Hernia Health Feed

Overview
An inguinal hernia occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles. The resulting bulge can be painful, especially when you cough, bend over or lift a heavy object. An inguinal hernia isn’t necessarily dangerous. It doesn’t improve on its own, however, and can lead to life-threatening complications. Your doctor is likely to recommend surgery to fix an inguinal hernia that’s painful or enlarging. Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure.

Symptoms-
Inguinal hernia signs and symptoms include:

• A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you’re upright, especially if you cough or strain
• A burning or aching sensation at the bulge
• Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting
• A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin
• Weakness or pressure in your groin
• Occasionally, pain and swelling around the testicles when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum

Incarcerated hernia
If you aren’t able to push a hernia in, the contents of a hernia can be trapped (incarcerated) in the abdominal wall. An incarcerated hernia can become strangulated, which cuts off the blood flow to the tissue that’s trapped. A strangulated hernia can be life-threatening if it isn’t treated.

Signs and symptoms of a strangulated hernia include:

• Nausea, vomiting or both
• Fever
• Sudden pain that quickly intensifies
• A hernia bulge that turns red, purple or dark
• Inability to move your bowels or pass gas

Signs and symptoms in children-
Inguinal hernias in newborns and children result from a weakness in the abdominal wall that’s present at birth. Sometimes the hernia will be visible only when an infant is crying, coughing or straining during a bowel movement. He or she might be irritable and have less appetite than usual.
In an older child, a hernia is likely to be more apparent when the child coughs, strains during a bowel movement or stands for a long period.

Causes-
Some inguinal hernias have no apparent cause. Others might occur as a result of:

• Increased pressure within the abdomen
• A pre-existing weak spot in the abdominal wall
• A combination of increased pressure within the abdomen and a pre-existing weak spot in the abdominal wall
• Straining during bowel movements or urination
• Strenuous activity
• Pregnancy
• Chronic coughing or sneezing

Risk factors-
Factors that contribute to developing an inguinal hernia include:

• Being male. Men are eight times more likely to develop an inguinal hernia than are women.
• Being older. Muscles weaken as you age.
• Being white.
• Family history. You have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, who has the condition.
• A chronic cough, such as smoking.
• Chronic constipation. Constipation causes straining during bowel movements.
• Pregnancy. Being pregnant can weaken the abdominal muscles and cause increased pressure inside your abdomen.
• Premature birth and low birth weight.
• Previous inguinal hernia or hernia repair. Even if your previous hernia occurred in childhood, you’re at higher risk of developing another inguinal hernia.

Complications-
Complications of an inguinal hernia include:

• Pressure on surrounding tissues-  Most inguinal hernias enlarges over time if not repaired surgically. In men, large hernias can extend into the scrotum, causing pain and swelling.
• Incarcerated hernia- If the contents of a hernia become trapped in the weak point in the abdominal wall, it can obstruct the bowel, leading to severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and the inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas.
• Strangulation- An incarcerated hernia can cut off blood flow to part of your intestine. Strangulation can lead to the death of the affected bowel tissue. A strangulated hernia is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery.

Treatment-

• Open hernia repair- In this procedure, which might be done with local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in your groin and pushes the protruding tissue back into your abdomen. The surgeon then sews the weakened area, often reinforcing it with a synthetic mesh (hernioplasty). The opening is then closed with stitches, staples or surgical glue. After the surgery, you’ll be encouraged to move about as soon as possible, but it might be several weeks before you’re able to resume normal activities.

• Laparoscopy- In this minimally invasive procedure, which requires general anesthesia, the surgeon operates through several small incisions in your abdomen. Gas is used to inflate your abdomen to make the internal organs easier to see. A small tube equipped with a tiny camera (laparoscope) is inserted into one incision. Guided by the camera, the surgeon inserts tiny instruments through other incisions to repair a hernia using synthetic mesh. People who have laparoscopic repair might have less discomfort and scarring after surgery and a quicker return to normal activities. However, some studies indicate that hernia recurrence is more likely with laparoscopic repair than with open surgery.

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.

A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes upward through your diaphragm. Your diaphragm normally has a small opening (hiatus) through which your food tube (esophagus) passes on its way to connect to your stomach. The stomach can push up through this opening and cause a hiatal hernia.

