Common in both male and female and generally affecting about half of adults over the age of 50, haemorrhoids commonly called piles are swollen and inflamed veins that develop around the anus in the lower rectum. Haemorrhoids are generally described as being of the internal or external type, the former which forms under the skin around the anus, and the latter, which forms in the lining of the anus and lower rectum.

The first symptoms of haemorrhoids begin to surface when a person detects the following abnormalities:

Internal haemorrhoids invoke rectal bleeding, displayed as bright red blood on stool or in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement. There is generally no pain if internal haemorrhoids are not prolapsed - an internal haemorrhoid is described as prolapsed if the haemorrhoid has fallen through the anal opening - this may then cause discomfort and pain as a result.

External haemorrhoids is easily detected through feeling one or more tender lumps near the anus. Alongside anal itching, discomfort is further exacerbated when sitting. Oftentimes such symptoms disappear after a few days.