By Dr. Kaushik Vora, Consultant Proctologist. Apollo Clinic, Bora Service and Hayat Hospital– Guwahati
Piles (haemorrhoids) are one of the most common anorectal conditions — but the biggest frustration patients face is recurrence. Many people take medicines, feel better for a few weeks, and then the symptoms return.
The truth is simple: Piles is a dietary and lifestyle disorder. If you don’t change your diet, water intake, and toilet habits, piles are very likely to come back, even after treatment.
Learn more about what causes piles.
1) Chronic Constipation & Wrong Diet
Constipation is the number one reason piles keep recurring.
If your diet has:
- Low fibre
- More processed food
- Junk food
- Bakery items
- Excess meat
…your stool becomes hard.
Why fibre matters
Less fibre → harder stool → more pressure on anorectal veins → engorgement, swelling, bleeding.
Hard stool also takes longer to evacuate, which means you sit longer on the toilet seat — increasing pressure on the anal veins and worsening piles.
Explore high-fibre diet for piles.
2) Not Drinking Enough Water
Most patients underestimate the importance of hydration.
Fibre needs water to work
If you drink less water:
- Fibre cannot soften the stool
- Stool remains hard
- Constipation continues
- Piles flare up again
Hydration is essential for smooth, painless bowel movements.
3) Sitting Too Long on the Toilet Seat
This is one of the most common — and most ignored — causes.
People sit for 15–20 minutes scrolling on their phones without realising it.
Important rule
Do not sit for more than 5–7 minutes in one attempt.
If you feel incomplete evacuation:
- Do NOT sit longer
- Go a second or third time if needed
Sitting longer = more straining = more pressure = higher chance of piles recurrence.
4) Grade 3 or Grade 4 Piles
If you already have Grade 3 or Grade 4 piles, no amount of diet, lifestyle changes, or medicines will permanently fix the problem.
Why?
Because advanced piles are structural problems. They prolapse, enlarge, and cannot shrink back with medicines alone.
What works?
Surgical intervention — especially minimally invasive piles procedures like:
- Laser Haemorrhoidoplasty (LHP) – a minimally invasive laser procedure
- Conventional Haemorrhoidectomy
- Chivate Trans-Rectal Suture Haemorrhoidopexy
These procedures target the root cause and offer long-term relief.
5) Prolonged Sitting Throughout the Day
Office workers, drivers, students, and gamers often sit for long hours.
Long sitting increases pressure in the rectal area, reduces blood flow, and contributes to recurrent piles symptoms.
Taking short breaks every 30–45 minutes helps reduce pressure and improve circulation.
Final Message: Treat the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms
Even if your symptoms improve after a course of medication, if you continue the same:
- Diet
- Water intake
- Toilet habits
- Sitting patterns
…your piles will definitely return.
Long-term success requires:
- A fibre-rich diet
- Adequate hydration
- Healthy toilet habits
- Avoiding prolonged sitting
- Correct treatment for advanced piles
Advanced Piles Treatment in Guwahati
If you have Grade 3 or Grade 4 piles, or if your symptoms keep coming back, you may benefit from Laser Haemorrhoidoplasty, a minimally invasive piles surgery that offers:
- Less pain
- Faster recovery
- Minimal bleeding
- Same-day or next-day discharge