Causes and Treatments for Hernias

What is a Hernia?

Your muscles and tissues are there to hold your organs in place. When they become weak and strained, your organs can push through, causing a hernia. The most obvious and common symptom is a bulge or lump in the area. Pain, when bending over, weakness or heaviness in the abdomen, or a burning, gurgling or aching sensation can all occur too.

Types of Hernias

The type of hernia depends on the area it occurs. Most hernias happen around the abdomen; there are several types.

Inguinal hernias occur in the groin and are the most common types of hernias.

Umbilical hernias occur around the belly button

A hiatal hernia is when a small opening in the diaphragm occurs, and the upper part of your stomach has moved up into the chest.

A congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital disability that has to be repaired during surgery.

Causes and Risk Factors

Hernias occur due to a combination of muscles, weakness, and strain. Your family history, your weight, a chronic cough (which could be caused by smoking), or chronic constipation can all increase your risk factors.

Prevention

Though muscle weakness isn’t always preventable, reducing strain to the area can help prevent a hernia or keep an existing one from worsening. You can do so by:

• Properly lifting objects with your knees, not back
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Not smoking
• Avoid lifting heavyweight

Treatment Options

The size of the hernia and your symptoms will all play a part in your treatment options. Lifestyle changes can treat symptoms, but will not repair them. For others, medication and surgery may be used, too. Though not life-threatening, you’ll want to get your hernia taken care of as soon as possible to avoid further complications.

At Henry County Hospital, we are committed to providing excellent service. From gallbladder to hernia surgery, we cover all aspects of general surgery. We use state-of-the-art technology and personalized care, and our priority is the patient.