Danger level: Medium

What is it?

A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeeze through a weak spot in the body.

Who gets it?

Hernias can be of many types (see ahead), and each type is common in different types of people.

The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia (a hernia in your groin) – It’s more common in men. These can be direct (occurring more in older patients) and indirect (more common in babies and young people. These are much more common than direct hernias).

What causes it?

Like stated above, hernias happen when an inner part of the body protrudes out where it shouldn’t. The most common hernias are those in the groin (where the intestine or bladder protrude through), and, like mentioned above, they can be either direct or indirect:

1. Indirect hernias -  During our development as fetuses, the testicles in boys and ovaries in girls are formed near the kidneys. As the baby develops, they descend through the abdomen. After passing through an opening in the lower abdomen, that opening closes. In about 5% of children, that opening doesn’t close properly (This is more common in boys). This opening potentially allows the contents of the abdomen to travel down into the scrotum in boys or into the labia in girls.
2. Direct hernias – These occur as a result of weakness in the abdominal wall. Since the abdominal wall weakens as we age, this type of hernia is more common in the middle-aged and elderly.

Inguinal hernia – The intestines enter the scrotum.

There are also other, less common, places where hernias can occur:

1. Femoral hernias – These occur at the top of the thigh.
2. Umbilical hernias – In the belly button.
3. Incisional hernia – In a site of a previous abdominal surgery.

There are more types, but they are even less common.

How does it feel?

Hernias can present in one of 3 ways:

1. Asymptomatic – This will just show as a swelling in the area of the hernia. Sometimes an aching sensation can be felt. In these hernias, usually the doctor will be able to push the contents of the hernia back into the abdomen.
2. Incarcerated – These hernias can’t be returned to the abdomen. In these cases, if a part of the intestines is trapped in the hernia and can’t be returned, it might get obstructed, causing nausea and vomiting, among other things.
3. Strangulated hernia – If the intestines in the hernia are obstructed by being stuck in the hernia sac, blood will not flow in that area of the intestine sufficiently. Death of this part of the intestines may happen, which can cause it to rupture.

How is it discovered?

Usually the appearance of the hernia is enough to recognize it. Sometimes an ultrasound or CT scan might be performed.

How is it treated?

The only treatment is surgery. Surgery isn’t always urgent and doesn’t always have to be performed right away. You should consult your doctor, who will advise you on the urgency of the surgery. Remember that in some cases the hernia may become trapped and strangulated, so surgery is important.

What happens after treatment?

If discovered and treated on time, hernias shouldn’t pose any danger.

This movie demonstrates hernias visually:

The bottom line: How do I avoid it?

If the hernia is indirect (the one that happens because of a defect during development) there’s not much you can do about it. On the other hand, you can prevent direct hernias by following these steps:

1. Avoid becoming overweight – The pressure in your abdomen rises when you’re overweight, which can increase the risk of your abdominal contents protruding through a hernia. Diet and exercise should help you maintain a healthy weight.
2. Avoid rapid weight loss – Many crash dieting programs may be lacking in nutrients which are needed for muscle strength. This causes the muscle in the abdomen to become weaker.
3. Stop smoking – Smoking can lead to a chronic cough, which raises the pressure in the abdomen.
4. Avoid constipation and straining – This will also raise the abdominal pressure.
5. When lifting heavy objects, use your legs – If you use the back and not your legs, you’re running the risk of developing an inguinal hernia.

Had a hernia or have any questions about it? Hit us in the comments.

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