What Is A Hernia
A hernia is a tear in your muscle or tissue that allows part of your insides to bulge out. It can be a bulge of an internal organ or your intestines. Sometimes you can see the hernia, depending on its location and size. Certain activities can worsen the condition, like bending over or lifting heavy objects.
Hernias usually occur in your groin. Inguinal hernias are in the groin and are mostly found in men. Femoral hernias are in the upper thigh near the groin. These are much less common and are mostly found in women. The abdomen is another frequent hernia location. If hernias occur in the midline of the abdomen, they are called ventral hernias. If they occur at the site of a previous surgical scar, they are incisional hernias. Umbilical hernias occur in association with your belly button and are found more commonly in babies.
In a hiatal hernia, part of the upper stomach comes through an opening in your diaphragm, or chest wall. This hernia can cause acid to leak from your stomach into your esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Effects of hiatal hernias include heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux.
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. People also ask, can a hernia cause bloating and gas?
Bloating and constipation.Hernias can sometimes lead to obstruction of the intestines that can result in symptoms related to blockage, like bloating, abdominal cramps and constipation, Krikhely says.
People also ask, can a hernia cause excessive gas?
Sudden Or Worsening Pain
Some hernias cause pain or sensations like aching, heaviness, or weakness. If you notice sudden pain or pain thats gotten significantly worse, it could be a sign of a severe hernia complication called strangulation.
If you have a strangulated hernia, the organ thats pushing through your muscle wall isnt getting blood. This condition is life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment.
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Hernias Trigger Bowel Obstructions
When the small intestine herniates, the intestine becomes restricted and is usually cut off from its blood supply. The restriction also makes it more difficult for digesting materials to pass through into the large intestine.
The severity of this issue varies depending on the level of the hernia and the type of hernia that develops.
Common types of hernias that cause intestinal obstructions include inguinal hernias, femoral hernias, and incisional hernias. Hiatal hernias are another common type of hernia but occur in the upper digestive system.
Unfortunately, a bowel obstruction can cause a multitude of other health issues. In fact, some bowel obstructions may combine and become a potentially deadly set of problems. Seeking immediate care and attention from a doctor will help you minimize and prevent dangerous complications.
How Is An Umbilical Hernia Diagnosed
Your childs healthcare provider will examine your child and feel his abdomen. This is often all that is needed to diagnose the hernia. An ultrasound may be needed in rare cases when the diagnosis is hard to make by exam alone. An ultrasound may show the tissue or organ that is contained within the hernia.
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Can A Femoral Hernia Cause Bowel Problems
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Besides, can a hernia cause bowel problems?
Hernia complicationsA portion of your intestine could also become trapped in the abdominal wall. This is called incarceration. Incarceration can obstruct your bowel and cause severe pain, nausea, or constipation. If the trapped section of your intestines doesnt get enough blood flow, strangulation occurs.
Similarly, can a femoral hernia cause constipation? For inguinal, femoral, umbilical, and incisional hernias, symptoms may include: An obvious swelling beneath the skin of the abdomen or the groin it may disappear when you lie down and may be tender. A heavy feeling in the abdomen that is sometimes accompanied by constipation or blood in the stool.
Then, what happens if a femoral hernia goes untreated?
Nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain may occur with a strangulated hernia. This is a medical emergency. A strangulated intestine can result in necrosis followed by gangrene . This is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgery.
What are the signs of a femoral hernia?
Symptoms of a femoral hernia include a lump in the groin or inner thigh and groin discomfort. It may cause stomach pain and vomiting in severe cases.Strangulated femoral hernia
- sudden, worsening pain and extreme tenderness around a hernia.
- fever.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Inguinal Hernias
To diagnose an inguinal hernia, your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms and perform a physical exam. In some cases, doctors also order imaging tests.
During a physical exam, the doctor will examine your abdomen. The doctor may ask you to stand, cough, or strain while he or she checks for a bulge caused by the hernia. The doctor may try to gently massage the contents of the hernia back into the abdomen.
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Do Symptoms Of Acid Reflux Esophageal Spasms And Hiatal Hernia Really Overlap That Much
There is a continuum of disorders that can affect the esophagus, says gastroenterologist Larry Good, MD, whos been in practice for 40+ years has a private practice in Lynbrook, NY and is affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, a leading provider of personalized care in the U.S.
