Haemorrhoids, also called piles, are swollen veins, similar to varicose veins in your anus and lower rectum. These can either develop inside the rectum, called internal haemorrhoids, or under the skin around the anus, called external haemorrhoids.
Surprisingly, nearly three out of four adults develop haemorrhoids from time to time. Although they have a number of causes, most of the time, the cause is unknown. Fortunately, there are treatments and medicines to treat haemorrhoids at the best hospital in Dubai, and even a lot of home remedies and lifestyle changes are able to relieve the pain.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of haemorrhoids usually depend on the type of haemorrhoid.
External Haemorrhoids
These occur under the skin, around your anus. Signs and symptoms might include:
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Itching or irritation
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Swelling around the anus
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Pain or discomfort
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Bleeding
Internal Haemorrhoids
These occur inside the rectum and hence can’t be seen or even felt. They rarely lead to any kind of discomfort, but any kind of straining or irritation while passing stool can lead to:
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Painless bleeding while relieving yourself – you might notice small amounts of blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet
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A haemorrhoid to push out through the opening of the anus (prolapsed or protruding haemorrhoid), which will cause pain and irritation
Thrombosed Haemorrhoids
If blood pools in external haemorrhoid and leads to a clot (thrombus), it can result in the following:
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Severe pain
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Inflammation
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Swelling
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A hard lump near your anus
Piles treatment in Dubai
Surprisingly, in a majority of cases, piles can be cured or resolve on their own without the need for any treatment. But according to the best gastroenterologist in Dubai,there are treatments that can significantly help in reducing the pain and discomfort that many people go through when suffering from this condition.
Lifestyle changes
The following lifestyle changes will be advised as part of your treatment plan:
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Diet: one of the reasons for piles is straining while relieving yourself. Straight of your rectal area during bowel movements might be a result of constipation. Improving your diet by including more fibre-rich foods can help in better bowel movements and make the passing of stools easy and soft, without any strain. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole wheat preparations and wholegrain cereals. You’ll also be asked to increase your daily water consumption and decrease, or better yet, eliminating any kind of caffeine products.
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Bodyweight: Shedding extra weight can also help to reduce the pain, discomfort and severity of the conditions. Hence, exercise is especially recommended.
Medications
Now you can manage the pain caused by piles with a number of medicinal options:
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Over-the-counter (OTC) medications: These include painkillers, ointments, creams, and pads. They especially help in reducing the redness and swelling around the anus. Keep in mind, OTC medicines only help in managing your symptoms. They aren’t the ultimate cure for piles. It’s advisable to not take for more than 7 days continuously, or else they can, in turn, cause more irritation of the area as well as thinning of the skin. Talk to your doctor, and don’t take two or more medications at the same time unless advised by the doctor.
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Corticosteroids: They can help in reducing inflammation and pain.
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Laxatives: If the person also suffers from constipation, the doctor might prescribe him laxatives. Laxatives facilitate the passing of the stool more easily and reduce the pressure on the lower colon.
Surgical options
According to reports, 1 out of 10 people suffering from piles ends up in surgery. The following procedures might be undertaken as part of piles treatment in Dubai:
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Banding: An elastic band is placed around the base of the pile, which cuts off its blood supply. The haemorrhoid eventually falls off in a few days.
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Sclerotherapy: A medicine is injected that shrinks the haemorrhoid. This eventually shrivels haemorrhoid up. Sclerotherapy is effective for grade II and III haemorrhoids and can also be an alternative to banding.
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Infrared coagulation: This uses a device to burn the haemorrhoid tissue. Also called infrared light coagulation, it is used to treat grade I and II haemorrhoids.
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Hemorrhoidectomy: The excess tissue causing the bleeding is surgically removed and can be done in a number of ways – it may involve a combination of a local anaesthetic and sedation, a spinal anaesthetic, or a general anaesthetic. Hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective surgical option for completely removing piles, but it also comes with certain risks, such as difficulties with passing stools, as well as UTI.
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Haemorrhoid stapling: The blood flow is cut off or blocked to the haemorrhoid tissue. Although this procedure is usually less painful than a hemorrhoidectomy, it can lead to some side effects, such as the increased risk of haemorrhoid recurrence and rectal prolapse, in which part of the rectum pushes out of the anus.
