What Is Hernia?
Hernia is a health condition that occurs when an organ or a part of it squeezes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue. They are mostly seen in the abdomen and groin. Sometimes, these lumps can be seen or felt from the outside and sometimes they only cause internal pain. They develop gradually because of straining and can cause complications if left untreated.
What Causes Hernia?
There are many factors that can cause enough straining that push one tissue into another. Let’s look at some of them.
- Congenital weakness in the abdominal wall
- Weakness caused by injury or surgery
- Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
- Excessive straining during bowel movement
- Chronic constipation
- Chronic coughing
- Strenuous physical activity or lifting heavy weights
In addition to these direct causes, there are a few factors that can increase your risk of developing a hernia. For example:
- Being male
- Advanced age
- Pregnancy or obesity
- Family history of hernias
- Personal history of hernia and hernia surgery
- Being born prematurely
- Holding jobs that require heavy lifting or being on feet all day long
If you fall under any of these high-risk categories, make sure you always have a keen eye on different symptoms of hernia so that you can seek treatment at the earliest.
How Can You Tell If You Might Have Hernia?
Some of the initial symptoms of a hernia may include chest pain, heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, etc., not much unlike an acid reflux. At this stage, hernias often go unnoticed.
When it advances a bit, you may experience the following:
- Visible or palpable bulge
- Discomfort or pain when bending over, coughing, or lifting
- Pressure or heaviness in the abdomen or groin
- Swelling or enlargement of the lump, especially with straining
- Burning sensation at the site of the hernia
- Difficulty with bowel movements or passing gas
- Nausea or vomiting
If you see a sudden increase in pain or change in size or color of the hernia or start vomiting, it could be a symptom of a complication from hernia. If this happens, seek medical attention urgently!
How Is Hernia Treated?
Hernia is treated with surgery – minimally invasive or open. But first, your gastrointestinal surgeon will assess the condition of the hernia, map its size and location, and take a measure of complications (if any). Imaging tests like ultrasound and CT scan can help with that. Now, for surgery, you will be put under anesthesia so that you can sleep through the procedure. For minimally invasive surgery, small incisions are made to insert various surgical tools and cameras. And, for open surgeries, an incision is made near the hernia. The weak spot is repaired and reinforced with stitches or a surgical mesh and the wound is closed.
After the procedure, you can go home after 2-3 days. You will be given medication to prevent bleeding and infection and to manage pain. Take complete rest for at least 2 weeks or until the area is completely healed. Abstain from carrying heavy weights to minimize the risk of relapse.
