How to Know If You Have a Hernia and What to Do About It?

The organs in your body are surrounded by tissue that holds them firmly in place. However, this supportive tissue can sometimes weaken, allowing an organ to push through it. This condition is known as a hernia. The organ can push through either toward the outside of your body, creating a visible bulge under your skin, or toward another layer of muscle, in which case it won’t cause any visible symptoms.

Millions of Indians suffer from hernias, but less than 20% of those cases are diagnosed. While most hernias aren’t life-threatening, they can cause severe pain if undetected or ignored. In some cases, the flow of blood to the part of the organ affected by a hernia can be cut off, which could result in a fatal outcome. It is thus important to learn how to know if you have a hernia and when to seek treatment.

WHAT CAUSES HERNIAS?

Hernias are a direct result of physical strain and muscle weakness. These two usually go hand-in-hand and can be caused by a variety of factors. Muscle weakness is most often age-related or caused by a congenital defect that leaves a small opening in the abdominal wall. It can also occur due to a chronic cough, as well as damage to the muscle caused by surgery or injury.

With your muscles weakened, many factors can put a physical strain on your body. These include:

1. Persistent coughing
2. Sudden weight gain
3. Lifting heavy objects
4. Abdominal fluid

Because it puts an unusual amount of pressure on your abdomen, pregnancy can strain your body and cause a hernia as a result. Chronic constipation can also cause a hernia, seeing as bowel movements put a lot of strain on your body. Surgical scars following a C-section may also contribute to a hernia.

Although anyone can develop a hernia, people who have a personal or family history of the problem may be more likely to suffer from it. Smoking is a major risk factor, seeing as it can cause a chronic cough. For the same reason, conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, and acid reflux can also be contributing factors.
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A HERNIA

An unusual bulge or lump in the groin or the abdomen is usually a tell-tale sign of an external hernia. Similarly, a hernia can also manifest itself as a bulge that grows over time but disappears when you lie down or push it back with your finger. This is particularly common in women and is one of the reasons, in addition to outdated ultrasound equipment, why women only account for 8% of all hernia diagnoses.

Men usually experience a bulge in the groin or scrotum area, which is usually accompanied by swelling, burning, and severe pain. Other common symptoms of an external hernia include chronic pain when you try to lift heavy objects, bend over, or cough, as well as weakness or heaviness in the abdominal area.

While it doesn’t typically cause any visible symptoms, an internal hernia will often contribute to the onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD for short. As such, any of the following symptoms of GERD may be a sign that you have an undiagnosed hiatal hernia:

1. Bloating, pain, and discomfort in the stomach
2. A burning sensation in your chest
3. Sour taste in your mouth and throat
4. Frequent burping

In addition, a hiatal hernia can sometimes cause severe chest pain. As you probably know, chest pain can be a sign of a number of health problems, ranging from anxiety and panic attacks to potentially life-threatening heart and lung problems. Whatever the case, it is not a symptom you should ignore, which is why you should reach out to your doctor the moment you start experiencing chest pain.

A HERNIA WON’T GO AWAY ON ITS OWN

Anyone can develop a hernia, regardless of their age, gender, or health status. If you notice the symptoms of a hernia – either internal or external – you shouldn’t ignore them. A hernia never goes away on its own and can cause a lot of complications – some of them life-threatening.

As such, it is important to visit your doctor at the first sign of the problem. They will look at your symptoms and run all the necessary tests to determine the best treatment. In addition, they may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes and medication to keep your hernia under control.

AMRI Hospitals, Mukundapur, best hospital in Kolkata, brings special hernia screening package at Rs 2500/- providing expert diagnostic services.