A hernia is a condition when an organ protrudes out through a surrounding muscle. This usually occurs due to weakened muscles surrounding organs. A hernia can occur in the abdomen, chest, hips, groin, and upper thighs. Most hernias are not life-threatening initially but these may require surgery at some point to prevent serious complications.
It is a commonly asked question that does a hernia heal itself? Any type of hernia would never go away on its own. People also want to know how a hernia feel like. A hernia will feel like a bulge or a lump at the affected site.
Causes of Hernia
The ultimate cause of almost all types of hernia is pressure and weakness of muscles. Pressure can result from various reasons such as:
- Constipation
- Lifting heavyweights
- Diarrhea
- Persistent cough or sneezing
Muscle weakness can be caused by:
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Susceptibility to hernia due to a congenital condition
- Damage resulting from surgery or injury
- Pregnancy particularly multiple pregnancies
- Ascites
Risk factors For Hernia:
Presence of factors below increase the chances of a hernia:
- Old age
- Pregnancy
- Corpulence
- Chronic constipation
- Smoking
- Family history of hernia
- Cystic fibrosis
- Being born with low birth weight
- Chronic cough
All these reasons can contribute and make a hernia more likely.
Symptoms of Hernia
You may have hernia with no symptoms at all and it might be diagnosed unexpectedly during a routine checkup. Some people may have symptoms of hernia like:
- A visible bulge at the affected site
- Pressure
- Cough
- Heartburn
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shooting pain
- Constipation
- Vomiting
Types of Hernia:
Here we are exploring common types of hernia:
Inguinal Hernia:
The most common type of hernia that is mostly seen to affect men is Inguinal hernia. This is the situation when a part of the intestine pushes through a weak muscle or a tear in the lower abdominal wall. In men, these types of hernias are relatively common because after descending of testicles sometimes the canal fails to close completely resulting in a hernia.
Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is the condition where the stomach protrudes up into the chest cavity through diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscular membrane that separates the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Although it mostly affected people above 50 years of age in some cases it might be present by birth as a congenital birth defect. Hiatal hernia results in causing GERD which is gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is the condition that causes regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus causing heartburn.
Umbilical Hernia
This is the type that particularly affects infants and babies. In this condition, intestines protrude through the abdominal wall near the belly button. A bulge can be seen near or in the belly button of such babies especially while crying. This condition is the only exceptional type of hernia that can resolve on its own as a child grows and gains muscle strength. If this condition persists after 5 years in such kids they mat need to go through a surgery to correct this problem.
Adults can also be affected by umbilical hernia reasons for which can be strain due to pregnancy, corpulence, and also sue to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity.
Ventral Hernia
In this type of hernia, tissues bulge through the space in muscles of the abdominal wall. People affected with ventral hernia might notice that the bulge disappears when they lie down. This kind of hernia can also be congenital however mostly it is acquired at some point in life due to factors such as pregnancy, obesity, and strenuous activities.
Treatment of Hernia
Surgery is the only way to resolve hernia completely and get rid of associated symptoms. However, your doctor will prefer watchful waiting before surgery. You might be suggested to wear a truss which is a supportive undergarment that keeps hernia in place to reduce symptoms. People affected with hiatal hernia often use over the counter and prescription drugs to resolve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
If you are affected with hernia you might need to find and consult the best general physician near you and if surgery for hernia is advised you will see a general surgeon for further interventions
Many people are curious to know if the hernia is a serious disease? Initially, a hernia cannot cause any serious issues however if not addressed and managed properly it can cause serious complications. So it is advisable to get your problem addressed instantly if you notice any symptoms of a hernia.
Home Remedies for Hernia
It is important to know that home remedies cannot cure hernia. However, these can be relied upon for improvement in symptoms. Measures such as high fiber diet, avoiding lying or bending after eating may help relieve symptoms like constipation and heartburn.
You can visit marham.pk to find and consult the general surgeons in Pakistan for a hernia operation. You can also use our facebook platform to get your concerns addressed by specialists free of cost.