Hernia? Isn’t that something that happens only to athletes or only bodybuilders and weightlifters?
You may also have such similar questions in mind but the truth isn’t the same. Hernias happen more often than you think. A hernia can happen to men, women, and children. However, overall hernias do tend to be more common in men than women. You may not be born with a Hernia but you may end up getting one. Not many know but Hernias can cause complications that can be life-threatening. It’s important to seek emergency care if you experience symptoms. Though Hernias often show no troublesome symptoms, frequent abdominal complaints may signal a serious problem. Let us now learn more about Hernia and its various types.

What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or fatty tissue compresses through the wall of tissue or muscle that contains it which is referred to as the fascia. Most hernias are found within the abdominal cavity which lies between the chest and hips. Usually, an abnormal bulge under the skin of the abdomen near the groin or the navel is observed. Anything that increases the pressure in the abdomen can result in a hernia, this can be by lifting heavy objects, diarrhea or constipation, obesity, persistent coughing or sneezing or even after giving birth.

There are mainly six types of Hernias: Inguinal Hernia, Femoral Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, An incisional hernia, Epigastric Hernia, and Hiatal hernia.

• Inguinal Hernia: This is one of the most common forms of Hernia which usually affects men more often as compared to women. In an Inguinal Hernia, a part of the intestine penetrates a little into the groin at the top of the inner thigh through the inguinal canal post-birth after which the canal is supposed to close almost completely behind them. This type of Hernia may be painful or touch-sensitive. Some symptoms may include swelling in the groin, burning sensation or pain while coughing and while bending over.
• Femoral Hernia: A femoral hernia is common in women as compared to men. A part of the intestine or the fatty tissue enters the canal that carries the femoral artery into the upper thigh. Women who are obese or pregnant have a higher chance of having a femoral Hernia. Most femoral hernias cause no symptoms but one may have some groin discomfort. It may get worse while standing, lifting heavy objects, or strain.

• Umbilical Hernia: Common in infants and sometimes also affects obese women or the ones who have had many children. This is caused when a part of the small intestine protrudes through the abdomen near the navel. Umbilical hernias in children are usually not that painful but if they appeared at an older age then it may cause abdominal discomfort, vomiting, etc.

• Hiatal Hernia: A hiatal hernia is when your stomach bulges up into your chest through an opening in your diaphragm, the muscle that separates the lungs from the abdominal organs. The opening is called the hiatus, so this condition is also called a hiatus hernia. A lot of people might not notice any symptoms but few might have heartburn, bloating, burping, upset stomach and vomiting.
• Incisional Hernia: This is more prominent if you’ve had any previous abdominal surgery. The intestine pushes through the abdominal wall where the surgery had occurred. Apart from a prominent bulge, incisional hernias might also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, thin stool, burning sensation and fever.
• Epigastric Hernia: In Epigastric hernia, a fatty portion of the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall between the belly button and the chest. The bump or bulge caused due to this phenomenon is visible all the time or sometimes only when one coughs, sneezes or laughs. This type of Hernia is often seen more in men than in women. It is said the epigastric hernia may occur due to increasing tension on the abdominal wall near the diaphragm.

Ultimately, the fact is that one can get Hernia either by birth or can develop as they age. The treatment for hernia can be either surgical or non-surgical. However, most of the Hernias need surgical repair. It is always recommended to get yourself checked by an expert as soon as any of the above-mentioned symptoms continue to cause severe pain and discomfort.

With so much debate going around the risk of Hernia and chances of returning to normal life post a Hernia surgery, it becomes very important for people to have a deep understanding of the problem first and some of the most common types of Hernia that are often seen in individuals. For the people who don’t know, a Hernia occurs when an internal organ or fatty tissue compresses through the wall of tissue or muscle that contains it which is referred to as the fascia. There are various types of Hernias e.g  Inguinal Hernia, Femoral Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, an Incisional Hernia, Epigastric Hernia, and Hiatal Hernia but the most commonly found ones are Hiatal and Inguinal. Though many Hernias occur in the abdominal region between your chest and hips, they can also appear in the upper thigh and your groin area.

Although anyone of any age can get a Hernia, a child, the elderly, smokers, and the obese stand a much higher chance of developing one. People who have already had Hernia surgery are also vulnerable to getting Hernias again. But, nothing to stress about, it is crucial to treat Hernia just like any other health problem in life which tends to worsen if not addressed on time. Mild symptoms can later be turned into serious ones and hence, early detection and treatment become very important in the case of Hernia too. Let us now learn more about the most common types of Hernia and its symptoms.

1) Hiatal Hernia

2) Inguinal Hernia

In an Inguinal Hernia, the intestine or the bladder get extended beyond the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the abdomen. 96% of all groin Hernias are Inguinal by nature, and the majority of them occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area. Here are some of the common symptoms of an Inguinal Hernia:

• Swelling/lump in the pubic region
• Burn or pain in the swollen area
• Groin pain, especially during bending or coughing
• Heaviness in the groin or Pain
• Swelling in the testicular region

Though there’s not a lot that one can do to avoid getting Hernia from developing, there are a few steps you can follow to reduce the pressure on your abdominal muscles like avoiding heavy lifting or doing it in a right manner, maintaining a balanced diet, maintain healthy body weight,  etc.

