5 Little Known Facts About Hernias
You may have a rough understanding of hernias. Simply put, hernias are caused when a tissue or organ bulges through a weak point in your abdomen or belly muscles. Hernias are akin to the inner tube of your bike pushing through the tire. Statistically, over five million people in the US suffer from hernias. But only 15% of them seek treatment. With limited factual information on hernias, some individuals may write off a hernia as a common tummy problem. But speaking to hernias Sebring specialists, some hernia cases may be life-threatening. It is imperative to dig deeper into hernia’s unknown facts. With such information, you can seek the best treatment options to treat hernias.
There are multiple types of hernias
The most common type of hernia is inguinal. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin area when the intestines bulge through an incision in the abdominal wall. It is most common in men and can extend to the scrotum. The second most common hernia is the hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when your stomach pushes into the chest cavity. Usually, it occurs in people who have congenital diseases.
You should know about other types of hernias: femoral hernias, umbilical hernias, and incisional hernias. An incisional hernia occurs around the scar area after surgery. Femoral hernia is prevalent among women, occurring just under the groin.
Hernias may be life-threatening
Most hernias are not life-threatening. However, the hernia can continue bulging and constrict blood flow to vital organs if left untreated. The blood supply cutoff deprives the organs of essential nutrients and may lead to death. A lump in your belly accompanied by sharp pain, nausea, and vomiting are symptoms you need to seek treatment for hernias before they become deadly.
Hernias can affect children
The most affected by hernias are senior citizens. As the body ages, the muscles become weak and tear. Strain causes hernias, which is why it’s more common in adults. However, even kids can get hernias.
Hernias involving bulges in the belly when the baby is born are the most common type of hernias occurring in children. Such hernias are called umbilical hernias. The hernias may be hard to notice in your baby’s tummy. They become more pronounced when the baby cries. Umbilical hernias usually go away without medical intervention.
Simple acts can cause hernias
Sneezing, constipation, coughing, or clearing your throat can cause hernias. Strains on a weakened muscular area cause hernias. Hernias are also common during sports and physical activities that strain your muscles, especially the belly.
Surgery is the only treatment for hernias
Surgery is the only option for treating hernias. You may manage a hernia through weight loss. Obesity aggravates hernias, and doctors may recommend weight loss surgery before operating on the hernias for faster recovery.
There are multiple surgical procedures to treat hernias, including laparoscopic and mesh surgery. Mesh surgery involves placing a mesh over the scarred tissue so that new tissue can form over it to ease the bulging. Robotic surgery is also common to treat inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and Hiatal hernias. After an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will only recommend a suitable surgical procedure to treat hernias.
Hernias are not painful bulges to wish away. Since hernias can occur due to simple acts, it is important to practice lifting objects correctly, eat a balanced diet, and get regular checkups to prevent hernias from forming. If you notice pain in an area with bulging, weakness in the abdomen, and aching sensations, you need to seek treatment to avoid further medical complications.