Hernia is a condition that occurs when an organ pushes through the muscle or tissues that are present to keep it in place. For example, the intestines pushing through your abdominal wall is a form of hernia. In general, there are four major hernia types that can occur anywhere from your chest to your thighs and groin area.
Hernias are not necessarily life-threatening from the get-go, but they require treatment. So, to help you understand hernias better, here is a detailed look at hernia causes, hernia symptoms, and its treatment options in the form of hernia surgery. If you have any of the symptoms or risk factors discussed in this blog, we’ll also be sharing with you the best place to go for laparoscopic hernia surgery in Delhi, so let’s begin.
Types of Hernia
As mentioned above, there are four types of hernia that are common among both men and women. While it is true that men are more likely to get certain types of hernia (eight times more likely), there are types of hernia that are common among women too. With that being said, let’s take a look at the most common types of hernia.
- Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal Hernia is a condition when a part of the stomach comes up and protrudes out of the chest cavity through the diaphragm. This condition is very common among men over the age of 50. The diaphragm separates the organs in the chest from those in your abdomen. In the case of a hiatal hernia, parts of the stomach can breach the diaphragm. In the case of a hiatal hernia, it almost always also leads to another condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes the stomach contents to leak back into the oesophagus, which leads to burning sensations and discomfort. Often patients with symptoms of GERD go for medical diagnosis to find out they have hiatal hernia. Early diagnosis is necessary to ensure the best health outcome.
- Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. They are caused when the intestines break through any weak section of the lower abdominal wall. The inguinal hernia occurs mainly in the inguinal canal, which is located close to the groyne. This type of hernia is more common in men than in women because the spermatic cord passes through the inguinal canal, which connects to the testicles in men. In women the inguinal canal holds a round ligament, which helps keep the uterus in place. The inguinal canal is supposed to close after the testicles have descended in men. Sometimes, it doesn’t fully close, which creates a weak spot in the abdominal wall for hernia in the future.
- Ventral Hernia
Ventral hernia is also known as incisional hernia as it can commonly occur on a surgery site where the incision was made. Commonly, ventral hernias are caused when a tissue bulges through an opening in your abdominal muscles. This type of hernia is common among both men and women and can occur in women post-pregnancy. For men ventral hernias can be caused due to obesity and strenuous activity, although these causes are common for women too. One of the easiest ways to identify ventral hernias is that they reduce in size when you are lying down. It is important to note that ventral hernias can be a congenital condition too. However, in most cases, they are acquired in the course of life for most people.
- Umbilical Hernia
An umbilical hernia is common among children, especially ones between the ages of 1 and 2 years. This is the only type of hernia that goes away on its own as the child grows up. In most cases, these hernias go away by themselves by the time the children turn 5 as the abdominal muscles grow stronger. However, if the hernia doesn’t disappear by itself, treatment may be required. Umbilical hernias are most commonly noticed when a child is crying as a bulge near the belly button of the child. Adults can get umbilical hernia too, this is caused due to strenuous physical activity, obesity, fluid in the stomach, or pregnancy. An umbilical hernia doesn’t go away by itself in adults and requires medical treatment.
Hernia Causes & Risk Factors
All types of hernias are caused due to muscle strain and weakness and can either develop suddenly or over a very long time. Some of the common causes and risk factors that can lead to hernia are:
- Strenuous physical activity such as heavy weight-lifting exercise
- Chronic cough or other respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
- Untreated obesity
- Surgical procedures performed in the abdomen or physical injury
- Going through multiple pregnancies throughout life
- Constipation, which causes strain on the abdominal muscles at the time of bowel movements
- Fluid buildup in the stomach also known as ascites
Apart from the reasons listed, a hernia can also be caused due to ageing because it leads to muscle weakness. Hernias can also be caused as a congenital condition, which develops when you are in the womb and presents itself right from your birth.
Hernia Symptoms
Commonly, most types of hernia don’t show any disruptive symptoms for the patient. They are often only discovered during routine physical checkups. Hernias are discovered through touch in most cases when you are standing, bending down, or coughing. If the hernia is large in size, it can have disruptive symptoms like pain and discomfort in the area where the bulge is present.
For inguinal hernia, the bulge can present itself in any side of the public bone, where your thigh and groyne meet. For hiatal hernia, the symptoms can be a bit more serious such as regular heartburn, chest pain, and trouble swallowing. If you are experiencing these symptoms along with a bulge in your upper abdomen that disappears when you are lying down, it can indicate a hiatal hernia.
For other types of hernia such as ventral hernia and umbilical hernia, they don’t present symptoms in most cases and are diagnosed visually through the bulge in your abdomen. All types of hernia require medical diagnosis regardless if they are exhibiting symptoms or not. Based on a doctor’s diagnosis, you can opt for watchful waiting or they may recommend you to get surgery for the hernia. With that being said, let’s review the different methods used by doctors to diagnose a hernia.
Diagnosis of Hernia
Hernias are diagnosed at first by a physical examination. Based on the doctor’s findings they can recommend you to go for different imaging diagnostic tests to understand the position and any complications that can arise from the hernia better. Here are some of the tests most commonly used to diagnose a hernia.
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal computerised tomography scan
- Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging tests
For hiatal hernia, doctors may use a different set of diagnostic tests including endoscopy, and x-rays of the digestive tract. These diagnostic tests offer doctors a better view of the hernia, which they use to decide if you need treatment for it or not.
If the hernia doesn’t necessarily have the potential to cause complications in the future, and they are not cause any disruptive symptoms, doctors may recommend no treatment for your hernia.
If they have the potential to cause complications in the future, doctors may recommend you to get a surgery. With that basic understanding, let’s review the different treatments for hernia.
Treatments For Hernia
Treatment for hernia differs based on the type of hernia you have. However, in most cases, if treatment is recommended by doctors, it relates to surgical procedures. Thanks to the advancements of modern medicine, today you can get minimally invasive hernia surgery that has a quick recovery and doesn’t have as many risks compared to open surgeries.
In most cases, unless the symptoms are very severe, doctors will opt to monitor the hernia for some time to understand any complications that may arise from it in the future. This waiting period is known as watchful waiting and it may result in doctors recommending no requirement for treatment for the hernia.
For hiatal hernia symptoms like heartburn and chest pain, medications can help manage the symptoms until doctors decide whether you need surgery for your hernia or not. Both Over The Counter (OTC) and prescription medication can be used to treat excess stomach acid, which would help with the symptoms. Medications like antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 receptor blockers are commonly used to deal with the symptoms.
For inguinal hernia, doctors often recommend wearing a truss to relieve any pain or discomfort associated with the bulge. A truss is a supportive undergarment that holds the hernia in place. Doctors will monitor that the truss fits you properly before recommending you to wear it regularly. This undergarment ensures that you can deal with the chronic pain that’s associated with inguinal hernia.
Conclusion
There you have it. This is a detailed look into the different types of hernias, their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. If you or your loved ones have a bulge in your abdomen that you are concerned about, feel free to book a consultation with our experts at MASSH. Our team of highly specialised and experienced doctors can help you understand the type and underlying cause of your hernia. Based on their diagnosis, they can offer the best modern medical treatments best suited for your condition. To learn more about hernia treatment at MASSH, check out our website today!
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