FOCUS OF THE MONTH - PILE

Piles, also known as 'haemorrhoids', are small, bluish swellings, comprising of enlarged blood vessels situated either just inside or just outside the anus commonly called internal piles and external piles. In case of bleeding, they are termed as bleeding piles. It is one of the most common ailments today.  

The main cause of piles is chronic constipation and other bowel disorders. The straining in order to empty the constipated bowels and the pressure thus caused on the adjoining veins leads to piles. Piles are very common during pregnancy and in diseases affecting the liver and upper bowel.

Piles is usually related with a bad lifestyle. Prolonged periods of sitting or standing, mental tension, heredity, strenuous work, obesity and general weakness of the tissues of the body are also the cause for piles. Sedentary life style is also a cause for this disease. A life without sufficient exercise worsens your condition.

If you use food that is predominantly made up of dairy products and white flour, contains a very less amount of fibre, then it is likely that you do have piles. Fast foods and junk foods are the reason for constipation.
If you are not drinking enough water, then you can’t pass stools smoothly. That is also a cause for piles formation.

Our body requires enough fibre, if your diet contains insufficient amount of fibre then your faeces are usually dry.  That makes it difficult to pass stools.
In addition, some causes, such as stress or an excess of spicy food, tobacco, alcohol, or caffeine, need to be addressed themselves before treatment can produce any effects.

Bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections, autoimmune disorders, allergies, and steroids can also become causative of this disease.

Signs & Symptoms
Internal or First-degree Piles:
Many people have these without even being aware of them. These are located just inside the anus, occasionally causing some discomfort when a motion is passed. Rarely, slight bleeding may also occur during evacuation.

Second-degree Piles:
They usually appear as pea-sized swellings outside the anus after a bowel motion has been passed. They are usually retained inside the anus and may bleed and cause discomfort during passing stool with some degree of itching.

Third-degree Piles:
The swollen blood vessels are so enlarged that they remain outside the anus permanently. These are known as external piles, and are more troublesome. Soreness and persistent irritation are the common features.

Causes
Piles take time to develop and hence are found very rarely in children; its most common causes are consistent bad diet and bad lifestyle habits.

Diet
Wrong diet habits and a sedentary lifestyle are main causes of piles.
The increased Westernisation of our diet, which now includes more bread, colas and junk food, has an adverse effect on our bowel movement. The lack of vegetables and fruits, raw salads, etc, in our regular diet and cups and cups of tea or coffee are fatal for regular bowel movement.

Lack of exercise
Combine this with long working hours, sitting for long hours, lack of exercise or physical activity and you are most likely to suffer from irregular bowel movement.

Stress
Bowel movement is often related to mental well-being. Stress can have an adverse effect on your regular bowel movement, resulting in constipation. This can develop into piles.

Wrong bowel habits
Sometimes, people have the habit of straining when passing stools -- i.e., applying more pressure than necessary -- which leads to piles.
With everyone chasing the clock these days, defection is many times according to the time available, resulting in incomplete or even postponed bowel movement.

Pregnancy
The weight of the foetus on the abdomen and the increased blood flow, as well as the effect of hormones on the blood vessels, can be responsible for development of piles.

Childbirth
Pushing during childbirth increases pressure in the veins.

Treatment and prevention
Doctors’ stresses on the need to inculcate the right bowel habits during childhood itself; this goes a long way in avoiding piles in the long run.
The best way to clear up existing piles is to avoid constipation. By having regular bowel movements, stools pass easily and do not put pressure on the blood vessels in the anal area. Slowly, the condition improves.
Also, the stools should be soft, so they pass easily, thus decreasing pressure and strain.
One should try to empty bowels as soon as possible, when the urge occurs.

Diet control
Most piles cases can be cured by diet control. Increased fibre in the diet helps reduce constipation and straining by producing stools that are softer and easier to pass.

The following are important changes to diet:

Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods such as fruits, especially papayas and figs, vegetables and wholegrain cereals (e.g. brown rice, whole wheat bread), lot of greens, raw salads.
Have fruits, instead of fruits juices; most fruits contain high fibre.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep bowel movements soft
Those suffering from piles should strictly avoid hot and spicy food and non-vegetarian food too.

Exercise
Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, this will aid your bowel movement.

Other treatments
Most piles cases in the first stage can be prevented by diet control. If that does not happen, one might need to go for any of the following treatments.

'Rubber band ligation' is a procedure in which a small rubber band is placed at the base of the internal pile. The rubber band cuts off the blood supply to the haemorrhoid and it falls off in about four to five days.

'Infrared coagulation' uses an infrared light source to coagulate the dilated veins of the haemorrhoid. This causes the haemorrhoid to shrink since blood does not flow through the coagulated blood vessels.

'Injection sclerotherapy' involves injecting an irritating chemical into the haemorrhoid which causes inflammation and closure of the veins, thereby shrinking the haemorrhoid.

In cases of large haemorrhoids, one may have to go for a surgery known as haemorrhoidectomy (removal of the haemorrhoid).

In this issue:

•Focus of the month- PILE
• Weightloss challenge - Month 2
• Health News
• Discount Outlets
• For your Information
• Metric Imperial BMI Formula
• Upcoming Activities