Constipation causes pressure on the veins and can result in a person straining so hard that the piles pop out, leading to pain that can become severe.īut there is some welcome news. They can also cause bleeding, and if this is the case this should be checked out by a doctor because it can also be a symptom of bowel cancer.Īnything that increases can congestion in the pelvis, such as pregnancy, makes piles worse. But if they become too swollen they can project into the anal canal and this is where the discomfort and pain starts. A little swelling in these veins can be useful because they dilate the small cushions, and can help to seal off the anal canal, preventing faecal incontinence. While piles are nothing to do with sitting on hot or cold surfaces, or seemingly any other factor investigated in the German study, we can at least say why this particular part of the body is prone to the condition.Īs family doctor, Ann Robinson put it to me: “It just happens to be a weak spot in the body.” The reason is that the anal canal is a place where three different systems of veins meet up.
(The link to the study can be found here, but be warned that it contains graphic images).
Looking at everything from lifting heavy loads to coughing, sneezing, eating spicy meals and using wet wipes after a visit to the toilet, none of these, not even sitting on cold surfaces appeared to make any difference to a person’s likelihood of getting piles. They compared two groups of people: One group was suffering from the painful condition where haemorrhoids have extruded from the body and hardened. But a German study conducted in 2009 investigated sitting on cold surfaces as part of a long list of possible factors. Very few studies have looked specifically at the relationship between temperature and the prevalence of piles. But since cold packs are one way of relieving the pain, particularly if a blood vessel has developed a hard clot, then if anything a cold surface could be helpful. When this happens sitting on hard surfaces can be uncomfortable, and I wonder whether this is the root of the myth. They can sometimes be felt as soft lumps outside the body – leading some people to compare them to a small bunch of grapes. Piles or haemorrhoids are itchy, bumpy swellings that develop from the cushions of tissue lining the anal canal. Second, it is also fair to say that the old wives’ tale that piles are caused by sitting on cold (and often wet) surfaces bears little truth on examination.īefore exploring the evidence available, it’s worth explaining what the condition actually is. First, we can say that this is a surprisingly common condition: as many as 50% of people will suffer from piles at some point during their life. When it comes to haemorrhoids, or piles as they’re often known, there are two things that we can say about them with some confidence. And the folklore surrounding haemorrhoids is a good case in point. But never let it be said that this column shies away from the more embarrassing or squeamish subjects when it comes to debunking myths. If you are of a sensitive nature you may want to look at some of the other topics covered in my column – I’ll understand.
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