Piles Causing Discomfort? 7 Tips For Quick Relief!
Haemorrhoids or piles are a common condition that affects millions around the world. In fact, over 10 million people in India suffer from piles in a year! Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus or rectum. They generally disappear on their own but, sometimes they may develop complications that can make them recur and become extremely painful.
For example, a haemorrhoid can prolapse or move to the outside of the anal cavity. This causes them to grow larger and puts them at a risk of developing a blood clot. In such situations, they cause immense pain and make it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities.
Luckily, there are ways to get quick relief. Here are some tips that will help you ease the pain:
1. Take Warm Soaks
Soaking the affected area in warm water can provide the much-needed relief. It also reduces the itching, irritation, and spasms. To take a warm soak, you can fill your bathtub with a few inches of water and soak for about 15-20 minutes at a time. Repeat the process two to three times a day after defecation.
Make sure to use unscented soap to wash the area and avoid scrubbing. You can also purchase a sitz bath at your local pharmacy. These are special plastic tubs that fit over the toilet seat to make soaking easier. Once you’re done soaking, pat gently to dry. Make sure that you don’t rub or wipe roughly.
2. Try Special Wipes
At times, toilet paper can cause irritation. In such cases, you can try dampening it before using or switching to pre-moistened wipes or alcohol-free baby wipes. Some wipes or creams contain witch hazel, which also helps in soothing the pain and itching.
3. Use an Ice Pack
Using ice packs can dull the pain and ease the swelling for some time. You can buy a small cold pack and apply it on the trouble spot as many times as required.
4. Don’t Delay Bowel Movements
One of the biggest causes of haemorrhoids is constipation. So, when you wait for a more convenient time to pass bowel movements, stool can back up. This causes strain and pressure, which worsens constipation and aggravates your haemorrhoids.
Hence, when you feel the urge to defecate, go to the bathroom immediately. To improve your condition, try to fix a time of the day to go to the facilities. This will help you establish a regular bowel habit.
5. Increase the Fiber and Fluid Content in Your Diet
Adding more fluids and fiber to your diet is a great way to soften your stools. Fiber allows the waste produced to move easily through your intestines. Foods rich in fiber include:
- Beans
- Whole-grain bread
- Cereals
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
In case you can’t get enough fiber from your diet, consider taking supplements after consulting your physician. Although, make sure that you add fiber slowly to avoid gas and bloating. To add more fluids, make sure that you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
6. Don’t Spend Too Much Time on the Pot
If you suffer from constipation, it is only natural that you’d spend more time in the washroom. However, straining yourself only worsens the problem and can exacerbate your hemorrhoids.
In addition, if you use the western toilet, your body has to put more strain (as compared to sitting toilets) on the system to pass the stool. So, consider switching to the squatting position to prevent piles and reduce the discomfort.
7. Get Treatment for Piles
As mentioned before, piles can resolve on its own. But, when they start to bleed or cause enough pain to disrupt everyday activities, treatment becomes a must. Piles can be treated professionally by either surgery or herbal methods. However, only about 10% of piles patients need to undergo surgery.
ICPA offers some excellent herbal options for piles treatment like:
A. Pilon Tablet
These tablets contain various natural ingredients like Ativish, Sudhafatkari, Gritkumari, Kattha, Kariyal, Aritha, and more for:
- Treatment of piles
- Reducing itching
- Improving digestion
- Providing relief from flatulence
- Softening the stool
- Preventing constipation.
Pilon Ointment is an ayurvedic proprietary medicine that is to be applied directly on the affected area. It offers pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties that helps in relieving discomfort. It also has Kasisadi oil that cuts and removes piles.
It should be noted that before starting any treatment for piles, you must consult your doctor first.
While painful, with some changes in your diet and lifestyle, you can easily treat piles and keep the problem from recurring.
