Piles of Information Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sitting on radiators

There are a lot of old wives' tales about how people can get piles, and sitting on radiators is one of the commonest. Many people simply develop piles from a family history whatever their lifestyle, while pregnancy and childbirth will put a strain on the whole body including the rectum. Chronic straining however, will be able to create them in more people than any other cause.

Answer: Surgery

Although many applications are on the market to treat the numerous symptoms, any external treatment will only affect the symptoms but can not actually remove piles. Eating more fibre will prevent them in many people and stop making existing ones worse.

But injections and actual surgical removal by cauterisation or ligation (tying off) are the best ways for particularly uncomfortable ones, while many less serious are suffered quietly for the rest of one's life.

Answer: Cancer

Some people have panicked after finding growths around the anus but had no need to once they were diagnosed as piles, as piles can not become cancerous, and are more like a chronic swelling than a growth. Studies have been carried out which showed there is no connection between the incidence of the two disorders, although many of the symptoms can be similar before diagnosis.

Answer: Hernia

Although anal hernias are possible, they are rare and more likely to be the result of weakness following perineal surgery. The similar and more common rectal prolapse is caused by many of the same reasons as haemorrhoids, but is the result of a weakening of the muscles rather than inflammation, and can only be repaired with corrective surgery.

Answer: False

Contrary to popular belief, piles are not varicose veins but a specific form of swelling. They can, in turn, become thrombosed when the blood in them clots, which needs urgent treatment but is not dangerous.

Answer: Gangrene

Like hernias, piles can become twisted, and if the blood supply becomes cut off the protruding tissue will soon die and become gangrenous, which must be removed as soon as possible before it spreads. This is called 'incarceration'.

Incontinence is only possible by slight leakage in bad cases. Infection is possible and also needs immediate treatment, but will not be likely to cause any lasting damage or automatically need surgery. Internal piles can get in the way but will not be large enough to prevent normal function and passage.

Answer: Where they originate

Although piles can be found inside or outside the rectum, it is not whether they protrude or not that defines their type but where they grow. External piles form on the anal cushion where they remain, while internal piles form on the rectal wall and if large enough can protrude through the anus (prolapse). First degree piles are internal and bleed, second are prolapsed but can retract on their own, third prolapse but can be pushed back, and fourth are prolapsed but cannot be pushed back.

Answer: True

Although more apparent, as external piles grow outside the rectal canal on the anal cushion they cause far fewer symptoms as they do not interfere with many bodily functions. The main complication is when they become thrombosed from a blood clot, which can be very painful but can be treated with surgery or injections.

Answer: Diet

Although heredity plays a large part in who suffers from piles, those caused by chronic straining on hard stools can be prevented by adding more fibre to the diet. Soft fruit in particular is a good and very healthy way to prevent this happening and far better than laxatives and other medical treatments.

Not having children will certainly prevent piles caused by pregnancy and childbirth, but does not affect all women and is far too high a cost to avoid a relatively minor problem.

Answer: Witch Hazel

Sometimes the old ways are the best. Witch Hazel was found to be more effective than proprietary creams and lotions in shrinking the size of piles, and the second most effective was hydrocortisone, a man made anti-inflammatory which is in some creams.

Other methods are more likely to work on pain and itching without having much effect on the actual size of the associated protrusions and swellings.