Piles or hemorrhoidal disease is the most common cause of painless rectal bleeding
HEMORRHOIDS
Piles or hemorrhoidal disease is the most common cause of painless rectal bleeding. They are rarely painful contrary to anal fissure. Piles causes pain only when they are somehow complicated, either inflamed, infected or strangulated. One thing you must know is hemorroids are the normal anatomical structures in and around human anal canal. They are made up of sinusoids, smooth muscle fibres and connective tissues. There are three columns of hemorrhoids at 3, 7, and 11 O' clock position of anal canal. They are bulged in resting anal condition and prevent fluid or solid materials to pass through. Had there been no hemorrhoids, there would have been continuous soiling. You must have understood by now that hemorrhoids do have some functions to serve. Then what is the disease? The answer is when you feel their presence. How do they show their presence? They come out of your anal orifice and sometimes bleed freely. Hemorrhoids are of two types – internal and external hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids remaining inside the anal verge often bleed freely. If no mass is coming out of anal orifice, it is first degree piles. In case you find some mass coming out while passing stool which goes in spontaneously after the act, you are probably suffering from second degree piles. In some individuals the piles mass comes out of anus during passing stool but need manipulation to replace it in, it is third degree piles. The fourth degree piles is also called prolapsed pile and the mass always remain outside. External hemorrhoids rarely bleed but often get inflamed causing painful swelling in and around anal orifice.
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Piles are largely a lifestyle disorder often related to long-standing constipation or diarrhoea. Advancement of age and pregnancy in women are also found to develop piles. Piles need to be distinguished from rectal cancer. I, therefore, always advise to get it examined and diagnosed once you see even traces of blood in stool.
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Your doctor may examine you locally with finger or proctoscope. Colonoscopy is sometimes done to exclude any evidence of high up ailment. First and second-degree piles are mostly treated with medicines, third and fourth-degree piles are treated surgically. Various minimally invasive procedures like ksharasutra ligation, ksharakarma (sclerotherapy), Rubber band ligation, Infrared coagulation and laser procedures are done selectively.