How Scary Is This? Do you know what a Hernia is? Many that have not had one for themselves probably won’t.
For sure, many will see people they know with hernias but never actually know what they really are. So, for today’s post – How To Avoid A Hernia and Can They Be Naturally Reversed? this will be for anyone that knows how worrying this condition can be. In fact, for me, this is right up there with Prostate Cancer as one of the scariest health conditions.
Of course, this is a very worrying medical condition that is very common. It can affect people of any age. It is not something I have personally suffered from but yet it is something that I’ve seen people suffer from, very close to home.
My older brother (on my Mums side) was the first person I ever heard of to have a hernia op. He was only about 15 (I think) at the time. At 45 (I think he is now) he’s recently had another one and this just goes to show really.
Hernias can affect both the old and the young, and they can reoccur! I have met more people over the years since too. It is honestly, something that the more you see people suffer from it the more it hits home.
As of now, in my close to mid-thirties I am still fairly young but definitely, this is something I never want to happen to me.
It could happen for sure. Who really knows what the future holds but I would pray that it doesn’t. Even though, as I’ve said this condition is far too common. It can happen to anyone of any age, and from any background.
Exactly why I want to look into this…
How To Avoid A Hernia…
and Can They Be Naturally Reversed?
Now, for anyone reading this I am sharing this article today to help inform anyone that has concerns about having to deal with this condition (a Hernia). For some, it might be too late already. If you have a Hernia I don’t want to give any bad advice here but I will look at this from all angles. Hopefully, so this information can be helpful.
Whether you are looking for a solution for your pre-existing condition or are keen to prevent this condition from occurring in the first place then please keep on reading. As I will try and cover both as best as possible.
So, What Is a Hernia (In Case You Don’t Know?)
Well, the screenshot above I think really says it all – a hernia is a growth inside the body that is caused when an internal organ, fatty tissue or other body part pushes through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally contains it.
When a hernia starts to grow bigger, and bigger this is usually when it begins to fill with tissue.
What Causes a Hernia To Occur?
Hernias generally speaking are caused by straining. For instance obesity, pregnancy, constipation, heavy lifting can all be responsible. They are most common around the groin and abdominal area but they can occur in other areas as well.
Usually, if you have a hernia and it hasn’t been diagnosed it’s most likely that you will know it is there. However, for some until actually going to see a Doctor they can go unnoticed. It might be that they visit the doctor for another reason before the hernia is found. It depends on the size of the hernia and also the type of hernia which I will discuss a bit more below.
Types of Hernias
According to my own research, there are over 10 different types of hernias that the human body can suffer from [R]. Some are fairly common and some not so much. I will list 6 of the main ones below;
I shall begin with perhaps one of the most common types…
Inguinal Hernia (As Direct and Indirect)
This is when a hernia affects the area of the Inguinal canal. 2 passageways that connect through the abdominal walls. These are located just outside of the lower intestinal wall.
The cause of an Inguinal Hernia is usually when fatty tissue or part of the intestine bursts through a weak spot of your abdomen and causes a growth within the Inguinal canal.
Femoral Hernia
Can occur as a painful lump in the upper thigh or groin. It is given its name as this is when the purge through the abdominal wall occurs a bit lower down and the hernia develops inside the femoral canal instead of the Inguinal canals.
Hiatal Hernia
The hiatus is a small opening in the diaphragm (above the stomach) that connects to the oesophagus area. Hernias here are caused when part of the stomach bulges past the large muscle between your abdomen and diaphragm.
Generally speaking, there are 2 different types of Hiatal Hernias ~ Sliding and Paraesophageal.
Symptoms include heartburn and chest pain.
Ventral (Abdominal) Hernias
This is the umbrella term given to any of hernias (see the 3 listed below) that occur around the vertical centre of the abdominal area. See diagram below#
You will see here that Incisional, Umbilical and Epigastric are a bit higher up than the other two that I discussed above.
