Why You Need to Know More About Hernias

So we’ve all heard of hernias before. Most people associate them as a sports related injury. The truth is there are several different types of hernias. Hernias are classified by their location and then can be subcategorized by their location. But most hernias, over 75% of them, are inguinal hernias.

Inguinal hernias occur when there is a weak point or a tear in the abdomen wall and the intestine sticks out of it. These hernias are caused by extra pressure on the abdominal wall or a pre-existing condition where the wall has a weak spot. Men are more likely to get inguinal hernias than women.

While inguinal hernias themselves aren’t dangerous, complications from the hernia can be. If you think you have a hernia, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The good news is, to treat your hernia, you’ll probably just need a very simple surgical procedure. Now, it’s usually just day surgery that doesn’t require an overnight stay in the hospital, and you could even be back to work in a few days to a week.

However, if your hernia goes untreated, it can become life threatening. The intestine that is protruding through the hole in the abdomen wall can eventually form a loop and prevent you from having a bowel movement with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and severe pain. If a loop is formed, that area of the intestine will receive less blood and can die from strangulation. This can be fatal if not treated in time.

Symptoms of a hernia include:
• A bulge in the groin or scrotum area
• Pain in the groin or scrotum area when you’re lifting something heavy or bending over
• Heaviness in the groin or scrotum area

If you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. The test for an inguinal hernia is very simple. Because there’s a bulge, you’ll only have to cough or cause some sort of strain in the area to determine if your symptoms are in fact due to a hernia.

To help prevent hernias, be sure to eat as healthy as possible since excess weight can contribute to causing hernias. Eating fiber-rich foods will also help prevent hernias by helping reduce straining. And always be careful when lifting heavy objects to reduce strains, which will also help make sure you don’t get an inguinal hernia.