Piles

They even feature in the Old Testament, where the Philistines are punished with “emerods” for stealing the Ark of the Covenant.

The condition, also known as piles, is so distressing that it has its own patron saint, St Fiacre, an Irish hermit who lived in Brittany, France.

Piles are swollen blood vessels around the anus. When the pressure on these vessels increases, they swell up and form small lumps.

These lumps vary in size and can occur inside or outside the anus. Piles can develop from repeatedly straining when passing a stool.

Sufferers can expect little sympathy. Some find piles embarrassing, so people often consider them to be funny. However, piles are very common, and affect primarily pregnant women and the elderly.

Effective treatments are available for piles, so visit your GP for diagnosis and advice. Read more about treating piles.  

What can cause piles?

“If you pass a large, hard stool, it increases the pressure on blood vessels, and they may bleed,” says Dr John Bennett, president of Core, the gut and liver disease charity.

“Over time, lumps become visible and appear out of the anus. Then they can cause some discomfort because of their presence.”

Any blood from haemorrhoids is always bright red because it comes from the rectum. Darker blood could signal a serious problem further up your bowels, and should be reported to a doctor as soon as possible.

Other factors that can increase your chances of having haemorrhoids include:

• being overweight
• constipation
• regular diarrhoea
• regularly lifting heavy objects
• pregnancy
• being over the age of 50

A high-fibre diet will help keep your stools soft, reducing your risk of having to strain to pass a stool, which is the primary cause of haemorrhoids.

Try emptying your bowels as and when you need to. By delaying going to the toilet, your stool becomes harder and drier, which will cause straining.

Pregnant women and new mothers often get piles, but should seek specific medical advice from their doctor or midwife.

Prevention tips

• Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Cut down on fat (particularly animal fat), sugary food, and refined and processed food.
• Eat plenty of pulses, such as peas, beans and lentils.
• Eat plenty of wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.
• Drink water regularly throughout the day.
• Exercise regularly. This can prevent constipation, reduce the pressure in your blood vessels and help you to lose weight.
• Avoid medication that causes constipation, such as painkillers containing codeine.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. Too much alcohol will dehydrate you and make your stools hard.

For immediate relief, over-the-counter creams and medicines can be used to soothe any inflammation around the anus. For more information on treatments, go to piles.