Dr. Good continues, Patients often equate the presence of a hiatal hernia, the herniation of the stomach above the diaphragm, with GERD. This is not true.
About a third of adults have a hiatal hernia and the vast majority of these patients do not have symptomatic heartburn.
Adding obesity, diabetes mellitus and delayed gastric emptying to the presence of a hiatal hernia is a good recipe for heartburn.
Symptomatic acid reflux occurs when the esophageal lining or mucosa becomes inflamed.
The esophagus is lined with stratified squamous epithelium, so it is exactly like the skin. Imagine how your skin would react to being exposed continuously to hydrochloride acid!
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Hernia Facts And Statistics
- The lifetime risk of a groin hernia is 27% for men and 3% for women.
- Inguinal, femoral and abdominal hernias resulted in 32,000 deaths worldwide in 2013, or 0.5 per 100,000.
- The frequency of surgical correction ranges from 10 per 100,000 to 28 per 100,000 .
Groin hernias occur in approximately 2% of the adult population and 4% of infants. Their relative frequencies are:
- Inguinal 80%
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A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through the wall of muscle that encircles it. A hiatal hernia means that the upper part of your stomach has protruded up into your chest, pushing through the little opening in your diaphragm .
Most of the time, hiatal hernias are so small they might not be felt at all. But if the hernia is a bit larger, it could force the opening in your diaphragm to become larger, too. At that point, the entire stomach and other organs are in danger of sliding up into your chest.
A hiatal hernia can also put undue pressure on your stomach, by squeezing or twisting it. This pressure can make your stomach retain acid, which can then flow up into your esophagus. You could develop chest pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and/or heartburn, and have trouble swallowing or even breathing. The acid may also cause ulcers within the stomach that can bleed and lead to acute or chronic anemia .
There are a few different kinds of hiatal hernias. Type I hernias, or sliding hiatal hernias, are the smallest and most common variety. These hernias cause your stomach to slide through a small opening in the diaphragm, and up into your chest. These often do not require an operation or treatment.
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Do We Need A New Way To Treat Sibo
While SIBO is a relatively new diagnosis, understanding of the process of methanogenesis has existed for decades.
In fact, methanogenesis has already been studied exhaustively in the agricultural world. This is because the production of excessive methane gas by cattle can actually impact the atmosphere.
Because it means there is a time-tested and science-backed way to treat excess methane in the gut caused by SIBO other than just drastically modifying the diet.
This idea was first explored by Dr. Kenneth Brown a board-certified gastroenterologist and clinical researcher.
Instead of trying to starve the bacteria out or obliterate them with antibiotics Dr. Brown wanted to interrupt the process of methanogenesis.
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Symptoms You May Not Expect With A Hernia
When it comes to the symptoms of a hernia, the important thing is to recognize which are the most significant ones so that you can act promptly. Of course, these symptoms only give circumstantial evidence of something that is best diagnosed by a physician. If you are due for a physical, your physician may spot the signs, even if you cant if there is a noticeable bulge somewhere in your body, he/she can also tell whether its a hernia or if it may be something else.
At any rate, its a good idea for you to know whether you have a hernia or notsomething that you probably wont even suspect unless one or more of the symptoms below have popped up. Naturally, the more symptoms arise, the higher the likelihood that you have a hernia. The final determination, though, can best be made by the trained hands and eyes of a physician.
Many of these symptoms you may already know about or have experienced if you have ever had a hernia. This article will talk about five symptoms that are less well-known.
Did you know, for example, that hernias can be fatal in some cases? If more people knew that, then more people would take hernias seriouslymaybe work harder to avoid its risk factors. Then again, many hernias come about because of genetic predisposition and congenital defects that you wouldnt have known about until a hernia developed.
How Is A Hiatal Hernia Treated By A Physician
The only way to fully repair a hernia is through surgery. However, if your symptoms are manageable and not very severe, your doctor can prescribe medications to reduce and inhibit stomach acid production in order to relieve symptoms.
Your doctor can also either diagnose or provide a referral to a specialist to help you determine if surgery is the right option for you.
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Can A Hernia Be Prevented Or Avoided
You cant always prevent hernias. Some are caused by genetics that you cant avoid. A congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect. You also can be born with weak muscles that make it easier to get a hernia later in life.
