Haemorrhoids (also known as ‘piles’) are swollen cushions of blood vessels around or just inside the anal canal (back passage). There are two kinds of a haemorrhoid: internal and external.

These haemorrhoidal cushions are normal anatomical structures but are made to swell and balloon by straining on the toilet, pregnancy, heavy lifting, family history, overweight that then cause bleeding, itching and soreness, discomfort, mucous discharge and protrusion through the anus.