Do you find sitting uncomfortable or often becoming more painful towards the end of the day owing to the pressure associated with prolonged sitting and standing?
Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swellings containing enlarged blood vessels found inside or around the bottom (the rectum and anus).In many cases, haemorrhoids don’t cause symptoms and some people don’t even realise they have them. But when symptoms do occur, they may include:
bleeding after passing a stool – the blood is usually bright red
itchy bottom
a lump hanging down outside of the anus, which may need to be pushed back in after passing a stool
a mucus discharge after passing a stool
soreness, redness and swelling around your anus
Haemorrhoids aren’t usually painful, unless their blood supply slows down or is interrupted.
When to seek medical advice
Visit your GP if you have persistent or severe symptoms of haemorrhoids. You should always get any rectal bleeding checked so your doctor can rule out more potentially serious causes. The symptoms of haemorrhoids often clear up on their own, or by using simple treatments that can be bought from a pharmacy without a prescription but do speak to your GP if your symptoms don’t get better or you experience pain or bleeding.
Your GP can often diagnose haemorrhoids using a simple internal examination of your back passage, although they may need to refer you to a colorectal consultant for diagnosis and treatment. Some people with haemorrhoids are reluctant to see their GP. But there’s no need to be embarrassed – GPs are very used to diagnosing and treating haemorrhoids.
What causes haemorrhoids?
The exact cause of haemorrhoids is unclear, but they’re associated with increased pressure in the blood vessels in and around your anus.
This pressure can cause the blood vessels in your back passage to become swollen and inflamed. Many cases are thought to be caused by too much straining on the toilet as a result of prolonged constiptaed. This is often caused by a lack of fibre in a person’s diet.
Chronic (long-term) diarrhoea can also make you more vulnerable to getting haemorrhoids.
Other factors that might increase your risk of developing haemorrhoids include:
being overweight or obese
age – as you get older, your body’s supporting tissues get weaker, increasing your risk of haemorrhoids
being pregnant – this can place increased pressure on your pelvic blood vessels, causing them to enlarge
having a family history of haemorrhoids
regularly lifting heavy objects
a persistent cough or repeated vomiting
sitting down for long periods of time
Preventing and treating haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoid symptoms often settle down after a few days without needing treatment. Haemorrhoids that occur during pregnancy often get better after giving birth.
Making lifestyle changes to reduce the strain on the blood vessels in and around your anus is often recommended.
These can include:
gradually increasing the amount of fibre in your diet – good sources of fibre include fruit, vegetables, wholegrain rice, wholewheat pasta and bread, pulses and beans, seeds, nuts and oats
drinking plenty of fluid – particularly water, but avoiding or cutting down on caffeine and alcohol
not delaying going to the toilet – ignoring the urge to empty your bowels can make your stools harder and drier, which can lead to straining when you do go to the toilet
avoiding medication that causes constipation – such as painkillers that contain codeine
losing weight if you’re overweight
exercising regularly – this can help prevent constipation, reduce your blood pressure, and help you lose weight
These measures can also reduce the risk of haemorrhoids returning or even developing in the first place.
There are various surgical treatment options for more severe haemorrhoids. These include the more traditional types of surgical intervention such as cutting or stapling, to the more innovative and newer procedures such as the Haemorrhoid Artery Ligation Operation (HALO) and the Rafaelo® Procedure. HALO and Rafaelo® are a great alternatives to surgery because they are minimally invasive, carry low risk of pain and allow patients to leave as soon as the procedure is finished.
Find out more
To find out more about treatments for haemorrhoids, please contact the Manchester Haemorrhoid Centre on 0161 495 7046.
