Hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place.
It is most common in the
abdomen, but can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button and groin areas. Most times, hernia is
not life threatening but it doesn’t go away on its own. In some cases, surgery is required.
Causes
Hernia is most common in
men. Heavy lifting or any activity or medical issue that
increases the pressure on the tissue in the belly wall and muscles may cause or aggravate hernia, including straining during urination or bowel movements, excess weight and chronic coughing or sneezing.
According to research:
Hernia can be quite small and of no major concern or can be very large, extending into the scrotum, obstructing the bowel, or disrupting the bowel.
Large, unrepaired hernias can put pressure on surrounding tissues and, in men, can extend into the scrotum causing pain and swelling. If a loop of intestine gets trapped in a weak spot in the abdominal wall, it can obstruct the bowel, leading to
severe pain, nausea, vomiting and being unable to have bowel movements or pass gas (this is referred to as
incarcerated hernia).
Obesity
It has also been found out that
obesity is a big risk for hernias because when a person is overweight, he/she already has high pressure in his/her abdominal area. However, being obese is not a criterion for developing hernia but it can complicate repairing a hernia and may pave the way for another hernia to develop.
The most common symptom of hernia is a bulge or lump in the affected area.
In the case of an
inguinal hernia (hernia that develops around the groin area), you may notice a lump on either side of your pubic bone where your groin and thigh meet. In some cases, hernias have no symptoms. You may not know you have a hernia unless it shows up during a routine physical or medical exam for an unrelated problem.
Whether or not a hernia needs treatment depends on its size. Treatment options for a hernia i
nclude lifestyle changes, medication, or surgery.