Just briefly I will describe each one below;
Epigastric Hernia
These can appear anywhere beneath the breastbone down to the belly button (navel).
Umbilical (Belly Button/Navel) Hernia
As the name would suggest this is when the hernia develops in close proximity around the belly button.
Incisional Hernia
These are reoccurring hernias that can develop after surgery for ventral hernias around the area of the scar. They are fairly common and are said to affect as many as 1 in 3 patients that have had ventral hernia removal surgery.
Pretty scary I’m sure you will agree but if you have a hernia it is very important that you get it treated. Of course, within this post, I will include ways how to avoid a hernia and some ideas that might help if you have one already but just quickly I will discuss a little bit about surgery etc. I don’t want to scare people even though just writing this post is making me feel uneasy but just to let you know what you’re up against…
Types of Surgery
- Open Hernia Repair
For this type of surgery, a surgeon will make a cut in the area to view and repair the hernia. Afterwards, they will use stitches or a bit of mesh to try and fence of the weak part of the abdominal wall that initially caused the hernia in the first place.
- Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery
This is a bit more invasive than the last one. Here a surgeon will make several cuts around the lower abdominal area and will insert certain tools inside to view and repair the hernia. Also, like above a 2nd surgical procedure will take place to try and strengthen the weak part of the abdominal wall that was initially responsible for the hernia.
- Robotic Hernia Repair
This is more or less the same as the last one but instead they remote control robotic arms to carry the surgery out.
Are Hernias Dangerous?
Here is the worrying part no doubt. Any hernia can be responsible for a very serious medical problem if you do not seek TREATMENT. Whether they can be fatal though? Well, that is maybe the most worrying thing about them.
According to my own research – YES they can be dangerous in rare cases. This is because if a hernia is not treated in time it can cause a condition called strangulation. This is rare as I’ve said but it does happen.
Strangulation is where the muscle clamps down around the hernia and cuts off the blood supply to the small intestine. Adults that suffer from a femoral hernia are most likely to be at risk from this condition. [R] I will elaborate further below…
Can Hernias Be Left Untreated?
Many Hernia sufferers of all kinds will probably think this at some point. Can a Hernia be left untreated? Well, it depends – some patients that seek medical help may be told that their hernia is not big enough and that surgery may be too risky. In some cases, a doctor might actually give the OK to leave a hernia untreated.
Although, generally speaking, if you have a hernia that continues to grow then the sooner you can get an operation the better. This is because although rare there is a greater risk of strangulation if your hernia is not treated in time.
The bottom line is that whatever your situation is if you believe you have a hernia and haven’t been to see a doctor you must do this. It may not be serious for sure but it may also be a lot more serious than you think.
If you don’t have a hernia and this is a potential condition that worries you I will write a bit about this below.
How To Avoid A Hernia (Precautions)
If you are anything like me and you wonder what can be done to avoid this health condition from occurring in the first place there are a few things you might like to know. Basic things really that you might have already guessed.
- i.) Watch Your Figure – one very common cause for hernias is being overweight. For starters, if this is a problem anyway seriously think about what you can do to lose a few lbs. Make improvements to your diet, get some exercise and speak to a doctor. If you want to know How To Avoid a Hernia this is the first thing. Read more here...
- ii.) Avoid Heavy Lifting – Another very common cause for hernias is heavy-lifting. Do not try to show off – one mistake trying to lift something too heavy can cause the damage that results in a hernia. Just be mindful of what you’re trying to lift. If you think something is too heavy think about how you can manage the situation differently.
- iii.) Coughing and Straining – These ideas might seem ridiculous but they really are not. If you have a violent cough talk to a doctor. In any case, you should look to get this under control but this can cause a hernia. Same with if you suffer from constipation – get it sorted because straining is another cause of hernias.
Can Hernias Be Naturally Treated?