Remember, it is very important to not take any stress as it can be effectively treated with surgery. You can get back to living a normal life a few months after the surgery. 

Life after a hernia surgery could be a little tricky. Though with the help of a hernia repair surgery you manage to get the problem fixed and are hoping to get back to your normal life, it is important to ensure that all the necessary instructions suggested by the doctor are followed. Most people do not face any long term problems after a hernia repair but a brief recovery period is necessary for all hernia cases. Children might face a lot of pain and would require extra attention in the initial days after a hernia surgery but this is considered normal and is expected to pass with time. Most children and adults are discharged within a few hours after a hernia surgery depending upon the severity but usually, an overnight stay is recommended for people with a medical history.

One of the major risks associated with hernia repair surgery is that the hernia can return. And, If there is a hernia repair failure and the hernia somehow reappears, then it is called as a recurrent hernia. Hence, it becomes even more important for you to take all the precautionary steps to avoid the recurrence of a hernia. The recovery period post a hernia surgery completely depends on the type of hernia and surgery performed. A laparoscopic surgery that uses minimally invasive procedures has been proved to be highly safe and effective. Also, the overall recovery time has reduced and lesser post-operative trouble is seen.

Let us now look deeper into some of the most common precautionary measures to follow irrespective of the patients or the surgeries performed. Below are a few points to keep in mind post a hernia surgery:

• Regular walking: As per your doctor’s instructions, try to stay active as much as you can. Take a walk indoors to boost your blood flow and to prevent constipation. Take sufficient rest as you are more prone to unrelenting tiredness. Although your doctor’s advice will depend on your surgery type, most patients post a hernia surgery are recommended to stay away from lifting heavy objects for the initial two weeks.
• Adequate rest: Though the laparoscopic hernia surgery patients can return to their routine much earlier, it is still favored to follow a complete bed rest for the entire first-week post-surgery, preferably in complex patient subsets.

• Avoid lifting heavy objects: Tasks that put strain to the groin must be avoided at all costs and if your job involves manual labor, you may need a prolonged resting period before resuming your work but you can return to your desk jobs by the second week after surgery.

• Healthy Diet: You should focus more on your diet especially after a hernia repair surgery by consuming plenty of fluids and fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, oatmeal, bran, etc.  to prevent constipation and strenuous bowel movement. Additionally, avoid consumption of citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, smoking, and alcohol as it can prolong your recovery process or even lead to complications.

• Avoid sex after any hernia surgery: Usually, it is advised to avoid having sex immediately after the hernia surgery that may add extra pressure near the groin area. You can get back to a precaution-free and active lifestyle, 4-6 weeks post-surgery and may resume your regular gym sessions as per your doctor’s instructions.

Keep these tips in mind and follow them religiously for a better recovery post-surgery. In case, you start bleeding or show any symptoms of an infection, immediately consult your doctor. Also, don’t forget to miss out on your regular appointment for a safe recovery.

There are ailments, which most of us just see as a small hurdle to our lives, and then there are ailments that need to be ‘operated’ upon; which, for most of us, becomes a life-changing decision.

People tend to look at non-surgical options for ailments whenever they can. This is largely due to the fear of going under the knife, even for routine surgery.

The same applies to Hernias as well. Due to the commonality of the ailment, there are a variety of treatment options available for people which include both surgical as well as non-surgical options. To begin with, the non-surgical options include:

• Medication: When you do feel the symptoms of hernia like acute pain or unnatural bulges in any part of the body, consult a doctor immediately. Depending on the size and seriousness of the hernia, they will recommend a course of medicine. These may include basic antacids, H-2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. In the case of Hiatal Hernia, the purpose of these medicines is to reduce discomfort by decreasing stomach acids.

Medications will help manage your hernia better. But if the pain is extremely difficult to manage, you will need to look at surgical intervention to remove it. Fortunately, both these options are non-complicated and carry very limited surgery-associated risks. So, if you do need to get a hernia removed, here’s what you can look at.

Open Hernia Repair

In an Open Hernia repair, referred to as Herniorrhaphy, the surgeon will make an incision after giving the patient local anesthesia. This incision is done in the groin region and the doctor then moves the hernia back in place or removes it altogether. Then, the weaker muscle wall will be strengthened via stitches to avoid it from forming again. More often than not, the muscle areas facing weakness will be reinforced with a synthetic mesh placed by the doctor. This procedure is called a Hernioplasty.

Laparoscopic Surgery

As a second option, your doctor may ask you to opt for a Laparoscopic Surgery. In this, a doctor uses a Laparoscope, which is a slender tube that has a camera attached to it. With its help, the doctor can see the exact location of the hernia and it’s surrounding tissue. Then, using a synthetic mesh, the surgeon carefully repairs the Hernia. Patients who undergo laparoscopic surgery generally see quicker recovery times, but getting one depends completely on the recommendation of the doctor. This procedure is only done after considering the size of the hernia and the patient’s medical history.

When it comes to treating a hernia, there are a lot of options that your doctor can recommend for you. But at the end of the day, they know best when it comes to treating you. So, while there are non-surgical methods to manage your hernia, if the doctor recommends surgery, do opt for it!