How To Get Rid Of Piles In South Africa

What are Piles?

Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids), also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. Hemorrhoids can develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids).

Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time. Hemorrhoids have a number of causes, but often the cause is unknown.

Fortunately, effective options are available to treat hemorrhoids. Many people get relief with home treatments and lifestyle changes.

Causes

The veins around your anus tend to stretch under pressure and may bulge or swell. Hemorrhoids can develop from increased pressure in the lower rectum due to:

Straining during bowel movements
Sitting for long periods of time on the toilet
Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
Being obese
Being pregnant
Having anal intercourse
Eating a low-fiber diet
Regular heavy lifting

How To Get Rid Of Piles In South Africa

Home remedies

You can often relieve the mild pain, swelling and inflammation of hemorrhoids with home treatments.

Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Doing so softens the stool and increases its bulk, which will help you avoid the straining that can worsen symptoms from existing hemorrhoids. Add fiber to your diet slowly to avoid problems with gas.
Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent.
Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath. Soak your anal area in plain warm water for 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a day. A sitz bath fits over the toilet.
Take oral pain relievers. You can use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) temporarily to help relieve your discomfort.

With these treatments, hemorrhoid symptoms often go away within a week. See your doctor in a week if you don’t get relief, or sooner if you have severe pain or bleeding.

Medications

If your hemorrhoids produce only mild discomfort, your doctor might suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments, suppositories or pads. These products contain ingredients such as witch hazel, or hydrocortisone and lidocaine, which can temporarily relieve pain and itching.

Don’t use an over-the-counter steroid cream for more than a week unless directed by your doctor because it can thin your skin.

External hemorrhoid thrombectomy

If a painful blood clot (thrombosis) has formed within an external hemorrhoid, your doctor can remove the hemorrhoid, which can provide prompt relief. This procedure, done under local anesthesia, is most effective if done within 72 hours of developing a clot.

Minimally invasive procedures

Rubber band ligation of hemorrhoid

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For persistent bleeding or painful hemorrhoids, your doctor might recommend one of the other minimally invasive procedures available. These treatments can be done in your doctor’s office or other outpatient setting and don’t usually require anesthesia.

Rubber band ligation. Your doctor places one or two tiny rubber bands around the base of an internal hemorrhoid to cut off its circulation. The hemorrhoid withers and falls off within a week.Hemorrhoid banding can be uncomfortable and cause bleeding, which might begin two to four days after the procedure but is rarely severe. Occasionally, more-serious complications can occur.
Injection (sclerotherapy). Your doctor injects a chemical solution into the hemorrhoid tissue to shrink it. While the injection causes little or no pain, it might be less effective than rubber band ligation.
Coagulation (infrared, laser or bipolar). Coagulation techniques use laser or infrared light or heat. They cause small, bleeding internal hemorrhoids to harden and shrivel. Coagulation has few side effects and usually causes little discomfort.

Surgical procedures

Only a small percentage of people with hemorrhoids require surgery. However, if other procedures haven’t been successful or you have large hemorrhoids, your doctor might recommend one of the following:

Hemorrhoid removal (hemorrhoidectomy). Choosing one of various techniques, your surgeon removes excessive tissue that causes bleeding. The surgery can be done with local anesthesia combined with sedation, spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia.Hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective and complete way to treat severe or recurring hemorrhoids. Complications can include temporary difficulty emptying your bladder, which can result in urinary tract infections. This complication occurs mainly after spinal anesthesia.Most people have some pain after the procedure, which medications can relieve. Soaking in a warm bath also might help.
Hemorrhoid stapling. This procedure, called stapled hemorrhoidopexy, blocks blood flow to hemorrhoidal tissue. It is typically used only for internal hemorrhoids.Stapling generally involves less pain than hemorrhoidectomy and allows for earlier return to regular activities. Compared with hemorrhoidectomy, however, stapling has been associated with a greater risk of recurrence and rectal prolapse, in which part of the rectum protrudes from the anus.Complications can also include bleeding, urinary retention and pain, as well as, rarely, a life-threatening blood infection (sepsis). Talk with your doctor about the best option for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do piles go away on their own?

Piles will usually go away on their own but, if they don’t, you might need to have a procedure to deal with the problem. There are some treatments that you’ll need to go into hospital for as an out-patient. This means you can have the treatment and go home the same day.

How long do piles last for?

There is no set duration for hemorrhoids. Small hemorrhoids may clear up without any treatment within a few days. Large, external hemorrhoids may take longer to heal and can cause significant pain and discomfort. If hemorrhoids have not resolved within a few days, it is best to see a doctor for treatment.

How do piles look like?

Prolapsed hemorrhoids look like swollen red lumps or bumps coming out of your anus. You may be able to see them if you use a mirror to examine this area. Prolapsed hemorrhoids may have no other symptom than the protrusion, or they may cause pain or discomfort, itchiness, or burning.

Can piles burst?

Both external and internal hemorrhoids can become thrombosed hemorrhoids. This means that a blood clot forms inside the vein. Thrombosed hemorrhoids aren’t dangerous, but they can cause severe pain and inflammation. If it becomes too full of blood, a hemorrhoid can burst.

What happens if you leave piles untreated?

Piles if left untreated can lead to anemia and strangulated hemorrhoids may occur — when blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off and the hemorrhoid becomes strangulated, causing extreme pain and leading to gangrene.

Can stress cause piles?

Stress can lead to digestive problems—and straining, due to constipation and diarrhea, can cause hemorrhoid flare-ups. When people are stressed, they tighten their sphincter muscle and put pressure on the rectum. This pressure can cause hemorrhoid flare-ups

What age can you get piles?

Age: Piles are more common in older adults. Around half of people over the age of 50 develop piles. Weight: Research suggests that being overweight may increase a person’s chance of developing piles. Diet: Eating a diet low in fiber may increase the likelihood of a person having piles

Are piles permanent?

A pile can hang down (prolapse) and can be felt outside the back passage. Often, it can be pushed back up after you have been to the toilet. However, more severe piles remain permanently prolapsed and cannot be pushed back up inside.

What cream gets rid of piles?

Hydrocortisone treatments for piles can be called by a variety of brand names including the Anusol range, Anugesic, Germaloids, Perinal, Proctosedyl, Uniroid and Xyloproct

Should you push piles back in?

No, external hemorrhoids develop outside the anus, so a person cannot push them back in.

Can exercise get rid of piles?

Exercise is an excellent way to prevent or manage hemorrhoids. In fact, regular physical stimulation helps keep bowels functioning properly, which can reduce issues with constipation. The right exercises also can also strengthen abdominal and pelvic muscles and improve circulation.

Is banana good for piles?

Banana is a natural laxative that treats constipation. During piles, the first thing that you would want to avoid is pain and discomfort while passing stool. Bananas not just add bulk to your stool but also act as stool softeners to aid in the smooth passage. Note: Raw banana in piles can worsen the condition

What shrinks hemorrhoids fast?

Treatment

Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent.
Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath.
Take oral pain relievers.