Piles do not always need surgery; diet and habit changes can help, says health article
Fibre-rich food, plenty of water and better toilet habits can ease piles, and early detection can avoid an operation, the article says.
Changes in everyday diet show their effect on the body quickly. Regularly eating spicy, oily and heavily seasoned food upsets digestion. The article says the number of piles patients in India has risen sharply.
The article says piles are often treated with immediate surgery. However, changes in diet, fibre-rich food, plenty of water, prevention of constipation and better toilet habits can also bring relief. It is a painful condition, so getting treated as early as possible is described as essential. In piles, swollen lumps form inside or outside the anus.
Piles are described as being of two kinds. The first is internal piles, in which lumps form inside the rectum and pain is mild. Blood passes during defecation. The second is external piles, which form under the skin outside the rectum and cause pain. The article says this should not be ignored and treatment should be taken on time. If the condition is identified in time in the early stage, surgery will not be needed.
On causes, the article lists constipation, pregnancy, obesity, sitting for very long periods, too little fibre in the diet and low water intake, all of which make piles more likely to worsen. It also says piles can occur even after surgery. If stool accumulated in the body is not expelled, digestion is disturbed and lumps form in the intestines, raising the likelihood of inflammation in the intestines. The article says clearing waste from the intestines is very important to get rid of the problem.
Symptoms include bright red blood during or after defecation, soft lumps or swelling around the anus, a feeling of a growth protruding from the anus, persistent itching or sticky discharge, bleeding and swelling.
On lifestyle, the article says people with piles must change habits such as proper diet, fibre and plenty of water. Spicy food and outside junk food should be avoided completely. It advises including fibre-rich items, fruits, vegetables, salad and sprouted pulses and grains in daily meals. It says these nourish the body and keep digestion healthy.
A note accompanying the article says it is written for general information only and does not claim any cure. Readers are advised to consult their doctor before trying any remedy.
