Causes and Symptoms of Piles

Piles, which are also called hemorrhoids, refer to the swelling of the veins near the anus and rectum, which get irritated during bowel movements, causing pain and bleeding during stool motions. The veins near the rectum or the anus may rupture during strained bowel movements and thus, cause the blood to come out with the stool. This can be very painful for the patient and has a very disruptive effect on their lives.

Causes of Piles

There may be many causes for piles or hemorrhoids and the cause may vary from patient to patient. Let's have a look at a few of them.

• Straining when passing a stool- This is by far the most common reason for piles and this is what causes the irritation on the veins or causes them to rupture
• Chronic Constipation- People suffering from chronic constipation due to gastrointestinal problems may also suffer from piles due to putting pressure constantly to relieve themselves.
• Lifting a heavy weight or doing strenuous work- This can also put physical stress on the anus or rectum and cause swollen veins, which may then rupture during the passage of stool.
• Pregnancy- Pregnancy causes many hormonal changes in the body and the strain may also result in piles.

Symptoms of Piles

Some of the symptoms of piles or hemorrhoids are:

• Painful bowel movements, which hurt the rectum or the anus, accompanied by general tenderness within the region
• Bleeding or seeping of a bright red color blood onto the stool on the toilet or even on toilet paper
• Itching in the anal areas, which may be continuous or intermittent
• A swelling or lump near the anus, which is painful
• A mucus-like discharge from the anus

There may be one or more factors present in particular cases and if there is a pain in the rectal area, it is best to get it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!