Patients with haemorrhoids, particularly those with bleeding haemorrhoids, must be treated by a qualified healthcare professional as early as possible.

Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, is a common health problem that can lead to immense pain and discomfort. Caused by swollen, enlarged veins that form inside and outside the anus and rectum, one’s risk of haemorrhoids increases with age as well as weight gain, especially during pregnancy.

There are several home remedies that claim to cure haemorrhoids. For instance, a YouTube video (in Telugu) with more than 812k views claims that drinking milk with lemon will not only get rid of piles, but will also ensure that the problem won’t recur.

To check the veracity of this claim, we contacted Dr Laxmikant Ladukar (M.S.), secretary of The International Society of Coloproctology (ISCP). “There is no home-based medicine that can cure haemorrhoids. Certain home remedies can help to set the digestive system right – one of the causes of this disease – and thereby, aid the recovery process,” said the consulting laparoscopic, colorectal and general surgeon.

Patients with haemorrhoids, particularly those with bleeding haemorrhoids, must be treated by a qualified healthcare professional as early as possible to avoid likely complications, advises the doctor. Symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, chronic constipation or diarrhea, fever, nausea, rectal bleeding and pain should not be ignored.

A timely diagnosis is important as numerous gastrointestinal disorders can cause rectal bleeding and other symptoms similar to haemorrhoids. Some of these disorders can also be life-threatening.