Piles (haemorrhoids)
Overview
Piles (haemorrhoids) are lumps inside and around your bottom (anus). They often get better on their own after a few days. There are things you can do to treat and prevent piles.
Symptoms
Symptoms of piles include: bright red blood after you pooanitchy anusfeeling like you still need to poo after going to the toiletmucus in your underwear or on toilet paper after wiping your bottomlumps around your anuspain around your anus
Causes
Piles are swollen blood vessels. It's not clear what causes them. Things that make piles more likely: constipationpushing too hard when pooingheavy liftingpregnancy
Treatment
A pharmacist can suggest: creams to ease the pain, itching and swellingtreatment to help constipation and soften poocold packs to ease discomfort Many pharmacies have private areas if you do not want to be overheard. If there's no improvement to your piles after home treatments, you may need hospital treatment. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for you. Treatment does not always prevent piles coming back. Common hospital treatments include: rubber band ligation: a band is placed around your piles to make them drop offsclerotherapy: a liquid is injected into your piles to make them shrinkelectrotherapy: a gentle electric current is applied to your piles to make them shrinkinfrared coagulation: an infrared light is used to cut the blood supply to your piles to make them shrink You'll be awake for this type of treatment, but the area will be numbed. You should be able to go home on the same day. If these treatments do not work, you may need surgery to remove your piles.
Prevention
drink lots of fluid and eat plenty offibreto keep your poo soft drink lots of fluid and eat plenty offibreto keep your poo soft wipe your bottom with damp toilet paper wipe your bottom with damp toilet paper takeparacetamolif piles hurt takeparacetamolif piles hurt take a warm bath to ease itching and pain take a warm bath to ease itching and pain use an ice pack wrapped in a towel to ease discomfort use an ice pack wrapped in a towel to ease discomfort gently push a pile back inside gently push a pile back inside keep your bottom clean and dry keep your bottom clean and dry exercise regularly exercise regularly cut down on alcohol and caffeine (like tea, coffee and cola) to avoid constipation cut down on alcohol and caffeine (like tea, coffee and cola) to avoid constipation do not wipe your bottom too hard after you poo do not wipe your bottom too hard after you poo do not ignore the urge to poo do not ignore the urge to poo do not push too hard when pooing do not push too hard when pooing do not take painkillers that containcodeine, as they can cause constipation do not take painkillers that containcodeine, as they can cause constipation do not takeibuprofenif your piles are bleeding do not takeibuprofenif your piles are bleeding do not spend more time than you need to on the toilet do not spend more time than you need to on the toilet