Look Out for Hernia Signs!

Have you ever felt pain in your lower abdomen area when coughing or sneezing? Usually, the pain you feel is not important. However, this becomes critical when you also have lumps on your body. Why? Because when you feel pain when coughing or sneezing and there are lumps on your body, you may be experiencing hernia.

What is Hernia?

When experiencing hernia, your organs will protrude from your abdominal tissue, therefore creating a lump. How can your abdomen organ suddenly protrude? This happens because overtime abdominal tissue can become weaker and/or thinner. So, hernia can only happen to adults? Not really, hernia can also happen to babies.

There are 4 kinds of hernia; reponible, irreponible, incarcerata, and strangulata. What is the difference between these four types of hernia? Pay attention to the information below:

1. Reponible hernia: Common to happen on the groin or the umbilical area, will appear when doing certain activities.

2. Irreponible hernia: Have a fixed place, either on the groin or the umbilical area. Does not cause any organ malfunction.

3. Incarcerata hernia: A type of hernia that also has a fixed place. May cause organ malfunction (gut blockage).

4. Strangulata hernia: An emergency situation because blood vessels have been clogged. If not immediately treated, those blood vessels will die and cause toxic accumulation.

It’s important to know, you can feel the pain worsen when doing certain activities, like when lifting heavy objects or standing up for too long. Most of hernias are not life threatening, but medical assistance is still needed because hernias may not be better on itself.

Hernia Types

Deciding which hernia you have can be seen from where the lump appears:

1. Inguinal Hernia

Holds the place for the most common type of hernia, covering 75% of all hernia cases. Inguinal hernia usually occurs in male patients. What happens when a person has inguinal hernia is part of their intestine protruding into the canal that runs down your inner thigh (the inguinal canal). This hernia is also common to find among athletes (football, basketball, and other high-impact sports).

2. Femoral Hernia

Is a type of groin hernia that covers 2-4% chance of ever happening. Unlike inguinal hernia, femoral hernia is commonly found in female patients. This type of hernia appears in the femoral canal, which is the passage located below the inguinal canal. Fatty tissue may protrude through this canal.

3. Hiatal Hernia

This occurs when the gap in your diaphragm stretches, and the upper part of your stomach is pushed up through that opening into the chest area. Hiatal hernias often occur in elderly patients (>50 years old).

4. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

This is a serious birth defect where the diaphragm does not close properly during fetal development. This condition can cause abdominal organs to enter the chest cavity and compress the lungs. However, it should be noted that this type of hernia is very rare.

5. Incision Hernia

This occurs when tissue protrudes through a previous incision site on a weakened abdominal wall. It is important to note that this is a common side effect of abdominal surgery, with a 10% chance of occurrence.

6. Umbilical Hernia

This is a congenital type of hernia; it can occur in premature or low-birth-weight infants and adult women. It occurs when part of your intestine protrudes through a gap in the abdominal wall near the navel, accounting for 3% of all hernia cases.

7. Ventral Hernia

This is a hernia that appears on the front wall of your abdomen. Umbilical and incisional hernia types fall into this category. Unlike some of those previously mentioned, ventral hernias can occur in both men (13.9%) and women (2.1%).

8. Perineal Hernia

This occurs when an organ or tissue pushes through a gap or weak spot in the uterine area toward your abdominal cavity. This type of hernia is more rarely found.⁶

Hernia Symptoms

Not all hernias present with symptoms, and each type can have different signs. However, you can still identify them by a lump that suddenly appears during certain activities. A sensation of pressure or pain may arise when the hernia begins to emerge.

So, do hernia symptoms differ between women and men? Generally, there is no difference between women and men, though there are a few exceptions. For example, a groin hernia can sometimes reach the genitals and cause scrotal swelling. In another example, femoral hernias, which tend to be found in female patients, can cause groin pain.

