Hernia - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

A hernia (rupture) is usually noticed as a lump, commonly in the groin or the umbilical region.A large hiatal hernia can allow food and acid to back up into your esophagus, leading to heartburn and chest pain.There are two main types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal . The hernia has 3 parts: the orifice through which it herniates, the hernial sac , and its contents . A hernia is the protrusion of an organ (small bowel, large bowel, ovary, etc..) through a weakness in the abdominal wall. This bulging is usually more noticeable when the abdominal muscles are tightened, thereby increasing the pressure in the abdomen. Hernia is one of the most prevalent of human afflictions. With the exception of tonsillectomies, hernia repair operations are the most common, with about half a million done annually in the United States alone.

A hernia is a weak point in the abdominal wall through which a portion of intestine can protrude. Any time an internal body part pushes into an area where it doesn't belong, it's called a hernia. In a hiatal hernia (also called hiatus hernia) the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening. A hernia is a protrusion of a tissue , structure, or part of an organ through the muscular tissue or the membrane by which it is normally contained (definition from MeSH ). A hernia may be likened to a failure in the sidewall of a pneumatic tire. Hernias occur when one part of the body protrudes through a gap or opening into another part. And although a hernia can theoretically develop almost anywhere, most are in the abdominal area. When a hernia acts up, there are measures you can take for relief; and there are guidelines which I will give here to indicate under what circumstances immediate surgery may be needed.

Types of Hernia

The inguinal hernia occurs at the groin in the anterior abdominal wall near where the thigh joins the trunk. It is the most common type, accounting for two thirds or more of all hernias, and much more frequent in men than in women.

The femoral hernia occurs high up in the thigh and often can be felt about an inch or so below the groin. It is much more common in women than in men.

The umbilical hernia is a protrusion through the navel, or belly button. It occurs most often in infants, in which case it rarely requires surgery, but may also appear in adults, especially women after pregnancy.

An incisional hernia is a protrusion some time after a surgical operation at the side of the incision. It results from improper healing or excessive pressure on the healing tissue caused by straining, such as in lifting or severe coughing. There is another type of hernia, not related to those discussed in this section-hiatus hernia-in which the stomach protrudes above the diaphragm through an enlarged opening in the diaphragm. This is treated separately in the next section.

Causes of Hernia

Here are the list of the possible causes of Hernia:

• Some people develop a hiatal hernia after sustaining an injury to that area of the body; others are born with a weakness or an especially large hiatus.
• A family history of hernias can make you more likely to develop a hernia.
• It is thought that hiatal hernias are caused by a larger-than-normal esophageal hiatus, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen.
• A hiatal hernia in turn can cause or contribute to gastroesophageal reflux.
• A hiatal hernia can also cause heartburn if the herniated portion of your stomach becomes a reservoir for gastric acid, which can then easily travel up your esophagus.
• Abdominal muscles that are weakened by aging and the daily wear and tear of life.

Symptoms of Hernia

Some sign and symptoms related to Hernia are as follows:

• Severe chest pain
• Obstruction of your
• Occasionally, in men, pain and swelling in the scrotum around the testicles when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum
• Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting
• Lump increases in size when standing or when abdominal pressure is increased (such as coughing)
• Pain always present followed quickly by tenderness and sometimes symptoms of bowel obstruction (nausea and vomiting)
• A heavy feeling in the groin
• Sometimes the hernia may be visible only when an infant is crying, coughing or straining during a bowel movement.
• In an older child, a hernia is likely to be more apparent when the child coughs, strains during a bowel movement or stands for a long period of time.

Treatment of Hernia

Treatment tips for Hernia are as follows:

• For small, non-strangulated and non-incarcerated hernias, various supports and trusses may offer temporary, symptomatic relief.
• There are two surgically procedures available for the treatment of inguinal hernias - open surgery or laparoscopy.
• Open surgery is the most common type of treatment, accounting for 95 percent of inguinal repairs.
• The Bard PerFix Plug is designed for use in a tension-free hernia repair technique that can be performed on an outpatient basis.
• Surgical complications have been estimated to be up to 10%, but most of them can be easily addressed.
• When the weakened area is very large, some strong synthetic material may be sewn over the defect to reinforce the weak area.
• Trusses and surgical belts or bindings may be helpful in holding back the protrusion of selected hernias when surgery is not possible or delayed.