The hernia is a lump of an internal organ that can appear in different places on the body such as navel, abdomen, thigh, groin or spine for example.
Hernias arise when there is a displacement of part of an organ, and that part starts to invade a space that it shouldn't have. There are different types of hernias that can arise, but the most frequent are:
- Inguinal hernia, located in the groin; Disc herniation, located in the spine; Hiatal hernia or diaphragmatic hernia that are located in the abdomen region; Umbilical hernia, located in the navel; Femoral hernia, which is located in the thigh region.
In addition, there is also a muscle hernia, which can appear in any muscle in the body or an incisional hernia that can appear after some surgery.
When a hernia appears, it needs to be treated as soon as possible. The most common is to perform a minor surgery, with local or epidural anesthesia.
Causes of hernia
Hernia can have several causes, which can include:
- Lifting weights at the gym or at work; Carrying very heavy bags often; Excessive coughing; Extreme effort; Exerting too much force to defecate; Having one pregnancy after another in a short time.
In addition to these factors, pregnancy can also lead to the appearance of some hernia, especially in situations where the woman has one pregnancy after another.
Hernias can occur at any age, but are more common in adults. In children the most common hernia is umbilical hernia, which appears around 6 months of the baby and usually disappears alone at around 4 years of age.
Hernia symptoms
Some of the symptoms that may indicate the presence of a hernia can include:
- Overhang on the skin, in any region of the body; Pain in the region, especially after making efforts;
In some cases the diagnosis of the hernia can be made based on the evidenced symptoms and through the local palpation in order to identify if there is any protuberance or protuberance under the skin. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may request an ultrasound.
If the hernia region swells, changes overnight, or if there is a lot of pain, it is recommended to go to the hospital immediately.
Surgery to treat hernia
Hernia surgery is the best treatment available, consisting of repositioning the organ in its proper place, placing a protective mesh if necessary to prevent the hernia from returning.
Surgery should be done as soon as the hernia is diagnosed in order to avoid complications such as strangulation for example, which happens when the hernia does not return to the place and holds the blood circulation in place.
