What is Hernia?

A hernia is a tear in your muscle or tissue that allows part of your insides to bulge out. It can be a bulge of an internal organ or your intestines. Sometimes you can see the hernia, depending on its location and size. Certain activities can worsen the condition, like bending over or lifting heavy objects.

Hernias usually occur in your groin. Inguinal hernias are in the groin and are mostly found in men. Femoral hernias are in the upper thigh near the groin. These are much less common and are mostly found in women. The abdomen is another frequent hernia location. If hernias occur in the midline of the abdomen, they are called ventral hernias. If they occur at the site of a previous surgical scar, they are incisional hernias. Umbilical hernias occur in association with your belly button and are found more commonly in babies.

In a hiatal hernia, part of the upper stomach comes through an opening in your diaphragm, or chest wall. This hernia can cause acid to leak from your stomach into your esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Effects of hiatal hernias include heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.

Symptoms of Hernia

You might not have symptoms, depending on the type of hernia you have. One common sign of a hernia is the visible bulge in the affected area. Other reported symptoms include pressure, a cough, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. Severe hernia symptoms are shooting pain, vomiting, and constipation. If your hernia becomes soft or you can’t push it in, go to the emergency room. Hernias can cause your organs or tissue to become infected, blocked, or strangled.

Other symptoms of hernia are as follows:

Causes of Hernia

The various types of hernias can have different causes. In general, a hernia starts with pressure on an organ or your intestines. A hernia forms when this pressure happens in the same area as a weakened muscle or tissue. Some people are born with weak muscles or tissue that isn’t fully developed. However, most people get hernias as their bodies age and their muscles weaken.

You also can get a hernia, or worsen an existing one, from certain movements and habits. These include:

• Picking up heavy objects (especially lifting them in the wrong way and with weak muscles)
• Overusing the same muscle
• Straining during coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, or constipation
• Being overweight or having poor nutrition
• Using tobacco

How is a Hernia Diagnosed?

A simple physical exam is often enough to diagnose a hernia, depending on the type. Your healthcare provider may be able to see or feel it, or it may emerge when they ask you to cough or adjust your position. They’ll check to see if they can physically reduce it — make it go back in — to determine how serious it is. Some hernias may require a form of soft tissue imaging, such as a CT scan, to diagnose.

What Risk Factors Contribute to Getting a Hernia?

You may be more likely to acquire a hernia if you have:

• A job that involves heavy lifting or many hours of standing
• A chronic cough or allergies that cause chronic sneezing
• Chronic constipation and straining to poop or pee
• A history of abdominal or pelvic surgery
• Pregnancy, especially repeat pregnancies
• Chronic obesity (a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 30)

Your child may be more likely to be born with a congenital hernia if they:

• Are born prematurely
• Have cystic fibrosis
• Have a connective tissue disorder
• Have congenital hip dysplasia
• Have undescended testicles
• Have other problems in their reproductive system or urinary system

What are the Possible Complications of a Hernia?

In most cases, complications begin when a hernia gets stuck and can’t move back in (incarceration). An incarcerated hernia can become increasingly painful and serious. If it’s your bowel that’s stuck, your bowel may develop an obstruction that makes it unable to pass food or gas. If incarcerated tissue doesn’t have access to blood supply (strangulation), it can lead to tissue death (necrosis or gangrene).

Complications of diaphragmatic hernias are different. In general, organs that herniate through your diaphragm aren’t likely to get stuck. A hiatal hernia rarely causes complications, except for chronic acid reflux. On the other hand, a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is always complicated, because it affects the way fetal organs develop. Babies born with CDH are critically ill and will need intensive care. The most common Abdominal Wall Hernias and Possible Complications are bowel obstruction secondary to the hernia.

Outlook / Prognosis

Your healthcare provider will assess how severe it is and how fast it’s likely to progress. Some hernias may not need urgent repair, but for most, they’ll recommend it eventually. The surgery is usually a simple outpatient procedure with a short recovery. It’s almost always successful, but there is a 10% chance of the hernia returning sometime later, especially if the conditions that caused it continue.

Treatment of Hernia

Treatment options depend on the type of hernia you have and your state of health. At first, your doctor may suggest monitoring your condition for changes. This may also include making changes to your diet, activity, and habits. Medicines may help lessen hernia symptoms.

If the hernia doesn’t improve or worsens, your doctor will discuss surgery. There are two types of surgical treatment. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive. Your doctor or a surgeon will make small cuts in the affected area to fix the hernia. Open repair surgery requires a larger cut to make the repair.

As part of surgery, your doctor might use surgical mesh. This is considered a medical device. The purpose of surgical mesh is to act as a support for your weakened muscle or tissue. Mesh products can be synthetic or made from animal tissue. Surgical mesh comes in two forms. Temporary mesh is one that your body will absorb. It works with your muscles and tissue to strengthen over time. Permanent mesh is meant to provide long-term muscle support.

Prevention Tips

You can’t always prevent hernias. Some are caused by genetics that you can’t avoid. A congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect. You also can be born with weak muscles that make it easier to get a hernia later in life.

You can reduce your chance of getting some types of hernias by:

• Eating smaller meals
• Losing weight if you have obesity
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol and tobacco
• Avoiding or limiting certain foods (such as things that are spicy or high in fiber)
• Using proper lifting techniques to prevent strains

How should I Take Care of Myself while Living with a Hernia?

If you have a hernia and aren’t having it repaired, or not yet, you’ll want to try to prevent it from worsening. Your healthcare provider may advise you to adjust your habits or the nature of your work to avoid straining the hernia. In some cases, they might recommend wearing a special restraining belt to hold it in during certain activities. Pay attention to your symptoms and any changes you experience.

Reference:

https://familydoctor.org/condition/hernia/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15757-hernia