Hernia

A hernia is a sac formed by the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The sac comes through a hole or weak area in the strong layer of the belly wall that surrounds the muscle. This layer is called the fascia.

Which type of hernia you have depends on where it is:

• Femoral hernia is a bulge in the upper thigh, just below the groin. This type is more common in women than men.

  Femoral hernia

  A hernia occurs when the contents of the abdomen push through a weak point or tear the thin muscle wall of the belly. This layer of muscle holds the...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Hiatal hernia occurs in the upper part of the stomach. Part of the upper stomach pushes into the chest.

  Hiatal hernia

  Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Incisional hernia can occur through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery in the past.
• Umbilical hernia is a bulge around the belly button. It occurs when the muscle around the belly button does not close completely after birth.

  Umbilical hernia

  An umbilical hernia is an outward bulging (protrusion) of the lining of the abdomen or part of the abdominal organ(s) through the area around the bel...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin. It is more common in men. It may go all the way down into the scrotum.

Causes

Usually, there is no clear cause of a hernia. Sometimes, hernias can occur due to:

• Heavy lifting
• Straining while using the toilet
• Any activity that raises the pressure inside the belly

Hernias may be present at birth, but the bulge may not be evident until later in life. Some people have a family history of hernias.

Babies and children can get hernias. It happens when there is weakness in the belly wall. Inguinal hernias are common in boys. Some children do not have symptoms until they are adults.

Any activity or medical problem that increases pressure on the tissue in the belly wall and muscles may lead to a hernia, including:

• Long-term (chronic) constipation and pushing hard (straining) to have a bowel movement
• Chronic coughing or sneezing
• Cystic fibrosis

  Cystic fibrosis

  Cystic fibrosis is a disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of th...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Enlarged prostate , straining to urinate

  Enlarged prostate

  The prostate is a gland that produces the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube through wh...

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Extra weight
• Fluid in the abdomen ( ascites )

  Ascites

  Ascites is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Peritoneal dialysis

  Peritoneal dialysis

  Dialysis treats end-stage kidney failure. It removes harmful substances from the blood when the kidneys cannot. This article focuses on peritoneal d...

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article
• Poor nutrition
• Smoking
• Overexertion
• Undescended testicles

  Undescended testicles

  Undescended testicle occurs when one or both testicles fail to move into the scrotum before birth.

  

  Image

   

  Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Symptoms

There are usually no symptoms. Some people have discomfort or pain. The discomfort may be worse when standing, straining, or lifting heavy objects. In time, the most common complaint is a bump that is sore and growing.

When a hernia gets bigger, it may get stuck inside the hole and lose its blood supply. This is called strangulation. This causes pain and swelling at the site of strangulation. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Not being able to pass gas or have bowel movements

When this occurs, surgery is needed right away.

Exams and Tests

The health care provider can usually see or feel a hernia when you are examined. You may be asked to cough, bend, push, or lift. The hernia may get bigger when you do this.

The hernia (bulge) may not be easily seen in infants and children, except when the child is crying or coughing.

Ultrasound or CT scan may be done to look for a hernia.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.

Image

 

Read Article Now Book Mark Article

CT scan

An abdominal CT scan is an imaging method. This test uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the belly area. CT stands for computed tomog...

Image

 

Read Article Now Book Mark Article

If there is a blockage in the bowel, an x-ray of the abdomen will likely be done.

x-ray of the abdomen

An abdominal x-ray is an imaging test to look at organs and structures in the abdomen. Organs include the spleen, stomach, and intestines. When the ...

Image

 

Read Article Now Book Mark Article

Treatment

Surgery is the only treatment that can permanently fix a hernia. Surgery may be more risky for people with serious medical problems.

Surgery repairs the weakened abdominal wall tissue (fascia) and closes any holes. Most hernias are closed with stitches and sometimes with mesh patches to plug the hole.

An umbilical hernia that does not heal on its own by the time a child is 5 years old will likely be repaired.

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outcome for most hernias is usually good with treatment. It is rare for a hernia to come back. Incisional hernias are more likely to return.

Possible Complications

In rare cases, inguinal hernia repair can damage structures involved in the function of a man's testicles.

Another risk of hernia surgery is nerve damage, which can lead to numbness in the groin area.

If a part of the bowel was trapped or strangulated before surgery, bowel perforation or dead bowel may result.

Bowel perforation

Perforation is a hole that develops through the wall of a body organ. This problem may occur in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intes...

Image

 

Read Article Now Book Mark Article

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider right away if you have:

• A painful hernia and the contents cannot be pushed back into the abdomen using gentle pressure
• Nausea, vomiting, or a fever along with a painful hernia
• A hernia that becomes red, purple, dark, or discolored

Call your provider if you have:

• Groin pain, swelling, or a bulge.
• A bulge or swelling in the groin or belly button, or that is associated with a previous surgical cut.

Prevention

To prevent a hernia:

• Use proper lifting techniques.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Relieve or avoid constipation by eating plenty of fiber, drinking lots of fluid, going to the bathroom as soon as you have the urge, and exercising regularly.
• Men should see their provider if they strain with urination. This may be a symptom of an enlarged prostate.