SAFAR 25 1431 A.H.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010.
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Pile: What you should know?
By RABI A. BATURE
What is pile?
People sometimes believe that piles (haemorrhoids) are like varicose veins of the legs i.e. single veins of the legs that has become swollen. This is not so, because a pile is one of the soft pads that has slipped down- wards slightly, because the surrounding tissue is not holding it in place properly.
In this situation, the small blood vessels within the cushion, become engorged with blood, so that the cushions swells up and when the faeces are passed the pile may be pushed further down the anal canal to the outside and this is called a prolapsed pile.
Medical experts have classified piles into three, the first degree pile are swollen cushions that always remain within the anal canal. These are painless. While the second degree piles are pushed down (prolapsed) when faeces are passed, but return to their starting position afterwards.
However, the third degree piles are pushed down (prolapsed) when faeces are passed or come down at other times, they do not go back by themselves after faeces have been passed.
It’s causes
The primary causes of piles is chronic constipation and other bowel disorders. The straining in order to evacuate the constipated bowels and the pressure thus caused on the surrounding veins leads to piles. Piles are more common during pregnancy and in condition affecting the liver and upper bowel.
*Other causes
Other causes are prolonged periods of standing or sitting strenuous work, obesity, general weakness of the tissues of the body, mental tension are heredity.
*Symptoms of pile
The symptom of the disease can come and go. There are five main symptoms, which range from itching, irritation, aching pain and discomfort, bleeding a lump, which may be tender soiling of underwear with slime on faeces (skid marks).
Itching and irritation actually occur because the lumpy piles stop acting as soft pads to keep the mucus in, instead a little mucus leaks out and irritates the area around the anus, pain and discomfort come from swelling around the pile and from scratching of the lining of the anal canal by faeces as they pass over the lumpy area.
The scratching also causes bleeding which is a fresh bright red colour and may be seen on faeces or toilet paper or dripping in the pan.
A pile that has been pushed down, a second or third degree pile, may be felt as a lump at the anus.
When the symptoms last longer than a week, you should try and consult your doctor with immediate effect.