In most cases, a small hiatal hernia doesn't cause problems, and you may never know you have a hiatal hernia unless your doctor discovers it when checking for another condition.

But a large hiatal hernia can allow food and acid to back up into your esophagus, leading to heartburn. Self-care measures or medications can usually relieve these symptoms, although a very large hiatal hernia sometimes requires surgery.

Causes - a hiatal hernia occurs when weakened muscle tissue allows your stomach to bulge up through your diaphragm. It's not always clear why this happens, but pressure on your stomach and age-related changes in your diaphragm may contribute to the formation of a hiatal hernia.

How a hiatal hernia forms?

Your diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdomen. Normally, your esophagus passes into your stomach through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus.

Hiatal hernias occur when the muscle tissue surrounding this opening becomes weak, and the upper part of your stomach bulges up through the diaphragm into your chest cavity.

Possible causes of hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernia could be caused by:

•  injury to the area
•  being born with an unusually large hiatus
•  persistent and intense pressure on the surrounding muscles, such as when coughing, vomiting or straining during a bowel movement, or while lifting heavy objects

Symptoms - most small hiatal hernias cause no signs or symptoms. However, larger hiatal hernias can cause signs and symptoms such as:

• heartburn
• belching
• difficulty swallowing
• chest or abdominal pain
• feeling especially full after meals
• vomiting blood or passing black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding

Risk factors - hiatal hernia is most common in people who are:

• age 50 or older
• obese

Homoeopathic medicines
Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When hiatus hernia is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in homoeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

Calcarea carbonicum 200 - Calcarea carb is an excellent remedy for hiatus hernia, and it helps for strengthening the relaxed weak muscles. Calcarea carb is suitable for fat, flabby obese persons who perspire profusely. Heartburn and loud belching. Frequent sour belching, sour vomiting of curdled milk. Cramps in stomach, worse pressure, cold water. Swelling over pit of stomach like a saucer turned bottom up. Pain in epigastric region to touch. Aggravation while eating. There is a special craving for indigestible things like chalk, coal, pencils etc.

Robinia 3x - Robinia is one of the effective medicines for hiatus hernia with heartburn and acidity of stomach. S our stomach. Great acidity of stomach at night on lying down. Nausea with sour belching. Profuse vomiting of an intensely sour fluid. Heavy, aching, dullness in stomach. Very severe, sharp pains in stomach all day and night. Great distension of stomach and bowels

Phosphorus 200 - Phosphorus is another remedy for hiatus hernia with sour taste and sour eructations after every meal. Belching large quantities of wind after eating. Throws up foods by the mouthfuls. Water is thrown up as soon as it gets warm in the stomach. Pain in stomach, relieved by cold foods, ices etc.

Natrum phos 30 - Natrum phos is prescribed where heartburn and sour belching are present. Belchings after eating. Spits mouthfuls of food. Vomiting of sour cheesy masses, especially in the morning. Heaviness and pressure in the epigastrium.

Carbo vegetabilis 3x - Carbo vegetabilis is excellent for hiatus hernia with difficulty in breathing. A contractive pains extending to chest with distension of abdomen. Waterbrash, asthmatic breathing from flatulence. Belching after eating and drinking, temporary relief from belching. Eating the simplest kind of food causes sour belching. Belching, heaviness, fullness and sleepiness, tense fro flatulence with pain, worse lying down. Epigastric region is very sensitive.

Abies nigra 30 - Abies nigra is effective for hiatus hernia with a sensation as if a hard boiled egg had lodged in the cardiac end of the stomach. A distressing and constriction just above the pit of the stomach, as if everything were knotted up. Pain in stomach immediately after eating. Waterbrash with choked feeling in the throat.

Nux vomica 30 - Nux vomica is best for hiatus hernia with great sensitivity in the area of stomach. Complaints after taking highly spicy food, coffee and alcoholic drinks. Waterbrash, sour and bitter risings, nausea and vomiting. Indigestion with hiatis hernia. The patient is highly irritable and sensitive to noise and light.

