Hernia or what in Ayurveda is known as Antra Vriddhi, is a condition that takes place when an internal organ in your abdomen gets displaced and protrudes outward, giving rise to swelling in the abdominal region. 
Even though you can develop a hernia anywhere in your body, it mostly occurs in the abdominal region and can affect both men and women at any age.

The causes of hernia are: 
Even though hernia can be a hereditary condition, certain factors can contribute in causing it. These are:
1.   Persistent coughing
2.   Putting excess pressure while passing faeces
3.   Straining your abdominal muscles by exercising or lifting objects that are heavy
4.   Obesity
5.   Buildup of fluid in your abdominal cavity

Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that indicate you have hernia include a visible, hard protrusion, development of soft lumps and pain. However, some people may not experience any symptoms at all. Hernia can be of many types, depending on the part of the body affected and even varying on the basis of your gender. In worst cases, you may require surgery but Ayurveda can cure your hernia completely without the need of you going through a surgical process.

How does Ayurveda help?
Ayurveda helps in curing your hernia by focussing on your diet. If you follow these rules, you can cure yourself of hernia completely.

1.   Reduce the amount of food you eat in a day and take small meals frequently instead of the standard three meals.
2.   While eating, make sure you eat your food slowly.
3.   Drink lots of water and other fluids, but do not consume aerated drinks
4.   It is advised not to take water with your meals, but only to drink a glass of water an hour after and half an hour before each meal. By doing this, you reduce your chances of getting heartburn and aid in the proper functioning of the digestive system.
5.   Eating any form of raw food, such as uncooked meat and vegetables is strictly forbidden along with processed foods such as bread, cakes, cookies etc. However, when eating cooked food, make sure it's lightly cooked and not overcooked.
6.   Having a glass of juice freshly squeezed from vegetables or fruits is recommended, especially carrot juice as it is enriched with calcium and vitamin A that help in the healing process.
7.   Make sure that whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits are a part of your diet.
8.   Lastly, go for a walk after each meal and do not sleep after eating, especially if you've had a heavy meal.

Hernia : Ayurveda Treatment for Hernia Problem

Laparoscopy surgery is a very vital component of the hernia repair. Studies have shown that many patients have a better outcome when they opt for laparoscopic surgery. Candidates eligible for this mode of surgery include those with bilateral inguinal hernias, ventral hernias, and recurrent hernia. People associated with athletics and other outdoor sports prefer to go for a laparoscopic hernia surgery as it ensures a speedy recovery and minimal tissue invasion (due to small incisions).

Laparoscopic hernia repair- inguinal
A laparoscopic surgery requires an incision of 1-2 cm at the belly (at the lower end). Two small punctures are done near the umbilicus. The punctures are done to make room for the cameras so that the surgeon is able to view the abdomen clearly. The smaller incisions allows the operating instrument to enter into the stomach.

The Procedure:
A balloon is placed in between the abdomen and the overlying muscle so that the peritoneum can be separated. When space is successfully made, the camera comes into the action to view the condition of a hernia. A hernia is pulled from its hole into the abdomen. Once the hole is detected, the defect of a hernia is fixed.

Laparoscopic hernia repair- incisional/ventral: Laparoscopic hernia repair is suitable for all types of a hernia such as an umbilical hernia, ventral hernia, recurrent umbilical hernia, epigastric hernia etc. Just like an inguinal hernia, A camera is placed into the abdomen through the muscles. Two small incisions are made for the operating instruments to get through. This is followed by the cutting of the tissue that is placed between a hernia and the intestine. The hole thus gets exposed. Through one of the laparoscopic ports, the hernia mesh gets rolled and is placed into the abdomen. A hernia is then pulled up and the mesh gets secured with 4 sutures. A special device is used to fix the healthy muscle.

Tension free repair: Tension free  repair is often used to symbolize hernia surgery. A hernia is often triggered by the weakened muscles. Few surgeons endeavors to sew the muscle around the area of a hernia. Since the muscles surrounding the hernia are weak in the first place, they pull apart causing a recurrence of a hernia. To avoid this, most surgeons use a mesh to strengthen the cells around the hernia region. This procedure ensures that the muscles aren t sewn but the mesh placed over the hole can prevent the muscle to push through the walls of the abdomen.

The use of mesh: There are some reservations about using the mesh in a hernia surgery. However, this is the safest and most appropriate way to perform a hernia laparoscopic surgery. The use of a mesh also negates the risk of open incisions and recurrence of a hernia.

Types of Hernia - How Laproscopy Can Help Manage?