However, if you experience the following symptoms, you need to visit the nearest hospital immediately:

1. Sudden pain in the epigastric area (upper middle abdomen)

2. Nausea

3. Difficulty having a bowel movement (constipation)

4. If the hernia feels hard or tender, or if it cannot be pushed back into place

What Causes Hernia?

Hernias can be caused by both internal and external factors; here are several known causes of a hernia:

1. Internal Factors

• Stretching of the muscle wall gap, creating an opening for other organs to push through.

• Being overweight (Obesity)

• Chronic cough

• Advanced age (≥ 60 years old)

2. External Factors

• Frequent heavy lifting

• Smoking (Nicotine can weaken tissue elasticity, making it more fragile)

• History of surgical procedures in the lower abdomen, which can weaken the surrounding muscles

Is Hernia Serious?

In general, a hernia is not a serious condition, but if left untreated, it can become serious. What makes it serious? A hernia becomes a serious condition when it gets trapped in the gap of the muscle wall and cannot return inside. Not only does this cause pain, but this condition can also cause certain tissues to be cut off from the blood supply, leading to necrosis (tissue death).

How is Hernia Diagnosed

In general, a physical exam will be sufficient to diagnose a hernia. Your medical team can see or feel it, and the hernia may also appear when you are asked to move into certain positions. During this exam, they will check whether the hernia can be 'pushed' back into place to determine its severity. However, to diagnose some types of hernia, additional assistance is indeed necessary, such as a CT scan.

How to Treat Hernia?

The majority of hernias require surgical procedures for treatment, but it is not always the immediate solution. If you have a mild hernia, your medical team might wait for a period of time to monitor its progression. Nevertheless, hernias tend to worsen over time, so you will be recommended to have them repaired promptly. Here are several procedures your surgeon and medical team might perform:

1. Hernia Belt (Truss): This is not a long-term solution, but a hernia belt can help hold the bulge in place during activities.

2. Pain Medication: Can relieve the pain and discomfort caused by the hernia.

3. Physiotherapy: You can perform various exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles, such as side planks, bridge poses, etc. However, physiotherapy is not a solution for closing the hernia gap.

4. Laparoscopic Procedure: A minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure that results in minimal scarring. There is no need to worry, as surgical procedures for hernias are quite common.

What Will Happen If Hernia Is Not Treated?

Minor hernias might not be particularly bothersome. However, hernias tend to develop over time. The opening will become increasingly weak and stretched, allowing more tissue to force its way through. As more tissue forces its way in, the likelihood of that tissue becoming trapped also increases. Consequently, you will experience pain, and complications will become more likely.

Therefore, to avoid the long-term effects of a hernia, it is highly recommended to visit the nearest hospital immediately if you notice a lump or protrusion on the surface of your body.

How to Prevent Hernia?

Prevention methods for congenital hernias have not yet been discovered. However, there are still steps you can take to prevent hernias that arise from daily habits:

1. Lift weights using the proper technique (bend your knees while lifting, and keep your back straight).

2. Maintain an ideal body weight to reduce pressure on the abdominal wall.

3. Core strengthening exercises (such as planks).

4. Avoid holding your breath while straining.

5. Stop smoking, as it can weaken muscle tissue.

Can Hernia Reappear?

Depending on the hernia type and its treatment, there is a 5–30% chance of this occurring. Why can a hernia recur? A hernia can return, even after being treated by a medical team, due to infection, smoking, or excessive pressure on the area. It is important to note that the recurrence of a hernia does not happen quickly; it takes months or even years. A hernia can recur due to the muscle wall weakening again, infection, excess body weight, or smoking.

When Is the Right Time to Visit a Doctor?

If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, please visit the nearest hospital immediately to seek assistance. One laparoscopic technique quite frequently used is TAPP (Transabdominal Preperitoneal). Minimal postoperative pain, low risk of infection, and a much faster recovery are some of the advantages of the TAPP technique. This service is available at Altius Hospitals; visit Altius Hospitals immediately to receive the best possible care!