0
0
A concerning surge in cases of piles, fistula, and fissures among young Indian adults aged between 18 and 25 is being driven by regular junk food consumption and inactive lifestyles, doctors reported on Monday.
Piles and fissures, common disorders affecting the anal region, manifest through symptoms such as bloody stools, difficulty in passing stools, itchiness, irritation, inflammation, rectal bleeding, and discomfort during prolonged sitting. A fistula, an unusual opening near the anus connecting to the inside of the anal canal, can arise due to injury, surgery, infection, or inflammation of anal glands, and is characterized by pain, swelling, boils, skin irritation around the anus, bleeding, and discomfort during bowel movements.
“Haemorrhoids or piles occur when veins inside and outside the anus become swollen and enlarged,” explained Dr. Lakin Vira, General Surgeon at Apollo Spectra Mumbai. “This condition is increasingly seen in adults aged 25-55 due to factors such as obesity, pregnancy, a diet low in fiber, constipation, diarrhea, lifting heavy objects, and straining during bowel movements.”
Dr. Vira noted that an anal fissure results from a tear in the lining of the anus or anal canal, commonly caused by constipation, straining during bowel movements, and ulcerative colitis.
In the past two to three months, Dr. Vira has treated approximately 50 patients with piles and fistula and over 80 with fissures. He observed that about 60 percent of males and 40 percent of females suffer from fistula and piles, while fissures affect around 70 percent of females and 30 percent of males.
“There is an overall increase of over 10 percent in these conditions compared to previous years,” Dr. Vira highlighted. “The incidence of these conditions in the 18-25 age group is notably due to junk food consumption.”
Dr. Hemant Patel, Laparoscopic and General Surgeon at Zynova Shalby Hospital, corroborated the rise, noting a significant increase in these conditions among younger males, seeing 5-6 patients daily with such ailments.
Health experts emphasize that a balanced diet, regular exercise, incorporating fiber-rich foods to prevent constipation, proper hydration, and avoiding smoking, alcohol, and straining during bowel movements are crucial preventive measures.
“For managing these conditions, medications, creams, and sitz baths can be effective,” Dr. Vira advised. “However, severe cases may require minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.”
The rise in these painful and debilitating conditions among young adults signals a pressing need for lifestyle changes and greater awareness about the impacts of dietary and physical activity choices.
