What is the Best Treatment for Piles?

What are piles, and how can they be treated? In this short post we’re going to discuss how to deal with piles (haemorrhoids).

What is the Best Treatment for Piles?

Piles are common and nothing to be afraid of. While the term may make some feel embarrassed, as long as you’re educated on what they are, why they happen, and how to treat them, you’ll not feel worried about them.

In this blog post we’re going to discuss some common questions on the topic, as well as provide advice on what to do when piles pose a serious issue, in relation to your digestive health.


What are piles?

A pile is a small lump. They will appear and grow inside or around the edge of the bottom. They are made from enlarged blood vessels.


What do piles look like?

Piles will usually be quite small, round in shape and have some red discolouration which makes them identifiable.


Are piles and haemorrhoids the same?

Yes. Piles is the common name given to haemorrhoids.


How do people get piles?

There are many reasons why someone might get piles. Age is one of the most common – the likelihood of you getting them increases with age.

You may also get piles due to constipation or diarrhoea, straining while going to the toilet, or carrying out strenuous activity such as lifting heavy weights.


What symptoms would someone with piles expect?

Common symptoms can include:

  • Painful lumps around the bottom and irritation
  • Feeling as though you need to go to the toilet after having just been
  • Blood in your stool

However, it is always important to insure that the symptoms are in fact due to piles and not something else. Ensure you have been checked properly.


How can I get checked for piles?

Get in touch with your GP. They will offer advice, or get you booked in for an examination of the area for a full diagnosis.


Are piles the same for everyone?

While the growth is similar, piles are often diagnosed on a grading scale; from first to fourth degree. Most people will have Grade 1 or 2 piles which can be treated quite easily without any help. Grade 3 piles are those which have prolapsed outside the anus, while Grade 4 is an indicator that the piles are large and need treatment.


Do piles go away by themselves?

There are some instances where piles will clear up after a few days. In fact, in the majority of cases this is what happens.


How are piles treated?

Anyone with low grade piles can treat the condition by taking simple actions like drinking more water, increasing fibre intake, and making sure the area is always clean.

It is also common for a doctor to prescribe creams to help with irritation, as well as corticosteroids or laxatives.

When an individual has higher grade piles, they may have to undertake a treatment plan. This can range from non-surgical treatments to surgery.


What non-surgical treatments are there for haemorrhoids?

The most well-known treatments include ligation (bands put on the piles so they shrink and fall off), injection or sclerotherapy and electrotherapy


What surgical treatments are there for haemorrhoids?

In the rare cases where surgery needs to be performed, a haemorrhoidectomy is carried out. This is where piles are cut out. For a patient’s lump that has prolapsed, a stapled haemorrhoidopexy may be carried out to get piles back inside the anus.


Can I have a specialist look at haemorrhoids?

If the piles don’t go away after taking medicine and problems persist, it is worth asking your GP to put you in touch with a specialist.


Get in touch

Are you looking for specialist help to deal with piles?

At OneWelbeck Digestive Health, visitors can expect exceptional care in a discrete environment.

If you have any questions about these piles, our team of world-class specialists will be happy to discuss options with you.

You can get in touch with us.


How OneWelbeck
can help

Here at OneWelbeck, we have a team of specialists, state of the art facilities and diagnostics, and highly competitive financial packages for self-funding patients as well as those with private health care.

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