Understanding the difference between Piles and Fissure is important since the number of diseases that humans face is growing as time and environmental factors change. While some health issues may relatively be new for some of us, diseases such as Fissure and Piles have been experienced by many for a long time now. Problems in the rectum area are not uncommon, and the diseases are also treatable when diagnosed early.
However, it is often seen that people tend to avoid discussing or addressing these issues, as they feel embarrassed. But it is important to note that acute rectal diseases if left undiagnosed and untreated may develop into severe forms, often requiring surgical intervention or even life-threatening diseases such as cancer. So, knowing these diseases and their treatment options can help you in seeking a timely intervention.
What are Piles and Fissure?
Piles, which are also medically called haemorrhoids, are diseases that result because of swollen or enlarged veins in the rectum and anal region. Piles can be both external and internal. The enlargement of veins can lead to the discharge of blood in the stool. Piles are one of the most common anorectal conditions and account for over 50% of the cases reported by Proctologists, expert surgeons who treat Piles, Fissure, and other anorectal conditions.
Understanding the Difference Between Piles and Fissures, there are four types of haemorrhoids. Grade 1 is devoid of any protrusion but may have symptoms like painless bleeding and itching, Grade 2 is when haemorrhoids mass protrudes but can return without manual intervention, Grade 3 is when intervention is needed to push in haemorrhoids, and finally, Grade 4 is the haemorrhoids is prominently felt outside and can't be pushed back.
Fissures, on the other hand, are a tear or cut in the anus that may extend towards the anal canal. Anal Fissures affect the anoderm, or specialized tissues, that surround the anal canal and anus. The ample amount of nerves present in anoderm causes Fissures a painful condition.
However, these conditions are common enough in both men and women to account for approximately 15 per cent of the visits to Proctologists. Fissures can be acute or chronic. An acute Fissure is always treated medically. But for a chronic Fissure, the first approach is medical management, but surgery is recommended if it doesn’t respond to the medical treatment.
Common Differences between Piles and FISSURE
While the nature of Fissures and Piles are quite similar, it is important to note here that there are differences between these two anal diseases.
- Piles can result from sitting for long hours in the toilet, chronic constipation or diarrhoea, straining during a bowel motion, and pregnancy. The occurrence of Fissures is primarily due to the passing of large or hard stools, constipation, or straining during motion, which could result in a tear or cut in the anal skin.
- Piles can be treated with medications in their early stage, while surgery could be required in the advanced stage of grades 3 and grade 4. Even acute Fissures can be treated medically but chronic Fissures that do not respond to medication require surgery.
- Piles cause discomforts like itching and bleeding in the earlier stages, followed by bleeding, prolapse (a swollen mass that comes out of the anal region), and pain in the later stages. But Fissures are accompanied by acute pain right from its early stages and often bleeding is also observed.
CAUSES OF PILES AND FISSURES
The most common cause of Piles and anal Fissures is damage to the lining of the anal canal or anus. Constipation is often the primary cause of such damages. Constipation is a condition where you have difficulty with bowel movement due to hard stool, or you do not defecate as often as you should. This can be caused due to insufficient fibre intake in food or inadequate fluid consumption.
Besides constipation, there may be other reasons for Piles and Fissures. In some individuals, the anal sphincter muscle is unusually tight. As a result, these individuals are more susceptible to experiencing tearing of the anal canal.
Diarrhoea that persists for a prolonged period can also result in Fissures. An anal Fissure is commonly experienced by women during pregnancy. Childbirth sometimes causes the tearing of the anus lining.
The possibility of developing these diseases lies with people of no specific age group or sex. In fact, rectal bleeding seen in children and babies is most commonly caused by anal Fissures.
Symptoms of Piles and Fissures
The symptom of Piles that are commonly observed is a lump or swelling around the anus which causes discomfort. Frequent urge to pass stool also occurs, along with pain during motion. In the case of Fissures, you are likely to experience pain for long hours after defecating.
You may sometimes find blood in your stool, and may also experience an itchy and sore anus. In a more severe condition, you may feel anaemic due to excessive anal bleeding, and faecal incontinence.
