Piles occur when the blood vessels (veins) in your anal canal become swollen and enlarged. This may occur for a number of reasons, including:

  • straining or pushing too hard when passing stools, which may occur if you have constipation or long-lasting diarrhoea
  • getting older, as your anal canal becomes weaker as you age, making piles more likely to occur
  • lifting heavy objects
  • pregnancy

Although all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it should not be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, please speak to your doctor.

Authored Nov 04, 2020 by Joseph Issac, MPharm
Reviewed Jun 15, 2021 by Prabjeet Saundh, MPharm
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