What is a Diet for Pile Patients?

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What is the importance of Diet in Piles Patients?

A healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in fibers is recommended in the case of patients with piles. A fiber-rich diet along with the consumption of lots of liquids makes the stools softer and easier to pass out. This helps in relieving the symptoms associated with piles. Piles, also known as hemorrhoids, are swollen, inflamed veins surrounding the anus (from where the stools are excreted) and the lower rectum (where the stools are stored before being excreted). When the veins surrounding the lower rectum and anus swell, the tissue above them gets strained, causing piles. Pain, bleeding, and discomfort are symptoms associated with piles. Some foods help in relieving the symptoms associated with piles, and may even help in preventing piles.

In this article, we will be discussing in detail the diet for piles patients.

• What are the types of Piles?
• What are the causes of Piles?
• What are the symptoms of Piles?
• How to diagnose Piles?
• What is the treatment for Piles?
• What are the complications of Piles?
• How to prevent Piles?
• What should be the Diet for Piles Patients?

What are the types of Piles?

The different types of piles include:

Internal piles:

• They are located deep within the rectum, in the anal canal, and are therefore rarely felt or seen.
• As the disorder progresses, the piles tend to protrude.
• The piles usually do not hurt since there are not many pain-sensing nerves present there.
• The symptoms include blood in stools.
• Prolapsed tissue (tissue that protrudes from the anal aperture) can be painful, especially when passing stools.
• Prolapsed piles may appear like wet lumps that are pinker than the surrounding region. ( Know more about- What is Rectal Prolapse ? )

External piles:

• They are located beneath the skin around the anus area, where there are several pain-sensing nerves.
• They can lead to symptoms like pain, bleeding, itching, and swelling. ( Know more about- What is Anal fissure surgery? )

What are the causes of Piles?

Some of the common causes of piles are:

• Regular constipation or diarrhea ( Know more about- What is Constipation ? )
• Excessive straining during bowel movement
• Reduced consumption of fluids and fiber-rich foods
• Pregnancy
• Eating spicy food
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• High blood pressure ( Know more about- What is Hypertension ? )
• Stress
• Strenuous physical activities
• Obesity ( Know more about- What is Obesity ? )
• Having anal intercourse 

What are the symptoms of Piles?

The symptoms associated with piles are:

• Pain, especially when passing stools
• A mucous discharge with itching around the anus
• Swelling around the anus
• Chronic or long-term constipation 
• Bleeding ( Know more about- What is Blood in Stool ? )
• The feeling of not emptying the bowel completely

How to diagnose Piles?

• Physical examination: The doctor may be able to see external piles. The symptoms of the patient are asked.

• Digital examination: The doctor inserts his/her gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check for my unusual growths.
• Visual inspection: The internal piles are sometimes too soft to be felt during a rectal exam. The doctor may examine the lower portion of the colon (the longest portion of the large intestine) and rectum with an anoscope, proctoscope, or sigmoidoscope (long tube-like devices with a camera on one end). ( Know more about- What is Colonoscopy? )

What is the treatment for Piles?

Piles may often go away on their own. The treatment for piles may include:

Treatment at home:

• Medications containing lidocaine, hydrocortisone, or witch hazel may be applied to the affected area.
• Drink more fluids.
• Increase your fiber intake through diet or supplements. 
• Soak in a warm water bath for 10 to 20 minutes a day.
• Soften the stools by taking laxatives.
• Take pain-relieving medications to relieve the pain and inflammation.
• Use wet wipes or toilet paper with a lotion to gently pat and clean the bottom after passing stools.

Treatment provided by your healthcare provider:

• Rubber band ligation: A small rubber band is placed around the base of hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply to the vein.
• Electrocoagulation: An electric current is used to stop the blood flow to the pile’s region.
• Infrared coagulation: A small probe is inserted into the rectum to transmit heat and get rid of hemorrhoids.
• Sclerotherapy: A chemical is injected into the swollen vein to destroy the hemorrhoid tissue.

Surgical treatment options may include:

• Hemorrhoidectomy: It is a surgery performed to remove the large external piles or prolapsed internal piles.
• Hemorrhoid stapling: A stapling instrument is used to remove an internal hemorrhoid or pull a prolapsed internal hemorrhoid back inside the anus to hold it there. ( Know more about- What is Piles Surgery? )

What are the complications of Piles?