The golden question. Anyone diagnosed with any type of hernia will likely wonder this. If there is a safe alternative to the operating table. Whatever the reason going under the knife is a scary thought. Many will wonder if there is another way.
In fact, some people with hernias may be refused an operation. They may be told to lose weight first or that the operation itself may be too dangerous. In any case, can hernias be naturally treated?
So, I want to tread carefully here with this answer. No and Yes.
If you have a hernia the hard truth is that surgery is the only way to repair it. In that respect no but you can treat a hernia in some situations to help make them decrease in size.
This may be convenient if you need to prolong surgery for any reason, or if surgery is not possible.
I will share a few tips I have found online below…
Ways To Shrink the Size of Hernias
Please note – this should only be considered as a short solution with surgery the long term goal.
Usually, these are things that the doctors may recommend anyway.
- i.) For the first method a hernia patient will lay down in a bed in what is called the Trendelenburg position. This is for Inguinal hernias only. The body and feet are slightly elevated with the aim that some of the hernia tissue will go back to where it came from on the other side of the abdominal wall.
- ii.) Another method for upper abdominal hernias is to lay on your front in a supine position. Again this is to try to push some of the tissue causing the hernia back into the abdomen.
- iii.) In some situations an ice pack may be used to help reduce the swelling that the hernia is causing.
- iv.) Muscle relaxation techniques such as the use of medication may also be used to aid reductions.
- v.) Some doctors may use a technique of pushing your hernia tissue inwards and back into the abdomen.
Unfortunately, the methods above do include risks. These can include; Strangulation, Obstruction, Gangrene and other infections. Plus these methods can also be very painful. So it is pretty bleak really but one thing to take away is that you can sometimes reduce hernias by changing your eating habits and diet. Avoid eating 2-3 hours before bed. Manage conditions such as heartburn and give up alcohol and smoking.
In Conclusion – How To Avoid a Hernia?
Well, take it easy basically – if this is something that really does worry you. Lose weight if you deem it necessary and avoid trying to lift anything too heavy. Also, if you have a bad cough or constipation seek professional (medical) help.
Here are a few tips that I think summarise this all quite well.
If you need help with weight loss – check out my ‘How To Lose Weight’ homepage here
Disclaimer:
Please understand that any advice or guidelines revealed here are not even remotely a substitute for sound medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider. Make sure to consult with a professional physician before making any purchasing decision if you use medications or have concerns following the details shared above. Individual results may vary as the statements made have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of this information has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Your Feedback – Share Your Thoughts
What do you think of the information I have shared today? Do you have a hernia or is this something you have been interested to learn a bit more about? Do you have any advice to share with other readers?
Please share your feedback along with any questions you might have in the comments section below;
Many thanks for reading and #StayDynamic
Alex B. Chivers
DynamicIdeas4Life.com
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Hi Alex,
Thank you for his very informative article on the different types and treatments of hernia. I am glad I have not had to deal with this issue and hope I never do. But, I am almost 70 so I know I need to watch my weight and go walking every day.
My dad had this condition, I am not sure which hernia, but I know he suffered with several recurring bouts with it. This was also many years ago, and the usual remedy was for the doctor to simply try to push it back into the abdomen. Not pleasant, but they did not have the advanced techniques they have today. And he was overweight and did little to reduce his weight.
I have learned a lot from reading this article, and I will be coming back to learn more. Thank you
Thanks Chas, I appreciate the time you have taken to read this and share your thoughts.
Best regards;
Alex
Hello,
Thanks for the informative article. My husband has had several hernia surgeries and my daughter had double hernia surgery at 2 years old. So crazy, she was so young! I especially like the descriptions of the different types of hernias. It makes it easier to understand why people get them and the treatment for them.
Thanks for sharing,
Erlene
Thanks Erlene, Glad I could get this information down, to be honest. Sounds like you have had some worrying experiences here in the past – especially with your daughter. I hope this can be helpful for other people in future.
Best regards;
Alex