A hernia is a condition where fatty tissue or an organ in your body might bulge through a muscle or an abnormal opening in the body. It is caused mainly due to pressure in the muscle area or weakening in the spot. This may occur due to heavy lifting or weakness that was present since birth.

The different types of hernia are inguinal, incisional, hiatal, umbilical and femoral. For inguinal hernias, surgical methods are used. The most common method is laparoscopic repair.

What is laparoscopic hernia surgery?

In this process, you will be given general anaesthesia before the surgeon performs the surgery. Before undergoing the operation, you will have an evaluation of your complete health that will include an analysis of your past medical history and a physical examination. An electrocardiogram or ECG will also be conducted. 

Then a small cut or incision is made in the lower part of your abdomen below the navel. The laparoscope that is a small telescope-like instrument is inserted to view your internal organs. A video camera is attached to the device that projects the internal view of your body on to a screen. This is viewed by the surgeon in the operating room.

During the process, your abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide, to create some space for the doctor to look inside easily. The inner abdomen lining called peritoneum is cut open to observe the weakness of the abdominal wall or the location of the hernia sac. After locating it, the surgeon will remove the hernia sac from the wall and use a prosthetic mesh to cover the defect. Then the small incisions are closed with surgical tapes or stitches.

Furthermore, if hernias are found on both sides, they can be operated without making a second incision. The mesh can be placed on all the abdominal areas that are weak. This prevents the hernia to occur in the same spot again or spreading to other areas.

However, laparoscopic surgery is not performed for children. It is also not suitable for some cases such as if you are pregnant, or cannot tolerate general anaesthesia or are obese. 

Aftercare

You will be able to go back home on the same day of the surgery after laparoscopic hernia repair. The recovery time lasts for about 1 to 2 weeks. After that period you can return to light activity like walking. However, you must not engage in any kind of strenuous activity like working out or lifting heavy objects.

You might observe soreness after the first 2 days of the surgery. In some cases, bruising is found in your groin area. But if you observe significant swelling in the groin region, contact the doctor immediately.

It is recommended that you maintain a diet that is rich in fibre. This is because if you suffer from constipation, the straining during your bowel movements might put pressure on the area that is repaired.

People prefer laparoscopic hernia repair as they suffer lesser pain and can get back to their normal lives faster than open repair surgeries. It is advised that you take the medications and follow the instruction of your surgeon properly after the procedure. 

 



 Laparoscopic Hernia Repair - What Should You Know?

Recovery from a hernia after the surgery will need a time of approximately 2-3 weeks. The time for recovery also depends upon the surgery performed. An open surgery performed through a large incision across the region of a hernia will require a longer hospital stay and a longer time for recovery, whereas, in contrast, a laparoscopic surgery performed with 2-3 small incisions will heal faster and will need a shorter hospitalization.

The recovery process can be speeded up by taking appropriate care, and recovery tips for it are as follows:

Medication should regularly be taken as recommended by the doctor to lessen the symptoms of the surgery. 
Wound care should be taken properly. 
Dressings should be kept clean and dry, and they need to be changed very frequently in order to avoid the infection.
A persistent cough and sneezing need to be treated with the proper medication. 
Keep a pillow nearby. 
Every time while coughing and sneezing hold the pillow over the suture in order to prevent pressure on the sutures. 
Use an abdominal binder of a proper size. It supports the abdominal muscle and maintains abdominal pressure.
Use clothing which is expandable and has elastic waistbands whenever there is swelling. 
Swelling over the incision is a common complication after the surgery. Thus, the incision area should not be closed tightly by wearing tight clothing. 
Wearing expandable cloths will give more comfort and will not cause pain due to pressure. Take a stool softener before and after surgery. 
Constipation should be treated before the surgery and should be avoided after the surgery by using stool softeners. 
Straining for the stools will create pressure over the incision and hernia repair site and will delay the recovery. 
Eat healthy food. The food should be fiber-rich as it will help to improve the bowel movements, and it will avoid the risk of constipation.
Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation and improve the bowel movement.
Do not bend to pick up the things or maintain personal hygiene, i.e., cutting toenails as it will create pressure on the sutures and it may break open.
Avoid lifting of any objects as it will create pressure on sutures and will increase the risk of rupture. After a certain period of time, lift only light items (less than 20 pounds), and always use back muscles and knees. 
Do moderate exercises, such as walking, as it will speed up the recovery. Do not start with heavy exercises. 
Smoking should be avoided after the surgery as it will improve breathing and blood circulation, which will help in the healing process.

