What are they?

In medical terms, piles are known as haemorrhoids.

Haemorrhoid facts

• Small varicose veins, located around the anus, which have dilated and filled with blood.
• Thought to be caused by too much toilet straining, as this puts pressure on the veins. It's also associated with pregnancy, as many new mums will testify.
• Piles are often itchy, sometimes painful.
• Sufferers may also notice some bleeding when taking a dump, from spot marks on the paper to bright red blood in the stool.

How to help yourself

• Try not to strain when you're sitting on the bog.
• Avoid the temptation to scratch. The discomfort may be so bad that all you want to do is shove your hand up your backside and itch for Britain, but it'll only make the problem worse.
• In many cases, piles will clear up without treatment. You can improve matters by rethinking your diet in a bid to improve your bowel movements. Boost your fibre intake by going for more cereals and wholegrain bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, and aim to drink 8-10 glasses of water over the course of a day.
• Haemorrhoid creams are available from your chemist, or see your GP for prescription treatment.
• Piles are one of the most common complaints seen in any doctor's surgery. They're also one of the easiest to treat. So don't be embarrassed. Your arse agony is nothing new to them. Even in chronic cases, a simple operation will leave you wondering why you ever left it so long before getting it seen to.

Updated: 16/10/2008