If you’ve ever hesitated to talk about piles, you’re not alone — but doctors say this silence is exactly what’s turning a manageable condition into a serious health risk.

At the launch of the Advanced Laser and Proctology Unit at Dharamshila Narayana Health in Delhi, Dr. V.P. Singh, Head of Department, shared a shocking reality: nearly 40 percent of people will suffer from piles at some point in their lives, yet most continue to hide it out of embarrassment.

According to him, this quiet suffering often pushes patients toward complications that could even lead to life-threatening conditions like colorectal cancer.

Dr. Singh explained that people with piles rarely seek timely medical help. Instead, many quietly keep taking over-the-counter medicines and hope the problem resolves on its own. Because of stigma and shyness, they avoid discussing their symptoms, allowing the condition to worsen silently.

He stressed that piles are not a sudden disease but the result of an unhealthy lifestyle — eating too little fiber, not drinking enough water, lack of exercise, constant stress, and irregular bowel habits.

All these factors build up to constipation, which in turn leads to what doctors call irritable or unhealthy bowel movements.

He described how a simple shift in daily routine can prevent most cases. Seasonal fruits, balanced meals, and enough fluids throughout the day can make a big difference.

He suggested dividing a meal into equal portions of fruits, vegetables, pulses, rice or chapati, and ensuring the body stays hydrated. These basic habits keep the digestive system smooth and reduce strain during bowel movements.

Dr. Singh also broke down the science behind piles in very simple terms. Inside the anal canal, there are delicate blood vessels.

When someone strains during constipation, these vessels swell, slip downward, and may even burst, causing bleeding.

The tricky part is that this bleeding often stops quickly, making people think the problem has gone away. But the cycle returns — first after a year, then after nine months, then six, and eventually more frequently.

By the time patients finally visit a doctor, the condition has typically advanced, making treatment more complicated.

He stressed that early-stage piles can often be managed without surgery through lifestyle changes and proper medication. But many patients wait so long that more advanced treatment becomes necessary.

Dr. Singh also spoke about the huge difference modern laser technology has made. Unlike traditional surgery, where cuts and stitches were unavoidable, laser treatment does not involve cutting tissue.

A thin laser fiber is inserted, causing minimal bleeding and far less pain, allowing patients to go home the next day and return to their routine quickly. While open surgery has a recurrence rate of 20 to 30 percent, laser treatment reduces this to just 3 to 5 percent. For many, this has become a far more comfortable and effective option.

His message was simple but powerful: piles are extremely common, nothing to be ashamed of, and certainly not something to hide.

The real danger lies in delaying treatment, not in the disease itself. With early intervention, piles can be managed easily, and in many cases, even reversed without surgery. But waiting too long allows the problem to grow silently until it becomes severe.

Dr. Singh urged people to speak up, seek help, and stop letting embarrassment dictate their health decisions. As he put it, good health is far more important than stigma — and staying silent only gives the disease more power.