Symptoms of Piles

Haemorrhoids, also called piles, affect at least 40% of the adult population in any Western country.

Piles symptoms include:

• Itching and soreness around the bottom
• Blood on the toilet paper after a bowel movement
• A lump protruding from the bottom

Despite the fact that almost half of all adults in the UK will have suffered with haemorrhoids at some point in their lives, many people with piles are too embarrassed to talk about it, even with their doctor. However, general practitioners see conditions like piles regularly and are not embarrassed to discuss and treat haemorrhoids.

What causes Piles?

Piles are similar to the varicose veins that people get in the legs. Piles are caused when the veins in the back passage, which take blood back to the heart, become engorged and swollen, causing them to become itchy. When people scratch at these itching veins, often in their sleep, they become irritated and bleed.

Piles Treatment

Anyone experiencing the symptoms of haemorrhoids should visit their doctor for treatment. In most cases piles can be easily treated with a simple cream, however in very rare instances these symptoms can be a sign of a more sinister problem which is why it is important to treat haemorrhoids as soon as they develop.

In addition to cream and medication, people with piles should drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruit and vegetables to minimise constipation, as this will irritate haemorrhoids further.

Dr Ann Robinson, GP
Health columnist for The Guardian