12 myths and facts about anal piles

Overview

Piles (also known as hemorrhoids) is a condition whereby the veins and tissues near your anus region or lower rectum get inflamed. Piles are categorized as ‘External Hemorrhoids’ or ‘Internal Hemorrhoids’, based on the site of their growth. The leading cause for piles includes:

• Diarrhea
• Incorrect lifting of heavy objects
• Pregnancy
• Constipation

Straining your lower pelvic muscles while having a bowel movement.

If you have piles, you are likely to manifest the following symptoms:

• Presence of hard, and often painful, lumps, near your anal opening
• Itching around your anal opening. The region may also be get inflamed and is hence painful
• You are likely to feel pain while having a bowel movement

Many are embarrassed talking about piles. Consequently, they end up bearing the pain all alone. The fear of getting embarrassed also stands in their way of getting help from healthcare professionals. Consequently, they do not get the treatment that they deserve. This might perhaps explain some of the misconceptions that surround the causes, symptoms, and treatment for piles.

However, you need not worry. At our healthcare facility, we have a team of experts who are highly knowledgeable and experienced in treating piles. We will assist you to debunk any myths that you might have about piles by educating you on the factors associated with the condition.

Myth 1: I am the only one who has piles

Fact: Piles constitute common health conditions across all ages. Nearly 75% of the population will get affected by piles at one time or another in their lifetime. You are not the only one affected by this medical problem. You need not feel embarrassed about having piles. The best decision that you can make is to seek help from a urologist so that they can make a proper diagnosis for your piles and hence recommend the most appropriate treatment. This will help alleviate the pain and suffering you are bound to experience if you let this myth dominate your thinking.

Myth 2: You can get piles by sitting on a very hot or cold surface

Fact: Sitting on an extremely hot or cold surface is bound to get uncomfortable around your anal region. However, it cannot cause hemorrhoids or piles. What does cause piles, however, is the duration of time that you are likely to spend while sitting down. For example, long-distance truck drivers and cab drivers have to sit for a longer duration each day. They are hence predisposed to developing piles. Also, having a sedentary lifestyle predisposes you to hemorrhoids or piles. You need to actively and consistently engage in physical activity to offset risks.

Myth 3: Piles are common in the elderly population

Fact: Piles develop when the veins in your anal region or lower rectum get inflamed. Age is a risk factor for the development of piles. This is because as one gets older, the veins and muscles around the anal region and rectum get weak. This predisposes such a person to piles. On the other hand, having constipation or diarrhea exposes your anal region and rectum to greater pressure than the one caused by the bulging veins.  Age also contributes to the growing risk for developing piles, younger individuals are also at a higher risk for the condition due to constipation and diarrhea.

Young pregnant women may also be at risk for developing piles. This is because of the pressure on the anal region exerted by the fetus. In case of constipation, you should alter your dietary behavior by including foods rich in fiber in your diet. Additionally, increase intake of fluids, especially water, which helps you to easily pass stool.

Myth 4: Piles will always recur, and they cannot be fully treated

Facts: This is yet another myth about piles. The truth is, it has become easier to treat piles safely and effectively. For certain hemorrhoids such as those caused by constipation, you need not get any surgical or medical treatment to resolve the situation. All you need is a recommendation for dietary modification by your dietician. By including fiber-rich foods in your diet, increasing your intake of water and other fluids, constipation will resolve on its own.

You can also alleviate the symptoms caused by piles using over-the-counter ointments and prescription creams. Nonetheless, if the symptoms are persistent or significant, you are better off consulting a specialist who can prescribe the most effective mode of treatment. Most of the treatment methods today for piles are highly effective with minimal side effects. It is important, therefore, that you consult your doctor so that he can advise you on the kind of treatment that is most effective in correcting piles.

In recent years, laser surgery has gained prominence as a highly effective mode of treatment for piles. Laser surgery is minimally invasive, plus less painful, and the recovery rate is very fast. Additionally, laser piles surgery is characterized by a very high success rate, of nearly 98%. While open pile surgeries may be characterized by a higher recurrence, in the case of laser surgery, the risk of recurrences is reduced significantly, to almost nil. It is important therefore that you receive the proper treatment for piles. This, coupled with the required lifestyle modification, like diet management and regular physical activity, will go a long way in ensuring complete treatment for piles.  

Myth 5: Piles or hemorrhoids can cause colon cancer

Fact: Piles do not cause colon cancer. On the other hand, the conditions share certain symptoms with colon cancer, and this can be a cause for concern. It is also likely to conceal the underlying causes of colon or rectal cancers. Therefore, it is important that you seek medical help as soon as you observe signs of piles. For persons aged 50 and above and who have a family history of colorectal cancers, it is important that they pay very close attention to their symptoms for piles. This is because such individuals may not pay too much attention to bleeding while passing stool. Consequently, they may end up missing the warning signs. They should therefore share such information with their healthcare provider.

