Hernias are one of the widespread health issues as a part of an organ or a piece of tissue protrudes through a vulnerable position in the encompassing muscle or connective tissue. They may be painful, restrict movement and when neglected, they may result in complications that need emergency treatment such as hernia surgery. Patients with hernia symptoms and complaints are overtaken to the specialist so that they may be diagnosed well and treated accordingly.
Hernia Symptoms
The symptoms of hernias that are commonly described include the visible abdominal, groin, or upper thigh protrusions or swellings; pain or discomfort, especially upon bending, heavy lifting work, or during coughing; feeling of heaviness, burning, aching, or tenderness; difficulty in swallowing or acidity.
Nausea or vomiting are other symptoms, which may signal a severe type of hernias that needs an operation. In case you have such symptoms, see a healthcare professional immediately. Certain hernias may be incarcerated and even strangulated which requires an emergency hernia operation.
categories of Hernia
Hernia may come in various parts of the body and they are categorized on the basis of location. Such hernias can have various symptoms and may need urgent consideration or less. Five most common kinds of hernias, and their distinguishing characteristics include:
Inguinal Hernia
One of the most common is an inguinal hernia that takes place when a part of the intestine protrudes at a certain weak point on the lower abdominal wall, which, in many cases, is within the inguinal canal. It is prevalent in men as compared to women. The symptoms can be the presence of a lump in the groin region and pain especially when carrying or coughing.
Ventral Hernia
Ventral hernia is seen in the abdominal wall when tissue comes out partly through a weak area or opening of the muscles. It may arise with time or it could be due to past surgeries particularly when the incision region failed to heal well. A bulge may be felt and the patient will complain of soreness on the abdomen.
Femoral Hernia
Femoral hernias are less prevalent and are usually common among the women. They arise as a result of the tissue forcing its way through the female canal, which is the hole close to the groin at the upper thigh. It might not cause any symptoms when the hernia is small but when the hernia is large, it will cause discomfort and has an enhanced likelihood of being strangulated.
Umbilical Hernia
Umbilical hernia appears around the belly button (umbilicus) as fatty tissue or a part of intestine protrudes through the area where the wound has not healed properly after the birth. They are quite frequent among infants but also they can happen in adults. In adults, one might observe the presence of a soft bulge at the navel which gets exaggerated with coughing or straining.
Hiatal Hernia
That is a kind of hernia when the abdominal viscera desperately ascend through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. It is usually related to the conditions of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn, regurgitation, or troubles of swallowing. Though these hernias can be small and unnoticeable, bigger hiatal hernias are subject to medical treatment.
Hernia Treatments
Depending on the type of hernia, its size and severity, the condition is usually treated with the help of right treatment. Smaller asymptomatic hernia is suitable to small non-surgical treatments. Open surgery and laparoscopy are surgical procedures that are made to reinforce the weakened part and to eliminate the possibility of recurring the hernia. Time to recovery and provision of post-surgeries care will vary according to the type of procedure and the factors of patients.
Book An Appointment
People who have symptoms of hernia or those who feel that they might have a hernia are to consult the medical experts. Prevention can be done through early diagnosing and treatment of hernia to avoid complications leading to emergency hernia surgery. Get in touch with your doctor or make an appointment with a specialist now to have a talk about treating hernia.