Piles are a painful condition caused by swelling of the veins in the anus. Often these veins they will bleed. Blood that is present on the stool, on the toilet paper is a sign of piles. Itching, burning, pain, and swelling are also symptoms of piles and while they are not usually serious they can be painful.



Although piles are very uncomfortable they are seldom serious and will heal on their own if you change your diet to produce softer stools. Rarely piles will cause more serious complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhaging, or anemia. In these cases your only option is to consult a doctor but if treated early while the right diet changes piles rarely become serious.

There are many medications you can use as a . These are medicated wipes, pads, and creams. These remedies will usually help with the symptoms of swelling, and itching. These over the counter treatments are usually best suited for treating the symptoms of external piles.

Because piles are usually caused by straining while having a bowel movement and hard stools, adding more fiber to your diet to produce softer stools is the best type of piles treatment. Eliminating processed foods and increasing your intake of fresh vegetables and fruit is the best thing you can do. Many people's diets are lacking these important elements and the large amount of processed foods, refined sugar, fats, and other unhealthy elements cause many people's stools to be hard. Foods that are high in fiber such as broccoli ad other green leafy vegetable, lima beans, alfalfa, and flax seeds will help you to produce softer stools. Other foods such as prunes and prune juice will also help your piles to heal by producing softer stools.

Sometimes diet change alone is not enough to , especially if they are hereditary or you naturally produce hard stools. In this case over the counter stool softeners can help to soften stools and will allow piles to heal. Laxatives should be avoided, unless they are recommended by your doctor because they can often irritate the lining of the bowels and actually worsen piles.

Very rare cases of piles will require medical intervention such as surgery, and usually only external piles require this type of intervention. If your symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, you should seek a doctor.