Tips to treat piles at home

Piles are swollen blood vessels found in or around the anus and rectum. Also known as haemorrhoids, they can be itchy and painful. It's estimated more than 80% of the population will have them at one time or another.

They often clear up on their own, but here are some ways you can treat them at home or help to stop them developing in the first place:

• Diet. Probably the most important thing you can do is prevent haemorrhoids developing in the first place by making sure you have enough fibre in your diet. Fibre prevents constipation, which can result in straining on the toilet and can lead to piles. You should have at least 30g of dietary fibre a day, but adults in the UK usually fall well below this target. You'll find fibre in beans, wholegrain breads and cereals, and fresh fruit and veg. If you don't think you can get enough fibre from food you many want to try a supplement. A high fibre diet can prevent smaller, internal haemorrhoids getting worse.
• Drinks. Keep hydrated. Plenty of fluids soften your poo and make it easier to pass. Water is a good choice. Prune juice is a natural laxative and can help you go.
• Exercise. If you keep moving it can help your bowels keep moving too. Regular aerobic exercise, like brisk walking 20-30 minutes every day, can help keep you from becoming constipated.
• Good toilet habits. Try to get into a routine where you go at the same time every day. Don't spend a lot of time on the loo. If you don't go after a few minutes, don't strain or wait to try to force something to happen. Equally, don't hold it in. When you feel the urge to go - go as soon as you can. Don't wait for a better time or place. Poo can back up and that can lead to straining and more pressure. Using moist toilet paper or baby wipes to clean your bottom can ease the discomfort of piles along with patting the area around your bottom rather than rubbing it.
• Warm baths. Two or three times a day, and after every bowel movement, it's a good idea to soak in a bathtub filled with a few inches of warm water for about 20 minutes at a time. You could alternatively buy a special 'sitz bath' which you put directly on your toilet seat to make soaking easier. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) no longer recommends the practice. This is because there is a lack of scientific evidence that sitz baths can be beneficial.
• Ice packs. Put a small ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the area several times a day. It can help ease pain and swelling and give you short-term relief.
• Over-the-counter. You can purchase creams, lotions or suppositories from your pharmacist that may ease the pain of piles. These should not be used for more than a week as they can irritate the skin around the anus. Do not use more than one product at the same time. Wipes or creams with witch hazel can soothe pain and itch.
• Painkillers. Non-prescription pain medication like paracetamol can help relieve soreness. Avoid codeine painkillers as they can cause constipation.
• Laxatives or stool softeners. These can help reduce straining on the toilet as a result of constipation.
• Change position. Put your feet on a stack of books when you go to the loo. Raising your feet as you sit on the toilet changes the position of your inner workings which may make it easier to have a poo. Also, away from the bathroom, sit on a cushion instead of a hard surface. This will ease the pressure on any piles and help manage symptoms.
• Seek medical advice. If none of the above work or provide enough relief then don't be embarrassed to speak to your doctor. Always seek medical advice if you experience rectal pain or bleeding, or if you are not sure whether the problem is piles or something else.