Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen blood vessels in and around the anal canal that cause bright-red bleeding, discomfort, swelling and itching. Most improve with diet and minor office procedures; advanced piles are treated with modern, low-pain day-care surgery.
Heavy bleeding, severe pain, or any change in bowel habit
| Definition | Swollen blood vessels in the anal canal |
| Who | Very common; linked to constipation, straining, pregnancy, sitting |
| See a surgeon | Recurrent bleeding, a prolapsing lump, pain or anaemia |
| Urgency flags | Heavy bleeding, severe pain, or any change in bowel habit |
What are piles?
Piles are cushions of swollen blood vessels in the lining of the anal canal. They are graded from one to four depending on whether they bleed only, prolapse and reduce on their own, or stay prolapsed. They are extremely common and usually treatable without major surgery.
Symptoms & causes
The most common symptom is painless, bright-red bleeding during a bowel movement, often with a lump, itching, mucus or discomfort. Chronic constipation and straining, prolonged sitting, pregnancy and a low-fibre diet are the usual contributors.
Diagnosis
Piles are diagnosed by examination and a proctoscopy. Importantly, because bleeding can also be a sign of colon or rectal cancer, a colonoscopy may be advised — especially after age 45 or with any change in bowel habit — to rule out serious causes.
Treatment options
Early piles improve with a high-fibre diet, fluids and simple measures. Persistent piles are treated with office procedures such as banding, or with modern surgery (laser or stapled haemorrhoidopexy) that is far less painful than traditional surgery and usually done as day care.
How we treat Piles (Haemorrhoids)
View all services & treatments →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Polyp to Prevention: How a Colonoscopy Stopped a CancerA pre-cancerous polyp found and removed during screening — a colon cancer prevented before it could…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
Read case →Visiting consultations near you
Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
No. Most piles improve with diet, fluids and minor office procedures. Surgery is reserved for advanced or persistent cases.
Pile bleeding is usually minor, but because bleeding can also signal colon or rectal cancer, it should always be assessed rather than assumed.
Modern laser and stapled techniques are far less painful than traditional surgery, and most patients return to routine within a few days.
A high-fibre diet, plenty of fluids, regular exercise and avoiding prolonged straining greatly reduce recurrence.
Cost depends on the grade of piles and technique used (banding vs laser vs stapled), so ask for a personalised estimate. Dr. Avinash Tank offers modern, low-pain piles surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
शुरुआती बवासीर फाइबर युक्त आहार और तरल पदार्थों से ठीक हो सकती है। बढ़ी हुई बवासीर के लिए लेज़र या स्टेपल्ड सर्जरी कम दर्द वाला आधुनिक विकल्प है।
Modern laser aur stapled surgery traditional operation se kaafi kam painful hoti hai, aur patient jaldi normal routine mein wapas aa jaata hai.