Hernia Surgery: Quick Recovery Tips!

Hernia surgery is performed for the correction of a hernia which refers to the bulging of internal organs or tissues through an abnormal opening. It is easy to detect hernia through any pain or discomfort while lifting heavy objects, cough and strain during urination or bowel movements or during prolonged standing or sitting. It can be found in both men and women. The Hernia can be congenital or can be developed over a period of time. If it doesn t get better over time and also does not go away by itself, then surgery becomes the only option.

Types of Surgery
There are two types of surgery for hernia treatment. One is the conventional open method, which requires an incision in the skin directly over the hernia. The other one is the Laparoscopic hernia repair in which surgery is performed using a small telescope known as a laparoscope. In this type of surgery minimal invasions are made and the hernia is repaired with only small incisions adjacent to the hernia. Most hernia operations are performed on an outpatient basis, which means that you can go home the very same day.

Tips for early recovery

    Wear comfortable clothing with expandable waistbands.
    Keep yourself active by moving around as much as you can as it increases circulation, which further speeds up healing.
    Eat a diet rich in fibre, fresh fruits and vegetables.
    Drink lots of water and other fluids to avoid constipation.
    Do not lift any objects even if it is very light as it can bring back pain.
    Do not to pick up things from the floor as it will be difficult to bend.
    Hold a pillow against your stomach while sneezing or coughing to lessen the pain.
    Use stool softener for a few days before and after surgery to help you with your bowel movements.
    Avoid driving till the time you feel any pain and as long as you are taking narcotic pain medicines.
    Band-Aids which cover the incisions should be changed as and when needed.
    Refrain yourself from intercourse as it can be painful.
    Check with your doctor when to take a shower so as not to hurt your incisions, and make sure to gently dry your incisions and replace the Band-Aids after taking a shower.
    Do not consume any alcoholic drinks for at least 24 hours.

The tips mentioned above will definitely provide help to cope up with post surgery blues. However, in case of fever, excessive sweating, difficulty in urinating, bleeding or any prolonged pain consult your doctor immediately.

Hernia Surgery - 13 Tips to Help You Recover from it

What do we mean by a hiatal hernia?

The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm (the muscular wall) which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. Normally, the esophagus (food pipe) goes through the hiatus and attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening.

What does statistical data say about a hiatal hernia?

Statistically, approximately 60% of individuals who are above age 50 or older have a hiatal hernia.

In which age group is hiatal hernia very common?

The incidence of hiatal hernias increases with age. It is commonly seen in the older age people specifically in people who are above 50. 

What are the causes of hiatal hernia?

The most common risk factors are as follows: 

Obesity Congenital deformities, such as scoliosis
Certain types of surgery
Major trauma
Conditions which causes an increase in abdominal pressure within the abdomen, such as heavy lifting, or bending over, frequent or violent coughing, violent sneezing, violent vomiting, and straining during bowel movements
What are the types of a hiatal hernia?

There are four types of a hiatal hernia and they are as follows:

Sliding hiatal hernia: This is the most common variant of a hiatal hernia. It occurs when your stomach and esophagus slide into and out of your chest through the hiatus. It is usually asymptomatic.
Fixed hiatal hernia: It is also known as a paraesophageal hernia. In a fixed hernia, part of the stomach pushes through diaphragm and stays there.
Type III hiatal hernia: In this type, as a hernia goes on increasing, the phrenoesophageal ligament stretches and displaces the gastroesophageal junction above the diaphragm
Type IV hiatal hernia: Type IV hiatal hernia includes a large defect in the phrenoesophageal ligament causing other organs, such as colon, spleen, pancreas and small intestine to enter the hernia sac.
What are the sign and symptoms of hiatal hernia?

Common symptoms include:

Heartburn
Chest pain or epigastric pain, coughing
Difficulty in swallowing
Belching, eructation, and hiccups
How to diagnose the condition?

To diagnose this condition following tests or procedures are included:

X-ray of the chest and abdomen Barium follow-through examination of gastrointestinal tract (GI) to visualize GI tract.
Upper endoscopy for examining the esophagus and stomach from inside Esophageal manometry for measuring the rhythmic muscular contractions of esophagus while swallowing, and also, measuring the force exerted by the muscles of esophagus.
What is the treatment available for it?

It includes medications and surgery which are as follows:

Antacids to neutralize stomach acid and to reduce acid production
Medications that heal the esophagus 
Surgery of opening of diaphragm to make it smaller and for reconstruction of an esophageal sphincter

Hiatal Hernia - How Is it Diagnosed?

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