Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Various Types of Hernia and Their Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Hernia happens when there is a hole or weakness in a muscle that affects organs or tissue in severity ranging from barely noticeable to life-threatening, depending on the size of the defect and the organs involved.

Hernia mesh procedure is normally the treatment followed to remove the bulge where a mesh is implanted at the site of the surgery from where the bulge is surgically removed. If the condition is severe, and the surgery is not done, it might cause serious complications in daily life including affecting the other organs.

Types of hernia


A hernia can happen in many different areas of the body. The most common, though, is in the abdomen and groin areas. The various types of hernia are:

•    In an Inguinal hernia, the intestine or the bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the groin. About 96% of all groin hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area.

•    In an Incisional hernia, the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall at the site of previous abdominal surgery. This type is most common in elderly or overweight people who are inactive after abdominal surgery.

•    A Femoral hernia occurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral artery into the upper thigh. This is most common in women, especially those who are pregnant or obese.

•    In an Umbilical hernia, part of the small intestine passes through the abdominal wall near the navel. Common in newborns, it also commonly afflicts obese women or those who have had many children.

•    A Hiatal hernia happens when the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes.


What causes hernia?


All types of hernia are caused when an opening in a weak muscle or fascia feels pressure that pushes the tissue or the organ through that opening. The muscles can be weak since birth or it can get weakened at any latter stages of life.

When to see a doctor?


A hernia must be taken seriously if there is severe pain at the site, which is often caused by the lack of blood flow to the tissue bulging through the muscle. A sudden change in the color of hernia also indicates a serious problem that should be treated immediately. It may become dusky, meaning it is gray or ashen in color, or it can become dark red or purple. These types of color changes can indicate that the blood flow has been cut off and the hernia is strangulating.

In all these cases, one must see a doctor immediately for treatment and surgery.

Prevention of hernia


There is no certainty to prevent hernia, because weakening of muscles can’t be controlled which is the main cause of hernia to occur. However, the risks and chances of the occurrence can be reduced by reducing the amount of strain placed on the body. This may help you avoid a hernia or keep an existing hernia from getting worse. Prevention tips include:

•    not smoking
•    seeing your doctor when you’re sick to avoid developing a persistent cough
•    maintaining a healthy body weight
•    avoiding straining during bowel movements or urination
•    lifting objects with your knees and not your back
•    avoiding lifting weights that are too heavy for you

These, in nutshell, describe all about hernia mesh procedure along with its occurrence, causes, types, treatment and prevention.