Hernia is often neglected and called a liveable cosmetic defect. You better not believe it. A hernia can become trapped at any time, and then only timely surgical intervention will save your life. We present basic information about hernia.

Herniais a fairly common problem. The viscera are arranged in a certain order and held in place with the abdominal wall to keep them from moving. There is a constant pressure in the abdomen, which suddenly rises when coughing, laughing, urinating and passing stools. Then the abdominal muscles work harder, creating the so-called abdominal press. If any of the shells (muscles, tendons or ligaments) is weak, it begins to delaminate and breaks over time. Then a hernia forms, i.e.hernia . There is a slight protrusion on the abdomen or groin. When we start to breathe calmly, it disappears. Over time, it shows up more and more often and finally remains, creating a large bulge. This place, called the hernial sac, is squeezed by twisted loops of the small intestine.

Risk of a hernia

Some people are more likely to develop a hernia than others. First of all, those who are overweight and prone to overeating. Their connective tissue is weak, not very elastic. It stretches over time, which can be compared to stretch marks on the skin. As obesity increases, the muscles weaken even more. Intestines overloaded with food need more and more space. They push themselves apart. The pressure that builds up in the abdomen after eating causes the abdominal wall to stretch more and more and eventually burst. A hernia also threatens people suffering from chronic constipation. The pressure that builds up in the abdomen when attempting to defecate can be so strong that it can damage the abdominal wall. It's a good idea to change your diet and use mild laxatives, otherwise you may be in trouble. The same will happen if we neglect bronchopulmonary diseases. Prolonged, exhausting cough weakens the abdominal muscles. And they, with some minor defect, may not withstand the load. Men who have problems urinating due to an enlarged prostate should see a urologist and start treatment as soon as possible. The effort they have to put into emptying the bladder will sooner or later cause an inguinal hernia to form. Because of her, they canpregnant women, opera singers and people who lift weights without a belt supporting the abdominal muscles also suffer.

Hernia - Trapped Intestine

The danger after a hernia is formed is that more and more intestines are pressed into the fissure formed in the abdominal wall. A ring of tissues may tighten behind them due to sudden exertion, sneezing, coughing or vigorously getting up from the chair. This leads to a bowel obstruction. Where there has been a soft bulge before, a hard and painful tumor appears. The skin in this place becomes very red and very warm. After some time, you feel bloating, sharpabdominal pain , nausea, and sometimes vomiting. You cannot donate gas or stool. Heart rate is fast. There is no blood flowing into the intestine. If help is not provided in time, intestinal tissue necrosis will result. It is a life-threatening condition. Therefore, a hernia should not be taken lightly.

Important

Men who are overweight are the most exposed to hernias because they have weak connective tissue, lifting weights, because they put a strain on the abdominal muscles; suffering from chronic constipation because they exert a lot of stress; lung disease because they often have coughing attacks; with an enlarged prostate, because it makes it difficult to urinate.

Hernia attack

Lie on your back. Place a small pillow under your pelvis. Bend your legs slightly in the knees and try to breathe evenly despite the pain. This position relaxes the abdominal muscles and thus the hernia ring. The intestines may even return to their place, but only a doctor can tell. And even if that happens, you will end up in the hospital for observation. You have to reckon with the operation.

Hernia treatment

The most important thing is to strengthen the weakened abdominal wall. During the procedure, a kind of mending of tissues is performed - muscles, tendons and ligaments are brought closer together and strong surgical sutures are placed on them. When the losses are large, special nets are implanted in the abdominal wall to protect against recurrence of ailments. We can get out of bed the next day after the surgery. If there are no complications, we usually leave the hospital after three days. A small hernia is also operated as part of the so-called one-day surgery, which means that the procedure is performed in the morning and the patient returns home in the evening. The operation can also be performed laparoscopically, without cutting the skin. This method has its supporters and opponents. The former believe that the patient heals faster, because the postoperative wound is small. Opponents argue, however, that the laparoscope does not allow for precise fixing of the mesh, which causes relapses. Afterreturning home, we must prevent constipation so that the hernia does not renew. Avoid physical exertion, especially lifting, for three months. Do not eat foods that cause gas or constipation, and do not drink carbonated drinks for several weeks. It is necessary to get rid of excess weight and exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles.

Types of hernia

Most often we have inguinal hernias, but they can also appear in the thigh flexion, around the navel and near postoperative scars (groin - 70 percent, thigh flexion - 12 percent, navel - 11 percent. ). Always in places with reduced durability.

  • Umbilical hernia- in infants, after the umbilical cord has fallen off, when the opening at the base of the navel is not overgrown. It is easy to recognize because it looks like a grape-sized lump. The child feels no pain. Usually, the hernial foramen grows on its own in the first years of life. To speed up this process, you should often place the baby on its tummy, try to make it cry as little as possible, and cover the hernia with a special prescription plaster. If the four-year-old child still has a hernia, an uncomplicated operation is performed; after three days the little one returns home.
  • Inguinal hernia- in boys who are growing intensively. Due to certain congenital imperfections (e.g. non-fusion of the canal through which the testicles descended into the scrotum), rapid growth and high physical activity, the abdominal wall dilates and the intestines slide between them. The slight bulge becomes larger and gradually moves towards the scrotum area. This type of hernia will not go away, so don't delay surgery.
  • Abdominal hernia(around the navel) andfemoral hernia(on the border of the lower abdomen) - occurs mainly in the elderly, but may appear at any age. When the abdominal muscles go slack, it can be the result of overwork (e.g. heavy lifting) or other exertion. Every hernia in older people should be operated on quickly.
You must do it

If you've had a hernia surgery, exercise sensitively at first so you don't put too much strain on your muscles.

  • Cat's back. Kneel down, lean on your elbows, arms and thighs straight, forearms flat on the floor. Slowly contract your abdominal muscles while tilting your head down, then flex your back upwards. In this position, slowly count to four and slowly relax your muscles. Repeat 6-8 times. This is a preliminary exercise that allows you to gradually strengthen your abs without putting a strain on others.
  • Raising the legs. Lie on your back, arms along the body, knees bent, feetadjacent to the floor. On the count of four, bring your knee to your chest. As you exhale, lift your head up, trying to touch your forehead to the raised knee. Feel your abdominal muscles working. Count to five, then come back to the starting position. Repeat the exercise with the other leg. Gradually increase the number of exercises up to 15 at a time. If you are after surgery and you feel pain, stop exercising.
  • Strengthening the back and belly. Sit down with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor 30 cm from your buttocks. Tilt your head, rest your chin on your chest. Lean back until you feel the tension. Now cross your arms over your chest and slowly straighten up, leaning back as far as possible. Come back to the starting position. Repeat 6-8 times.
  • For advanced users. Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor. As you contract your abdominal muscles, slowly sit up. At first stretch your arms out in front of you, but then try to keep them along your body or interlace them around the back of your neck. Repeat 6-8 times.

Inguinal hernia - basic information

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