The complications associated with piles include:

• Anemia (lack of red blood cells)
• Blood clot formation
• Strangulated hemorrhoid (a condition in which the blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off, leading to extreme pain) ( Know more about- What is Anemia ? )

How to prevent Piles?

The following tips can help in preventing piles:

• Eat high-fiber foods
• Drink lots of fluids
• Take fiber supplements
• Do not strain while passing stools
• Go to the washroom as soon as you feel the urge to pass stools
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid sitting for long periods. ( Know more about- What is Exercise for Weight Loss? )

What should be the Diet for Piles Patients?

A healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in fiber makes the stools softer and easier to pass out. It is also important to increase the consumption of water and other liquids. This relieves the symptoms of piles, and may also prevent piles from occurring in the first place.

Foods recommended for piles patients:

Whole grains:

• Include whole grains like oats, brown rice, and whole wheat bread in your diet.
• Whole grains are a rich source of fiber that makes the stools softer and easier to pass.

Fruit juice:

• Different kinds of juices are needed throughout the day to stay hydrated.
• The juices not only flush out the toxins, but the antioxidants present in the juices also help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with piles.
• The preferred fruits for juices include blackberries, cherries, and blueberries.
• These fruits also help in strengthening the veins in the rectum and anus region.

Green leafy vegetables:

• Consumption of green leafy vegetables helps in easy digestion.
• Some of the recommended vegetables that have a high fiber content include cabbage, broccoli, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, and tomato.
• Green leafy vegetables are also an excellent source of antioxidants.

Fruits:

• Fruits are a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants.
• They help in regulating a proper bowel movement.
• Fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are beneficial for good health.
• Fruits like apples, grapes, berries, prunes, bananas, oranges, and papaya are beneficial for patients.

Clear broths:

• A clear chicken bone broth helps in providing relief from piles symptoms.
• It also serves as a high protein source and helps in strengthening the intestinal walls and reducing swelling.

Herbal teas:

• Different types of herbal tea help in the proper management of hemorrhoids.
• Herbal teas help in soothing irritation, reducing bleeding, and decreasing inflammation.
• Mullein and dandelion are examples of herbal teas that are effective in piles patients. ( Know more about- What are the benefits of herbal tea ? )

Beans:

• Beans are a rich source of fiber and should be consumed regularly.
• Black-eyes peas, lima, kidney beans, black beans, and legumes can be eaten on a regular basis. ( Know  more about- What are the benefits and side effects of kidney beans?)

Yogurt:

• Yogurt helps in maintaining intestinal health.
• It helps in reducing constipation and hemorrhoid pain.

Banana:

• Banana makes the passage of stools easier by reducing inflammation of the anal veins.
• It is antibacterial and prevents damage and infection to the anal tissues.

Dry figs:

• Dry figs help in improving the motility of the intestinal muscle and make the passing of stool easier without the application of extra pressure.
• It also helps in reducing constipation.

Onion:

• Onion can be used with other ingredients like honey to get relief from piles symptoms.
• It prevents constipation and indigestion.

Water:

• Drinking lots of water is beneficial in making the stools soft and increasing the volume of stools.
• Water also helps in preventing dehydration.
• It is essential to have at least three liters of water every day.

Foods that should be avoided by piles patients:

Cayenne pepper:

• It increases the inflammation and swelling associated with piles, and should hence be avoided.

Fried and spicy food:

• High-fat food puts pressure on the digestive tract and should be avoided.
• Spices in food increase acidity and cause swelling of the anal veins.

Cheese:

• Cheese should be completely eliminated from the pile’s diet as it increases constipation.

Processed meat:

• Red meat and processed meat are difficult to digest.
• It contains preservatives that cause indigestion.

White bread:

• It is difficult to digest and may cause constipation.

Chocolates:

• Chocolates should be completely avoided by piles of patients as it increases constipation.

Coffee:

• Drinks containing caffeine can cause dehydration.
• Dehydration leads to hard stools and puts a strain on the veins near the anus. ( Know more about- What are the benefits and side effects of coffee ? )

We hope that we could answer all your questions regarding diet for piles patients through this article.

If you need more information about diet for piles patients, you can contact a Gastroenterologist.

We only aim to provide you with information through this article. We do not recommend any medication or treatment to anyone. Only a qualified doctor can give you good advice and the correct treatment plan.