Effects of Fissure and Piles
Both Fissure and Piles are reported as painful experiences for those suffering from these rectal diseases. While pain in Piles is not felt much, the pain associated with anal Fissures is extensive. You have a constant feeling of discomfort, in addition to the other effects that are associated with these diseases.
The similarity in symptoms of Piles and Fissures sometimes causes misdiagnosis. And when that happens, Fissures may take a chronic form, which further complicates the treatment process. Lack of proper diagnosis and timely treatment can aggravate the disease.
Ignoring the condition for a long often results in Piles and Fissures advancing to stages where medical management becomes difficult and surgery is the only option.
Medicines for Piles
Medical assistance is extremely important for treating Piles and Fissures. When in the very early stage, the disease is likely to heal without medicines. But if it doesn’t and you delay your medicines, the condition may worsen. Therefore, the earlier you start your medicines; the better will be the prognosis of the disease.
There are various options of medicines to choose from. You may opt for oral medications such as PiloTab to get rid of the pain and inflammation. Medicines for Piles may also involve laxatives such as ConstiTab for making defecation easier. This polyherbal laxative tablet can greatly reduce the symptoms of Piles and Fissures.
In addition to the oral medications, you can try PiloSpray, which is perhaps the most innovative way of treating Piles and Fissures. This touch-free ayurvedic spray can help in healing the affected area externally with no side effects. The antiseptic properties of this spray will ensure that you do not get any infection and can get quick relief from pain, burning, pricking, itching bleeding, swelling other symptoms. You can enjoy the benefits of the PiloSpray along with the tablet PiloTab and the laxative tablet ConstiTab by opting for the Piles treatment kit PiloKit.
Piles and Fissure Surgical Treatment
Surgery is advised in cases that show no response to other treatment methods. The surgical and other kinds of interventions used in Piles include Hemorrhoidectomy, banding, stapler surgery, and the most advanced laser surgery.
The surgical procedure used in treating Fissures involves Fissurectomy or Fissureotomy - which is lateral sphincterotomy.
Innovation in Surgical Treatment of Piles and Fissures
A relatively new treatment method is the use of laser surgery, or Laser Hemorrhoidoplasty, to address the severe form of Piles in late grade 3 and grade 4. This method reduces your haemorrhoidal mass with the application of laser energy. Fissure surgery is also now performed with the advanced laser device.
More information about the surgical treatment options for Piles and Fissure is available on the website of Healing Hands Clinic, India's foremost Piles Hospital chain.
Home Remedies for Piles and Fissure
As relapse of Piles and Fissures is common, you should focus on adopting measures that can prevent the occurrence of new Fissures while also healing the existing ones. A natural Piles treatment is possible with a couple of easy-to-follow techniques.
A diet that is rich in fibre is an ideal diet for Piles and is one of the best ways to address Fissure and Piles. Try to add as many vegetables and fruits to your daily diet as possible. Additionally, do not forget to consume ample water, around 8 to 12 glasses every day, as the fluids will facilitate your bowel movement.
In addition to a high-fibre diet, you can enhance your fibre intake with supplements such as natural husk, like Isabgol. These supplements make defecation easier by softening stools. The magical effects of exercise are not unknown. A daily exercise regime not only ensures fitness but also blesses your digestive system with improved performance. Your appetite gets better, and so does your bowel movement.
Delaying the passing of stools is an unhealthy habit that can cost you a lot of difficulty and pain during defecation. Therefore, you should develop a routine such that you do not need to put off this for a later time.
Prognosis
Piles and Fissures often heal with time, but they can be associated with a lot of pain and discomfort while it heals naturally without proper medical treatment. It is advisable to go for early treatment with a combination of medicines like a spray for external application and tablets for oral consumption.
PiloKit offers a combination treatment with PiloSpray, PiloTab, and ConstiTab, which has been found to be highly successful in the complete treatment of Piles and Fissure, especially when the treatment is started in the early stages. Changes in lifestyle such as dietary changes and regular exercise can aid in the healing process. But for advanced stages of Piles, especially late grades 3 and grade 4, chronic Fissure surgical procedures are the only treatment option.