Hernia occurs when an organ is pushed through an opening in a muscle or tissue. For example, the intestines can break through a weak area in the abdominal wall. Most hernias occur in the abdomen between the chest and hips, but they also appear in the upper thigh and groin.

Most hernias are not immediately fatal, but they do not go away on their own. Sometimes they require surgery to prevent dangerous complications.

The most common forms of hernia are

Inguinal hernia: In men, the inguinal canal is a passageway to the spermatic cord and the blood vessels that lead to the testicles. In women, the inguinal canal contains a round ligament that supports the uterus. In an inguinal hernia, fat tissue or a part of the intestine is lost in the groin on the upper part of the inner thigh. It is the most common type of hernia and affects men more than women.

Femoral hernia: fatty tissue or part of the intestine that protrudes into the groin on the upper part of the inner thigh. Femoral hernias are much less common than inguinal hernias and mainly affect older women.

Umbilical hernia: fatty tissue or part of the intestine that pushes through the abdomen near the navel (belly button).

Hiatal (intermittent) hernia: a part of the abdomen pushed into the chest cavity by the diaphragm (the horizontal sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen).

Symptoms

In many cases, a hernia is nothing more than a painless swelling that is uncomplicated and does not require immediate medical attention.

However, a hernia can cause discomfort and pain, and symptoms become more pronounced, such as standing, straining, or lifting heavy objects. Most people who notice increased swelling or pain will eventually see a doctor.

In some cases, a hernia may require immediate surgery, for example, when part of the intestine is obstructed by an inguinal hernia or the throat is constricted.

If an inguinal hernia causes severe abdominal discomfort, seek immediate medical attention:

• Pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The swelling is not pushed into the abdomen.

In these cases, the swelling is usually firm and smooth and cannot be pushed into the abdomen.

A hyaline hernia produces acid reflux symptoms like heartburn, which is caused by acid from the stomach entering the esophagus.

Types

Hernias are generally found in the following areas:

Groin - A femoral hernia creates a slight bulge under the groin. It is more common in women. Inguinal hernia is more common in men. It is swollen in the groin, which reaches the testicles.

Upper abdomen: Hital or hiatal hernia is caused by the opening of the diaphragm that pushes the upper abdomen out of the abdominal cavity and into the chest cavity.

Navel: This area is caused by a bulging abdomen or a paraumbilical hernia.

Surgical scar: An incision made for an anterior abdominal surgical scar can lead to a hernia.

Causes of hernia

Hernias are caused by muscle weakness and tension. Depending on the cause, a hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time.

Some common causes of muscle weakness or tension that lead to a hernia are:

A congenital condition that develops during pregnancy and from birth.

• Aging
• Damage from injury or surgery
• Chronic cough or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
• Exercising hard or lifting heavy weights
• Pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies
• Constipation, which causes you stress when you have a bowel movement.
• Overweight or behind
• Fluid in the abdomen or ascites

There are also some things that can increase your risk of developing a hernia. Among them are:

• Personal or family history of hernias.
• Adult
• The pregnancy
• Overweight or behind
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic cough (may be due to return of abdominal pressure)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Smoking (leads to weakening of connective tissue)
• Low or premature birth weight

Risk factors

Factors that contribute to the development of an inguinal hernia:

• Being a man. Men are eight times more likely to have an inguinal hernia than women.
• Being an adult. Muscles weaken with age.
• Be white
• Family history. You have a close relative such as parents or siblings who have this condition.
• Chronic coughs like smoking.
• Chronic constipation Constipation causes diarrhea during bowel movements.
• The pregnancy. Being pregnant weakens your abdominal muscles and increases the pressure inside your abdomen.
• Premature birth and low birth weight.

Previous inguinal hernia or hernia repair. Even if your previous hernia occurred in childhood, you are at risk of developing another inguinal hernia.

Treatment

For asymptomatic hernias, the normal course of action is to wait and wait, but it is dangerous for some types of hernias, such as femoral hernias. Within 2 years of being diagnosed with a femoral hernia, 40 percent of intestinal hernias occur. It is not clear whether emergency surgery is worthwhile for hernia repair in asymptomatic inguinal hernia cases.

The American College of Surgeons and some other medical institutions consider elementary surgery unnecessary in such cases and instead recommend careful waiting.

