Gleneagles Medical Centre, 6 Napier Road, #03-13, Singapore 258499
Tel: +65 6475 5512
Statistically speaking, most people will get piles at some point in their life. While most are mild and may resolve on their own, many people develop symptoms that require medical treatment.
Piles are abnormally enlarged blood vessels that develop in and around the anus and lower rectum. In many cases, piles cause moderate to severe pain and discomfort, particularly during bowel movements—which are also usually bloody.
Piles are caused by excessive pressure being placed on the blood vessels of the anus and rectum, causing them to become inflamed and swollen. This is usually caused by chronic constipation, chronic diarrhoea, obesity, heavy lifting and pregnancy.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of piles: internal and external haemorrhoids.
While internal haemorrhoids develop within the rectum and anal canal, external haemoirrhoids develop outside the anus.
Internal haemorrhoids present as bleeding after bowel movement.
External haemorrhoids tend to hurt more because the outside of the anus is much more sensitive than the inside, which has fewer pain-sensing nerves.
Apart from the obvious location of the haemorrhoid (whether it is inside or outside the anus), other differing signs and symptoms include:
Rarely is there any discomfort felt; but straining may cause bleeding during bowel movements. Furthermore, if an internal haemorrhoid is pushed out of the anus (prolapsed haemorrhoid), that will result in pain as well.
With many more pain-sensing nerves outside the anus, you may sense itching and pain around the anus, as well as bleeding and swelling.
If blood in an external haemorrhoid pools and forms a clot, thereby disrupting blood flow to the haemorrhoid, it results in a thrombosed haemorrhoid which is extremely painful.
Minor inflammation usually found within the rectum and anal canal, and are not visible from the outside.
These piles are slightly larger but are still found within the rectum and anal canal. They may be pushed out during bowel movements, but are still small enough to return on their own.
Also known as prolapsed haemorrhoids, these appear outside the anus, but can be manually pushed back in.
Piles at this stage are unable to be pushed back in, feels very itchy and painful, and will require medical intervention to remove.
While it is usually possible to diagnose haemorrhoids simply by looking, internal haemorrhoids will require some extra steps.
The piles surgeon may insert a small proctoscope into the anus to look for presence of any internal haemorrhoids in the anal canal. Alternatively, a sigmoidoscopy may be performed, whereby a small camera will be inserted into the rectum for a clearer look.
Prompt Intervention Results in Faster Relief and Better Outcomes
Send Us An EnquiryKH Ng Surgery is a colorectal clinic located at Gleneagles Medical Centre that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of piles and haemorrhoids. The clinic is headed by Dr Ng Kheng Hong, an established specialist with more than 20 years’ experience in treating piles successfully.
Gleneagles Medical Centre, 6 Napier Road, #03-13, Singapore 258499
Tel: +65 6475 5512