrhoids from attacking you!