Lycopodium clavatum 200 - Lycopodium is indicated for hiatus hernia with great weakness of digestion with much bloating, heartburn and indigestion after takin flatulent food, cabbage, beans, oysters and onions. Belchings rise only to pharynx. Patient prefers hot food and hot drinks. Craving for sweets.

Pulsatilla nigricans 30 - Pulsatilla is effective for hiatus hernia where the complaints arise after taking fatty, rich foods. Stomach disordered and feels heavy. Waterbrash with foul taste in the morning.

Heartburn and tight feeling in stomach
 

When an organ residing in a cavity such as the abdomen tries to push through the muscular layer it resides, it is called as hernia.

Though said to be genetic, hernias can be caused by things such as improper heavy lifting, incorrect posture, or chronic constipation and as a result of surgical complication or injury. Factors like obesity, pregnancy, smoking and chronic lung disease aggravate the severity of the hernia. It is believed that about 27% of all males and 3% of females can have a hernia during their lifetime.

Types of hernias:

Inguinal hernia - The groin is the most common area, where the abdomen pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall, causing a protrusion into the inguinal canal. More common in men than women.

Hiatal hernia - The abdomen has the diaphragm separating it from the thoracic cavity in the upper border. When it pushes through the diaphragm, a hernia is caused and there is almost always associated food reflux in these cases. Though the most common cause is associated old age, due to muscle weakness, there also are cases of congenital hiatal hernias.

Umbilical hernia - The abdomen finds a weak layer along its length and protrudes through the skin on the stomach. Most commonly seen in babies around the bellybutton, it gradually corrects itself on its own. Quiet rare in adults, seen during pregnancy and in chronic obese people.

Incisional - These are post-surgical, and happen when the organ protrudes through the weakened wall due to surgery. The abdomen is again the most common area and the hernia can happen either onto the external surface or internally, when they are called ventral hernias.

These are the most frequent types, though hernia affects other organs like the spine, brain, appendix, etc.

Treatment - This includes a combination of constant monitoring followed by a decision to do surgical treatment. Hiatal hernias and umbilical hernias can be monitored for a while before deciding on surgery. Inguinal hernias may require surgery earlier in the stage. Post-surgery, a mesh is placed to hold back the tissue in its corrected place. The umbilical hernia in children could be self-limiting. If it does not get auto-corrected in the first year of life, that also would qualify for a surgical treatment.

Dependent on each patient, hernias need to be managed under medical supervision.

When an organ residing in a cavity such as the abdomen tries to push through the muscular layer it resides, it is called as hernia.
Though said to be genetic, hernias can be caused by things such as improper heavy lifting, incorrect posture, or chronic constipation and as a result of surgical complication or injury. Factors like obesity, pregnancy, smoking, chronic lung disease aggravate the severity of the hernia. It is believed that about 27% of all males and 3% of females can have a hernia during their lifetime.

Types of hernias:
 

Inguinal hernia - The groin is the most common area, where the abdomen pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall, causing a protrusion into the inguinal canal. More common in men than women.

Hiatal hernia - The abdomen has the diaphragm separating it from the thoracic cavity in the upper border. When it pushes through the diaphragm, a hernia is caused and there is almost always associated food reflux in these cases. Though the most common cause is associated old age, due to muscle weakness, there also are cases of congenital hiatal hernias.

Umbilical hernia - The abdomen finds a weak layer along its length and protrudes through the skin on the stomach. Most commonly seen in babies around the bellybutton, it gradually corrects itself on its own. Quiet rare in adults, seen during pregnancy and in chronic obese people.

Incisional - These are post-surgical, and happen when the organ protrudes through the weakened wall due to surgery. The abdomen is again the most common area and the hernia can happen either onto the external surface or internally, when they are called ventral hernias.
These are the most frequent types, though hernia affects other organs like the spine, brain, appendix, etc.

Treatment

 This includes a combination of constant monitoring followed by a decision to do surgical treatment. Hiatal hernias and umbilical hernias can be monitored for a while before deciding on surgery. Inguinal hernias may require surgery earlier in the stage. Post-surgery, a mesh is placed to hold back the tissue in its corrected place. The umbilical hernia in children could be self-limiting. If it does not get auto-corrected in the first year of life, that also would qualify for a surgical treatment.
Dependent on each patient, hernias need to be managed under medical supervision.