Did you know that more than 5 million people in the United States alone suffer from hernias? A hernia is a relatively common problem that tends to affect men more commonly than women. Hernias are often mild, but they can be severe in some cases, and they may even require surgery.
Hernia prevention, of course, is the best way to ensure that you won’t have to deal with hernia problems anytime soon. While there is no sure way to prevent yourself from ever getting a hernia, you can certainly minimize your chances by following certain actions and avoiding others. But where should you start, and what exactly is a hernia?
Keep reading and learn more about it below.
What You Need To Know About Hernias
What many people don’t know is that there are several different types of hernias that can affect different parts of the body. Some hernias are more common in certain genders than others. For example, men are more likely to get inguinal hernias.
The first thing you should know is that a hernia is essentially when a piece of muscle or intestine is pinched by a separation in the muscle. In the case of an inguinal hernia, this is when a portion of the intestine gets caught either in the lower part of the muscles of the abdominal wall or in the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is located in the groin.
Hernias affecting this area are some of the most commonly occurring hernias of all. Besides the intestines protruding from this area, part of the bladder may also get pinched in the groin. This is not a very common type of hernia in women.
There are also other types of hernias, such as femoral hernia. This particular hernia is more common in women, and it involves the femoral artery. Specifically, the femoral artery travels through a canal in the leg that connects to the inside of the pelvis.
The Details
A femoral hernia involves part of the intestine slipping into this artery canal. There are also other types of hernias to consider, such as umbilical hernias, hiatal hernias, and more. Whatever the case, every type of hernia has something to do with part of the body, usually the intestine, slipping into a place where it doesn’t belong.
This can create pain and tenderness in the area, especially when the area is touched. In some cases, hernias may go away on their own, especially if the hernia is very mild. However, in more serious cases, more invasive treatment may be necessary.
There are some cases in which a portion of the intestine can be twisted or blocked due to a hernia. This is a serious problem since it could cause an intestinal blockage, or it may cut off blood circulation to that part of the intestine, potentially causing that portion to die. In this case, surgery is usually necessary to fix the problem.
But how can you prevent hernias from occurring in the first place?
How To Prevent Hernias
In some cases, preventing hernias will be out of your control. This is more common in those who have had recent surgeries in their abdomens or groins. However, in most cases, there are certain things you can do or avoid that will lessen your risk of getting a hernia.
As mentioned before, the most common type of hernia is an inguinal hernia which involves part of the intestine poking through the muscles of the groin. Hernias usually occur when there is too much pressure in the lower abdomen. This will cause the intestine to poke through a weak part of the muscle.
For that reason, the main thing you can do to prevent hernias is to lessen any excess pressure that may occur in the abdomen. For example, carrying heavy objects can often cause a hernia if you’re not careful. This is because carrying anything heavy will put more pressure on your abdomen and may cause a hernia, especially if the muscles in your abdominal wall and groin area are weak.
For that reason, it will be a good idea to avoid carrying heavy objects. If you have to carry something, try to split up the load so that it isn’t as heavy. Besides that, being overweight is another factor that may cause hernias.
What You Need to Know
This is because the natural weight of your body will put more pressure on your abdomen, which will make hernias more likely. In general, people who are overweight are more likely to develop hernias, especially umbilical hernias, which occur near the navel rather than the groin. There are also certain exercises you can do that can help strengthen your muscles without putting too much pressure on the abdomen.
This will make hernias less likely to happen in the future since your muscles will be stronger. Certain exercises that can be helpful involve yoga, cycling, and jogging. At the same time, try to avoid exercises that put too much pressure on your abdomen, such as jumping jacks or squats, as these exercises may actually be more likely to increase your risk of developing hernias if you are already prone to getting them.
All About Hernia Prevention
Hernia prevention is important to consider, especially if you are prone to developing hernias. Hernias come about when there is too much pressure in the abdomen and part of the intestine pokes through the muscles in the abdominal wall. You can prevent them by avoiding heavy loads, losing weight, and doing certain exercises.
In some cases, surgery is the only option. To learn more, contact us here.