When an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place, such as when the abdominal wall is weak, a hernia results.
Most hernias are not immediately life threatening but they do not go away on their own. Hernias are most frequently found in the abdomen but they can also occur in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas.
Depending on the site, a hernia may be inguinal, umbilical, hiatal, or incisional. A hernia is a sac formed by the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity.
Inguinal hernia–Inguinal hernias, which account for about 70% of all hernias, are the most prevalent type. They develop when the intestines push through a weak spot or tear in the lower abdominal wall, frequently in the inguinal canal.
The inguinal canal is a passageway in the groin that houses a ligament that holds the uterus in place in women and the spermatic cord, which supports the testicles.
Men are more likely than women to develop this type of hernia because a man’s testicles descend the inguinal canal shortly after breathing, and although the canal is supposed to close almost completely behind them, occasionally it does not, leaving a weak area susceptible to hernias.
Umbilical hernia–Umbilical hernias, which occur when the intestines protrude through the abdominal wall near the belly button in children and infants under 6 months of age, can be detected by a bulge in or near the child’s bellybutton, especially when they are crying.
The only hernia that frequently resolves by itself is an umbilical hernia, which usually happens by the time the child reaches the age of one as the muscles in the abdominal wall become stronger.
Incisional herniaFollowing abdominal surgery, it’s possible for the intestine to push through the incision scar or the nearby weak tissue, leading to incisional hernias.
Hiatal hernia–The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the organs in your abdomen from those in your chest and helps you breathe by contracting and drawing air into the lungs. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into your chest cavity.
Causes
Hernias can develop quickly or take a long time to form depending on the cause, which is a combination of muscle weakness and strain.
Muscle tremors are frequently brought on by:
A congenital defect is the abdominal wall’s inability to properly close during pregnancy.
· Age
· Chronic coughing
Post-operative damage
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The following list of factors, particularly if the muscles are weak, can strain the body and result in a hernia:
The pressure of pregnancy on the abdomen
Constipation, which makes it difficult to urinate
· Lifting heavy weight
Ascites, or abdominal fluid
· Suddenly gaining weight
· Surgery in the area
· Persistent coughing or sneezing
Symptoms
The following are some indications and symptoms of an inguinal hernia:
A bulge in your pubic bone region on either side that is more noticeable when you’re standing up, especially if you cough or strain.
Aching or burning at the bulge
Groin pain or discomfort, particularly when stooping, coughing, or lifting
Feeling as though your groin is dragging or heavy
Groin pressure or a feeling of weakness
When the protruding intestine enters the scrotum, it can occasionally cause discomfort and swelling around the testicles.
A bulge is usually the only sign of an umbilical hernia, and if your baby has one, you might only feel it when they cry.
A hiatal hernia can also cause the following symptoms:
Acid reflux, a condition in which the esophagus becomes inflamed when stomach acid moves backward into it.
· Chest pain
· Difficulty swallowing
Hernias can occasionally go undetected until they are discovered during a routine physical examination or a medical examination for a different condition.
Diagnosis
A physical examination is typically used to identify inguinal or incisional hernias, which cause a bulge in the groin or abdomen that gets bigger when you cough, strain, or stand up.
A barium X-ray or endoscopy may be used to determine whether you have a hiatal hernia.
A high-frequency sound wave is used in an ultrasound to produce an image of the internal body structures, allowing us to diagnose an umbilical hernia.
Risk factors
An inguinal hernia can result from a variety of factors, such as:
·Being male.An inguinal hernia can occur in men eight times more frequently than in women.
·Being older.Age causes muscle deterioration.
·Being white.
·Family history.You have a family member who is close to you and has the condition, like a parent or sibling.
·Chronic cough,such as from smoking.
·Chronic constipation.When you go to the bathroom, you strain because of constipation.
·Pregnancy.The abdominal muscles may become weaker from pregnancy, which will increase internal pressure.
·Premature birth and low birth weight.
·Previous inguinal hernia or hernia repair.Your chance of getting another inguinal hernia is higher even if your previous one happened when you were a child.
Complications
Inguinal hernia complications include the following:
·Pressure on surrounding tissues.Men with large hernias that extend into the scrotum may experience pain and swelling, and most inguinal hernias enlarge over time if left untreated surgically.
·Incarcerated hernia.The hernia’s contents could obstruct the bowel and cause excruciating pain, nausea, vomiting, and the inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement if they get caught in the area where the abdominal wall is weakest.
·Strangulation.A strangulated hernia poses a life-threatening situation and necessitates immediate surgery. An incarcerated hernia can cut off blood flow to a portion of your intestine.
Prevention
You can lessen strain on your abdominal muscles and tissues, but you can’t prevent the congenital defect that makes you prone to an inguinal hernia. For instance:
·Maintain a healthy weight.The ideal exercise and diet program for you should be discussed with your doctor.
·Emphasize high-fiber foods.Fiber can aid in preventing constipation and straining and is found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
·Lift heavy objects carefully or avoid heavy lifting.Always bend from the knees rather than the waist when you need to lift something heavy.
·Stop smoking.Smoking not only contributes to a number of serious diseases, but it also frequently results in a chronic cough that can cause an inguinal hernia or make one worse.
·Don’t rely on a truss.Your doctor may suggest using a hernia truss for a brief period of time prior to surgery to make you more comfortable, but the truss is not a substitute for surgery.
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Hernias require surgery, despite the fact that they can be treated with carefully chosen homoeopathic medicines.
When it comes to hernia, homoeopathy has a number of effective medications available, but the choice depends on the patient’s individuality, taking into account the mental and physical health of the patient. Homoeopathy is currently a rapidly expanding system that is used throughout the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual by promoting inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical levels
NUX VOMICA 200Nux Vomica is a homeopathic medication that is very effective in treating all types of hernias, whether they are femoral, inguinal, or umbilical. It can be given to hernia patients whose abdominal muscles have been weakened due to prolonged constipation.
CALCAREA CARB. 200-–Calcarea Carbonica is a top homeopathic medicine for treating hernia, especially umbilical hernia. It is primarily prescribed for obese people with weak abdominal muscles from having too much belly fat. Such patients cannot tolerate wearing tight clothing around the waist. Homeopathic medicine Calcarea Carbonica also gives excellent results in treating hernia in kids who have excessive head sweating. The patients needing this medicine are sensitive to cold air.
LYCOPODIUM 200—Patients with hernias who experience poor digestion and excessive flatulence in the abdomen benefit greatly from the homeopathic treatment Lycopodium Clavatum. These patients enjoy eating sweets and have a craving for hot food and beverages.
Abdominal muscles appear weak, and a hernia appears likely **COCCULUS INDICUS 200——**
RHUS TOXICODENDRON 200Homeopathic remedy Rhus Toxicodendron helps the patients by strengthening the abdominal muscles, which is very helpful for treating all such cases of hernia in which the abdominal muscles become weak due to excessive strain from lifting heavy weights.
SILICEA 200–The homeopathic remedy Silicea is very beneficial for treating hernias in children who are weak, stubborn, and headstrong as well as in adults who experience excessive and offensive foot sweating, a constant feeling of coldness, and a desire for warm clothing.
THUJA OCC. 200Infants with left inguinal hernia, in particular, are prescribed thuja.
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