Learn about symptoms and causes of piles, self-help treatment options, medication and when to seek medical help.
Piles, also known as haemorrhoids (hemorrhoids), is a common condition. They are abnormal swollen blood vessels and tissues in the rectum or anus. People with piles may experience no symptoms or mild symptoms which disappear after a few days. Some others may develop symptoms such as bleeding, pain and discomfort around the anus.
There are two types of piles- internal and external. Internal piles are found within the anus but may hang out of the anus temporarily or permanently. External piles are found outside the anus and may have blood clots inside them. Small internal piles do not usually cause pain as there are no pain-sensitive nerves where they are located.
Piles are generally due to an increased pressure in the blood vessels within and around the anus. Some of these causes include:
The symptoms of this condition can include the following:
Piles can be treated in the following ways and you can approach your pharmacist to get the following medications.
Although piles can be treated without a doctor’s consultation, there are times where the condition might be more serious.
If your condition does not get better in 7 days or gets worse, you should see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if you experience any of the following:
Some symptoms of piles may be similar to that of colon cancer.
Other than using medications to treat the condition, piles can also be managed by the following methods:
The following are some suggestions to prevent piles from happening again:
Disclaimers
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
The content above is solely for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem.
This article was last reviewed on Wednesday, June 12, 2024