How to diagnose Piles?

Your doctor might be able to see external piles/hemorrhoids. Diagnosing internal piles/hemorrhoids might include an examination of your anal canal and rectum.

• Digital examination. Your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum. He or she feels for anything unusual, such as growths.
• Visual inspection. Because internal piles/hemorrhoids are often too soft to be felt during a rectal exam, your doctor might examine the lower portion of your colon and rectum with an anoscope, proctoscope or sigmoidoscope.

Depending on your risk factors for gastrointestinal disease, your doctor may order an additional test like an anoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy.

An anoscopy examines the inside of your anus, a sigmoidoscopy examines the last 2 feet of your colon, and a colonoscopy explores the entire colon.

In these tests, a small fiber-optic camera fits into a small tube that’s inserted into your rectum. With this test, your doctor gets a clear view of the inside of your rectum so they can examine piles/hemorrhoids up close.

Internal piles are further classified into grades:

• Grade I – Piles do not protrusion from anus.
• Grade II – Protrusion through the anus during straining and defecation, but return spontaneously.
• Grade III – Protrude through the anus with defecation or straining, but manually reduced.
• Grade IV – Protrude and cannot be manually reduced.

What are the symptoms of piles/hemorrhoids?

Symptoms depend on the type of piles you have.

In most cases, the symptoms of piles are not serious and resolve on their own.

An individual with piles may experience the following symptoms:

• Painful lumps in and around the anus
• Itching and discomfort around the anus
• Discomfort during and after passing stools
• Bloody stools

Piles can escalate into a more severe condition. These include:

• Excessive anal bleeding, possibly leading to anemia
• Infection
• Fecal incontinence
• Anal fistula
• Strangulated hemorrhoid, in which anal muscles cut off blood supply to the hemorrhoid

However, many people with piles may not experience any symptoms.

What are the causes of piles?

Usually, the cause of the piles lies in the excessive pressure on blood vessels that are located inside and around the anus. Piles generally occur those people who are suffering from long-term constipation. piles 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

What are the complications or risks due to piles?

• It can lead to anemia
• Painful bowel movements
• Pain in the anal area after the bowel movement
• Infection may develop as the painful anal area can lead to poor hygiene
• If blood supply to an internal piles/hemorrhoid is absent then it can cause gangrene

Piles Treatment