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

A hernia occurs when a weakened area of muscle in the abdominal wall gives way and the internal organ/tissue bulges out through this weakened are or  defect'. This can happen in many different areas of the abdomen. A hernia that develops in the groin region is called "inguinal hernia". It may be very painful especially if a part of the intestine gets trapped in the bulge.

The only treatment option is surgical repair as the weakened area "defect" needs to be repaired and will likely need reinforcement by a prosthetic material called a "mesh". Doctors may resort to Open Surgery or Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair depending on his/her evaluation of the patient. 

Who is a candidate for Laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred treatment option for most people with inguinal hernia. Special situations in which laparoscopic surgery is much superior to open are

  Failure of a previous open surgical repair. Laparoscopic surgery is performed from "behind" the hernia and abdominal wall in comparison to open surgery which is performed from "the front". So, in case of failure of the open surgery, laparoscopic surgery is done through a fresh, non-scarred area and is technically safer and easier than doing an open surgery once again.

  If there are hernias on both sides and both need to be repaired at the same time, laparoscopy has a great advantage as both the hernias can be tackled and repaired through the same three tiny cuts, and two separate large incisions need not be made. 

Who is Not a Candidate for Laparoscopic Surgery?

The person is not a candidate for Laparoscopic Surgery if he has:

  Some patients who have undergone previous Abdominal Surgery or prostate surgery may not be suitable candidates for laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery.

  Some underlying medical conditions, that make him unfit for general anaesthesia, as usually laparoscopic surgery can only be done under general anaesthesia.

How Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Is Carried Out?

In a Laparoscopic Intervention, two to three small incisions are made in the lower abdominal area. The laparoscope is passed through one of these incisions and the surgical instruments are inserted through the other incisions. The abdominal cavity is inflated using Carbon Dioxide to help the surgeon visualize the lower abdominal area clearly. Using the laparoscope, the surgeon visualizes the Hernia and uses long instruments to operate on it. She covers the hernia with a mesh and may fix the mesh to abdominal muscles using either stitches or stapler-like instruments.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery

1. Two or three tiny cuts (5-10 mm in size), hence there is less pain after laparoscopic surgery

2. Better cosmetic results

3. Quicker recovery

4. Early return to daily activities like walking, working, etc

5. Shorter hospital stay 

Role of Laparoscopic Surgeon In comparison to many other minimally invasive surgeries:

Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair is more demanding in terms of technical capability of the surgeon. In general, Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair is more difficult to carry out in obese people than others. However, if the doctor is well trained and technically advanced with long experience, he can carry out such minimally invasive surgeries smoothly irrespective of the BMI of the patient. Everybody is not a candidate for Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair.

It is the doctor who decides if a particular patient is suitable for such surgery or not. However, the conclusive factor in any such repair is the experience and expertise of the doctor. This is why there are not many Laparoscopic Surgeons who carry out Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repairs. Owing to the complexity of this procedure, it is important to get it done from an expert surgeon only.

Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair !

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, is not life threatening, but is commonly experienced by a number of people. You will experience hernia when an organ pushes through the muscles or tissues surrounding them. A hernia can occur anywhere in the body. The most common areas affected by it are the abdominal area, upper thigh, groin and belly button. In most cases, a surgery is required to treat this condition.

There are 4 common types of hernias. These are:

Inguinal hernia: This is the most common type of hernia and affects more men than women. It occurs when the intestines push through the lower abdominal wall into the inguinal canal.
Hiatal hernia:This commonly affects elderly people and occurs when the stomach pushes upwards through the diaphragm. It may also affect children if they are born with a congenital birth defect.
Umbilical hernia: This affects children and occurs when the intestine pushes through abdominal wall near the bellybutton.
Incisional hernia:This occurs after an abdominal surgery when the intestine pushes through the scar or other weak tissues.
A hernia can develop overnight or over a period of time. It can be triggered by many factors that cause weakening of muscles and strain the body.

Some of these are:

Congenital defects such as the abdominal wall failing to close properly
Age
Persistent coughing
Surgical errors or injuries
Pressure on the abdomen caused by pregnancy
Straining as a result of constipation
Collection of fluid in the abdomen
Heavy weight lifting
Excess weight gain
If anyone in your family has a hernia, you are at a high risk of suffering from one as well. Being obese and smoking can also increase your risk. Cystic fibrosis can also indirectly trigger a hernia by causing a persistent cough.Sometimes a hernia has no symptoms. A bulge in the affected area is the most common symptom of a hernia.

Some other symptoms that you may notice are:

Pain in the affected area
Weakness or pressure in the abdomen
A burning or aching sensation in the affected area
Acid reflux
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor or ask a free question.

Things to know about Hernia

Hernias are quite common and occur more in men than in women. When left untreated, the condition gets very painful, and sometimes become life-threatening. Hence, ignoring a painful hernia is a bad idea, and seeking medical assistance is necessary. To know more about the condition and the treatment available, read on.

What is a hernia?
A hernia refers to an abnormal exit of an organ or tissues. When a fatty tissue or an organ squeezes or penetrates through a weak spot of the surrounding connective tissues or muscles, the condition hernia appears. Though there are various types of a hernia, it is an inguinal hernia and the ventral hernia that are two of the most common types.

Inguinal hernia
When the bladder or the intestine protrudes into the groin's inguinal canal or extends through the abdominal wall, it is referred to as an inguinal hernia. Around 96% of the groin hernias that occur are usually inguinal hernia. It is due to the weakness in the groin area of men that men commonly suffer from this kind of a hernia.

Ventral hernia
A ventral hernia is a type of a hernia that develops in the abdominal wall's front. Usually, it occurs at the weak areas of the abdomen such as the location of a previous surgery. Varying in sizes, it may be small to complex and large, these hernias may appear weeks or months or sometimes years after surgery. The various types of a ventral hernia are an epigastric hernia, umbilical hernia, incisional hernia, Spigelian hernia and parastomal hernia.

Complications, if left untreated...

If left untreated, your hernia may grow and become more painful. A portion of your intestine could become trapped in the abdominal wall. This can obstruct your bowel and cause severe pain, nausea, or constipation. An untreated hernia can also put too much pressure on nearby tissues. This can cause swelling and pain in the surrounding area. If the trapped section of your intestines doesn t get enough blood flow, strangulation occurs. This can cause the intestinal tissue to become infected or die. A strangulated hernia is life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.

Treatment Options--

Open surgery
Open surgery for treating hernia is the most traditional and old surgical practice. To perform this common type of hernia surgery, local anesthesia is required, while an incision of around 4 to 5 cm is made in a hernia affected area. Even the most complex and large hernias can be easily treated through such surgeries. Open hernia surgery usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Laparoscopic surgery
Compared to the open surgery, laparoscopic surgery requires more time, around an hour or so and is one of the modern surgical processes. Though long-standing or chronic or large hernias cannot be removed through laparoscopy as easily as in open surgery, still, when it comes to smaller incision and quicker recovery time, it is definitely the laparoscopic hernia surgery that is chosen by many. But the costs for laparoscopic surgery is a bit higher than that of the open surgery.

Remember, both women and men can get a hernia at any age. People can even be born with a congenital hernia or develop a hernia over time. A hernia neither goes away all by itself, nor it gets healed over time. Getting operated, in the majority of cases, is usually considered to be the best option to get rid of this condition.

Hernia (Inguinal Or Ventral) And The Surgical Treatment Options Available!

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?

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