Others recommend surgical repair to eliminate the risk of gingivitis of the intestine, which cuts off the blood supply to the area of ​​tissue that requires an emergency procedure.

These health officials prioritise prior routine operations over riskier emergencies.

Types of surgeries

Navel after hernia surgery.

Although the surgical options depend on individual circumstances, including the location of the hernia, there are two main types of surgical intervention for a hernia:

Open surgery

Laparoscopic operation (keyhole surgery)

Open surgical repair closes the hernia with stitches, mesh, or both and closes the surgical wound on the skin with stitches, staples, or surgical glue.

Laparoscopic repair is used for repetitive operations to prevent previous scarring, and although it is generally expensive, it is less likely to cause complications such as infection.

Laparoscope-guided surgical repair of a hernia allows the use of small incisions, allowing for faster recovery from the operation.

The hernia is repaired in the same way as open surgery, but it is guided through a small camera and light is inserted through a tube. Surgical instruments are inserted through another small incision. The abdomen is inflated with gas so the surgeon has room to look better and work; The entire operation is performed under general anesthesia.

Hernia in children

Inguinal hernia is one of the most common surgical conditions in infants and children.

After a 20-year systematic review of data on conventional open hernia repair (herniography) and laparoscopic hernia repair (infarction) in infants and children, it was concluded that laparoscopic surgery is faster than laparoscopic surgery for hernias bilateral.

The recurrence rate is similar for both types of procedures, but complications such as wound infection are more common with open surgery, especially in babies.

Home remedy for hernia

While home remedies won't cure your hernia, there are a few things you can do to ease your symptoms.

Increasing your fiber intake can relieve constipation that causes straining during bowel movements, which can aggravate the hernia. Some examples of foods high in fiber are whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Diet changes can also help with the symptoms of a hyaline hernia. Try to avoid large or heavy meals, do not lie down or bend after meals, and keep your body weight in a healthy range.

To prevent acid reflux, avoid foods that cause spicy foods and things like tomato-based foods. Plus, quitting smoking can help too.

Hernia exercises

Exercise works to strengthen the muscles around the hernia and promote weight loss, which helps alleviate some of the symptoms.

A 2018 Trusted Source study investigated the effects of an exercise program on people who are required to undergo ventral hernia repair surgery. People who complete an exercise program after surgery have been shown to have fewer problems.

It is important to remember that certain types of exercises, such as weight lifting or abdominal stretching exercises, can put stress on the hernia area. In fact, the hernia may be more inflamed. This also applies to exercises that are not performed correctly.

If you have a hernia, it is always a good idea to discuss exercise with your doctor or physical therapist. They can work with you to tell you what exercises to do and how to do them correctly so as not to irritate your hernia.

Complications

Complications of an inguinal hernia:

Pressure on surrounding tissues. Most inguinal hernias expand over time if not surgically repaired. In men, large hernias extend into the scrotum and cause pain and swelling.

The hernia was arrested. If the contents of the hernia get stuck in a weak spot in the abdominal wall, it obstructs the intestine, causing severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and the inability to hold stools or pass gas.

Sore throat. A blocked hernia can reduce blood flow to some part of your intestine. A sore throat can lead to the death of affected intestinal tissue. A throat hernia is fatal and requires immediate surgery.

Prevention

You cannot prevent a birth defect that can lead to a congenital hernia. However, it can reduce stress on abdominal muscles and tissues. For example:

Keep a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about the best exercise and diet plan for you.

He prefers foods rich in fiber. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain fiber that helps prevent constipation and diarrhea.

Lift heavy objects carefully or avoid lifting heavy objects. If you must lift something heavy, always bend your knees, not your waist.

Smoking apu. In addition to its role in many serious diseases, smoking often causes a chronic cough, which can lead to or exacerbate an inguinal hernia.

Recovery

After surgery, you may feel pain around the surgery site. Your General Surgeon will prescribe medications to reduce this discomfort as you recover.

Be sure to carefully follow your surgeon's instructions regarding wound care. Contact them immediately if you notice signs of infection such as fever, redness or discharge, or a sudden exacerbation of pain at the site.

After your hernia is repaired, you may not be able to rotate normally for several weeks. You should avoid any strenuous activity. Also, you should avoid lifting heavy objects over 10 pounds during this period. It weighs about a gallon of milk.

Open surgery often requires a longer recovery procedure than laparoscopic surgery. Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to your normal routine.