Effect of bowel and bladder habits in anorectal disorders (piles, fistula, and fissure): A case–control survey study

Abstract

Introduction: As per Ayurveda, suppression or forceful creation of natural urges always results in diseases, including anorectal disorders such as piles, fistula, fissure, and other diseases. Bowel and bladder habits come under the umbrella of “Vegadharana,” i.e., suppression of natural urges. In the present scenario, maximum people suppress natural urges and indulge in erroneous lifestyle and suffer from a variety of disorders. Hence, a case–control survey study was conducted in healthy and patients suffering from anorectal disorders. Aim: The aim is to study the effect of bowel and bladder habits in anorectal disorders. Methodology: The study comprised 110 subjects suffering from anorectal disorders (study group) and 110 healthy subjects (control group). Detailed history was obtained using a specially designed questionnaire. The data collected was computed in MicroSoft Excel Sheet and analyzed using Chi-square test and interpreted accordingly with the help of the percentage. Results: Subjects in the study group suppressed defecation urge (Purisha Vegadharana) comparatively more (P < 0.0001). Maximum subjects in both groups (98.1% and 99.1%, respectively) had the evacuation of bowel within 1 hr of waking up. Further, maximum subjects had the habit of bowel evacuation after drinking water/tea/after breakfast, i.e., 64.5% and 60% in the study and control groups, respectively. A statistically significant number of subjects (45.5%) in the study group evacuated bowels 2–4 times in a day and 5.5% evacuated once in 2 days; it showed that subjects were constipated (P < 0.005). Maximum subjects in the study group had late waking-up and sleeping habits. The difference was statistically significant, with P = 0.04. Conclusion: Subjects with anorectal disorders (piles, fistula, and fissure) had the habit of suppression of defecation urge and also showed strong association between bowel and bladder habits and anorectal disorders. The waking-up and sleeping habits also showed statistically significant effect in causation of anorectal disorders.