Myth 6: Too much physical excretion predisposes one to the development of piles

Piles are not a result of the amount of time one spends engaging in physical activity. Rather, it is the strain to the anal muscles and rectum, along with the kind of movements involved while working out, that could lead to piles. For instance, over-exertion while working out, puts too much strain on your body. This predisposes you to develop piles. In the same way, poor techniques of lifting heavy objects can also put too much strain on your anal region or rectum, thereby resulting in the development of piles.  

Poor weight lifting techniques and too much strain on one’s body can be risk factors for the development of piles. Nonetheless, this should not act as a hindrance to your working out, as physical activity plays a positive role in the prevention of piles.

Myth 7: Piles can be caused by eating spicy foods

Fact: This is not true. Although eating spicy foods could result in an upset stomach, there is no scientific evidence that associates spicy foods and the development of piles. However, stomach discomfort after a spicy meal is likely to exacerbate existing piles while having a bowel movement.

Myth 8: If my diet is rich in fiber, I need not worry about piles

Even though fiber-rich foods aids in avoiding the development of piles, this is not the only dietary habit that contributes to preventing piles. You also need to change the bathroom habits that might predispose you to pile development. For example, desist from straining while passing stool. You should also not sit for too long as this can cause piles.

Myth 9: Bleeding is always a symptom for piles

Bleeding may not always accompany piles symptoms. Piles are either internal or external. With internal piles, you may not always feel the swelling, to begin with. With external piles, however, swelling becomes evident. You will often feel it is around your anal opening. The piles protrude as the condition progresses. Piles are also likely to manifest in mucous discharge near your anal orifice. The discharge may be accompanied by itching of the region in question. As you can see, piles will develop with a host of symptoms involved. If there is no bleeding involved, this does not mean that you do not have piles. It is important that you seek timely medical help.

Myth 10: Piles only occur in men

Fact: Women are as likely to get piles just like their male counterparts. Piles are, therefore, not the preserve of men. The risk factors for piles include diarrhea, a low-fiber diet, chronic constipation, and a sedentary lifestyle. These risk factors apply to men and women in equal measure. However, the prevalence of piles is slightly higher in men than women. This is probably because more men partake in activities that involve sitting for a long time, such as truck or cab drivers.

Myth 11: All piles require surgery

Not all piles cases require a surgical procedure. In fact, the condition clears on its own in some of the cases. Other conservative treatments such as the administering of medication and dietary modification are equally effective. Only a handful of patients with piles require surgery. Even then, we have various smaller procedures such as laser treatment that can be performed quickly and easily to correct the condition.  This is if home remedies and conservative treatments do not work.

Myth 12:  Stop exercising if you have piles

If you suffer from piles, it is a good idea to indulge in some light exercises. Regular exercise can actually assist in healing hemorrhoids. When you perform light exercises such as walking and yoga, it keeps the colon healthy. This ensures there is no increase in pressure on the abdomen. This prevents the development of piles.

Having piles can be emotionally and physically draining to a patient. Despite creating awareness on all the above facts about piles, some people are still anxious about seeking medical help. Some of the reasons why such individuals would feel reluctant about consulting their healthcare practitioner include, feeling embarrassed about having such a condition, being fearful that something could go wrong during the surgery, or that the procedure will be painful. Some people are courageous enough to discuss their conditions with close family members and close friends in trying to find a likely solution to the condition. However, this may not always work out as your family and friends might share the same myths about piles as you.

You need not worry about discussing your piles condition with our medical team. We have qualified specialists who will patiently listen to your case and not judge you in any way.  Further, We have a state-of-the-art facility where we conduct various tests to confirm the condition. We also take your history to determine if piles are due to diet, lifestyle, or the presence of another condition. This will help us recommend a treatment regimen that is best suited to your case

goficure is a one-stop solution for the treatment of piles. We work with highly trained specialists with decades of experience treating piles. We offer a complete customized solution that includes the following services.  

• Scheduling your consultation with the right specialist and hospital
• Enabling the exact diagnosis
• Scheduling the surgery in speciality hospitals in Bangalore
• Door to door services such as pick up from your residence
• Support during the surgery
• Enabling smooth discharge from the hospital after treatment
• Drop to the residence
• Monitoring post-operative care
• Assistance with processing insurance claim
• Drawing a diet plan with a nutritionist
• Assisting with prevention and recurrence

References