Haemorrhoids—postulated pathogenesis and proposed prevention

Abstract
Summary: The very high prevalence of haemorrhoids in the most economically developed countries is contrasted with their low prevalence in rural communities in developing countries. Traditional concepts of causation are shown to be no longer tenable. It is argued from epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence that the fundamental cause of piles is straining at viscid stools which are the result of fibre-depleted diets.