A hernia occurs when an internal organ protrudes through the wall around it. The two most common types of hernias are hiatus hernia and inguinal hernia.
A hiatus hernia exists when the top part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and into the chest. Often there are no symptoms or only a sense of heartburn or fullness in the chest after eating. Most cases of hiatus hernia can be treated without surgery. A change in eating habits, the use of antacids, and the elevation of the head of the bed will help. Severe cases require surgery to push the portion of the stomach back into the abdominal cavity into its proper position and to tighten the opening of the diaphragm with stitches.
An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin. A portion of intestine or inner membrane bulges beneath the skin near the thigh. It is often due to weakness in the muscle at the site. This can be due to ageing, injury, heavy lifting, pregnancy, obesity, coughing, or straining during bowel movements.
An inguinal hernia often shows as a lump when the person stands or strains. The lump, or bulge, may go away when the patient lies down. Straining may cause a sharp, steady pain. With a small hernia the affected area may simply appear full. One can often reduce the bulge simply by pushing it back into place.
Surgery can repair most inguinal hernias in a short and simple operation. The surgeon makes a small cut and pushes the intestine back to its normal position. He or she then repairs and reinforces the weakened muscle.
The most common type of inguinal hernia is the scrotal hernia. It is caused by a weakness in the natural ring that allows the testicles to descend into the scrotum before birth. If it does not close fully at birth, the intestines can later slip through it. This type of hernia is more common in men, but can develop at any age. It is fairly common in infants less than one year old.
A rare but serious problem is a strangulated hernia. This occurs when the hernia opening pinches a loop of intestine so tightly that it cuts off the blood supply and gangrene develops. Gangrene is dead tissue that may quickly become infected. This is life threatening and requires immediate surgery. A surgeon removes the portion of intestines with gangrene and reattaches the healthy ends.
If you notice a tender, bulging area in your groin, see your doctor. Not all hernias need surgery. In the elderly, in particular, a truss (which is a belt that places pressure against the hernia) may be adequate.
Article #5409
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