You can reduce your chance of getting some types of hernias by:
- Eating smaller meals
- Losing weight if youre obese
- Avoiding or limiting alcohol and tobacco
- Avoiding or limiting certain foods
- Using proper lifting techniques to prevent strains
Pain While Bending Over Or Lifting Heavy Objects
Pain and discomfort in your abdomen can signal a hernia even if you dont see a bulge. In particular, if you feel pain, pressure, or discomfort while bending down, lifting things, or coughing, you might want to talk to your doctor. Hernias can also manifest themselves in the form of an uncomfortable tightness in your abdomen or groin. Some rare types of herniassuch as femoral or obturator hernias, in which a part of the bowel pushes into the groin or upper legare less likely to reveal themselves in the form of lumps diagnosing these types can require a CT scan. Here are some more reasons you might have abdominal pain.
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How Is A Ventral Hernia Repaired
Ventral hernias do not go away or get better on their own and require surgery to repair. In fact, without treatment, ventral hernias can get larger and worsen with time. Untreated hernias can become difficult to repair and can lead to serious complications, such as strangulation of a portion of the intestine.
The goal of ventral hernia surgery is to repair the hole/defect in the abdominal wall so that the intestine and other abdominal tissue cannot bulge through the wall again. The surgery often restores the tone and shape of the abdominal wall by repairing the hole and bringing the muscles back to their normal position.
There are three main types of hernia repair surgeries: open, laparoscopic and robotic:
Your surgeon will consider several factors to help determine the best surgical hernia repair method for you, including:
- Your age
- Existing health problems and medical history
- The size of the hernia
- The size and contour of the abdominal wall
- Amount of skin that can be used for the repair, and
- Presence of infection.
Importantly, your hernia repair is tailored to your specific situation based on the goals of the procedure and expected outcomes.
The Connection Between Hernia And Ibs
One thing it’s important for people with IBS or suspected of having IBS to know is that a hernia, especially if it is significant enough, can cause symptoms very similar to IBS. Even a small hernia can cause complications that mimic IBS. That is why some researchers on the issue have cautioned that doctors should always thoroughly evaluate patients who have IBS-like symptoms for an underlying mechanical reason like a hernia and rule it out before simply assuming IBS is the only culprit.1
It is also plausible that having IBS can actually contribute to the development of a hernia. As Mayo Clinic notes, a potential cause of an inguinal hernia is “straining during bowel movements.”2 And as someone with the kind of IBS that occasionally or primarily causes constipation, this kind of straining can become routine, potentially putting those with IBS at higher risk of having hernias. Also, as I’ve written about before, those with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, or EDS , are more likely to have IBS. Yet, since EDS is characterized by weak connective tissue and hernias often push through the connective tissue of the abdominal wall because it is weak or has been weakened, those with EDS are more likely to have both IBS and hernias.3
For now, I will continue to monitor my right side and eventually might have to decide to have my hernia surgically repaired. But I am glad to be aware of it, so I can monitor it.
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Is It Possible For A Gastroenterologist To Identify A Hernia
Tests and Diagnosis
When your doctor is attempting to figure out whats causing your heartburn or another symptom, he or she may uncover a hiatal hernia. A/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: a/an: X-ray with barium. You consume a gritty substance that coats the inside of your esophagus and stomach.
Signs And Symptoms Of Hernias
Hernias are often asymptomatic. The most common symptoms are pain or discomfort , weakness or heaviness in the abdomen, burning or aching sensation at the bulge. Hernias can be particularly felt during standing up, bending down or coughing. Hernias typically flatten or disappear when they are pushed gently back into place or when patients lie down. If the protruding intestine is not pushed back in place, the contents of hernia might be trapped in the abdominal wall, then becoming strangulated which cuts off blood supply to surrounding tissue that is trapped. If signs and symptoms of hernias are indicated, immediate medical attention must be sought in order to receive accurate diagnosis. Other conditions that might have similar symptoms include abdominal mass or tumor, lymphadenitis , hydrocele , testicular torsion and lymphogranuloma venereum, a sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
If the diagnosis is not readily apparent in some cases, radiological imaging tests such as an abdominal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI might be needed. Treatment plans are entirely depending on types and severity of hernias as well as patients overall health status. If hernia is left untreated, the size of protruding intestine might get bigger and become strangulated leading to the reduction of blood flow to surrounding tissue. Urgent treatment must be provided in order to prevent related complications such as bowel obstruction and necrotizing enterocolitis .
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