Facts About Hernia (LUSLOS): Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention

In case you are not familiar with this disease, here are the facts about hernia.

What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an organ, intestine or fatty tissue squeezes through a hole or a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue.

Hernias often occur at the abdominal wall. Sometimes a hernia can be visible as an external bulge particularly when straining or bearing down.

There are factors that increase the risk of developing a hernia such as a personal or family history of hernias, being overweight or obese, a chronic cough, chronic constipation and smoking, which can trigger a chronic cough.

There are four types of hernia:

Inguinal hernia – it is found mostly in groin. In men, it’s the area where the spermatic cord passes from the abdomen to the scrotum.

This cord holds up the testicles. In women, the inguinal canal contains a ligament that helps hold the uterus in place.

Umbilical hernia – it can occur in children and babies under 6 months old. This happens when their intestines bulge through their abdominal wall near their bellybutton. You may notice a bulge in or near your child’s bellybutton, especially when they’re crying.

Incisional hernia – it can occur after an abdominal surgery. The intestines may push through the incision scar or the surrounding, weakened tissue.

Hiatal hernia – it is occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that helps to breathe by contracting and drawing air into the lungs. It separates the organs in abdomen from those in the part of the chest.

Causes

Mainly, causes of hernia are permutation of muscle weakness and strain. Hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time in which can be depend on its cause.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of a hernia is a bulge or lump in the affected area. It is more likely to feel the hernia through touch when standing up, bending down, or coughing.

In the case of an inguinal hernia, you may notice a lump on either side of your pubic bone where your groin and thigh meet. Also it includes:

-pain or discomfort in the affected area (usually the lower abdomen), especially when bending over, coughing, or lifting
-weakness, pressure, or a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen
-a burning, gurgling, or aching sensation at the site of the bulge

On the other hand, here are the symptoms of a hiatal hernia:

Acid reflux, which is when stomach acid moves backward into the esophagus causing a burning sensation
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing

If your baby has a hernia, you may only be able to feel the bulge when they're crying. A bulge is typically the only symptom of an umbilical hernia.

You may not know you have a hernia unless it shows up during a routine physical or a medical exam for an unrelated problem. In some cases, hernias have no symptoms.

Treatment Options for Hernias

Most hernias aren’t immediately life-threatening, but they don’t go away on their own. Sometimes they can require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications.

Non-Surgical

Watchful Waiting - Your surgeon will watch the hernia and make sure that it is not getting larger or causing problems. Although surgery is the only treatment that can repair hernias, many surgical procedures are elective for adult inguinal hernias. Watchful waiting is an option for people who do not have complications or symptoms with their hernias, and if recommended by their surgeon.

Surgical

Laparoscopic - The surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen that allow surgical tools into the openings to repair the hernia. Laparoscopic surgery can be performed with or without surgical mesh.

Open Repair - The surgeon makes an incision near the hernia and the weak muscle area is repaired. Open repair can be done with or without surgical mesh. Open repair that uses sutures without mesh is referred to as primary closure. Primary closure is used to repair inguinal hernias in infants, small hernias, strangulated or infected hernias.

Preventions

Lifestyle changes are the best way on how to avoid hernias to trigger which include:

Maintaining a healthy body weight
Avoid straining during bowel movements or urination
Do not lift objects with your knees and not your back
Avoid lifting weights that are too heavy for you
Avoid large or heavy meals
Don’t lie down or bend over after a meal, and keep your body weight in a healthy range.
Avoid foods that cause acid reflux or heartburn, such as spicy foods and tomato-based foods.
Also, avoid acid reflux by losing weight and giving up cigarettes.
Seeing your doctor when you’re sick to avoid developing a persistent cough
Definite exercises may help strengthen the muscles around the hernia site, which may reduce some symptoms.

Note: If exercises done improperly can increase pressure at that area and may actually cause the hernia to bulge more. It’s worth to discuss what exercises to do and not do with your doctor or physical therapist.

Whatever discomfort you may feel that can take longer time, you should seek immediately to your doctor to avoid life-threatening complications.

Facts About Hernia (LUSLOS): Causes, Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention

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