Hernias can be incredibly painful and disruptive. They can put your plans on hold, especially if you’re trying to work out and build your strength, and you have to deal with a potentially dangerous health condition. If you’ve suffered from a hernia before, you can also get one again.
So, what is a hernia, what causes them, and what can you do about them? This article will give you some information and hopefully some helpful advice to help you recover from a hernia and prevent another one.
What is a Hernia?
There are a few different types of hernia, but they present in similar ways. A hernia is when a piece of tissue or an organ bulges through the abdominal wall. It can present as a visible bulge or bump under your skin, and hernias are often quite painful.
The type of hernia it is can depend on where it is located. You can get hernias on the chest, around the stomach, or around the groin and upper thigh.
The hernia might move about or even disappear and reappear. Some hernias are minor, but they can be serious enough to be a medical emergency. If you think you have a hernia, it’s best to seek medical help.
Risk Factors for Hernias
A hernia can seemingly appear from out of nowhere, but they often happen when your abdominal muscles are stressed. You might get a hernia through repeated lifting heavy weights or even laughing.
There are risk factors that make hernias more likely. For example, older people are more likely to have more wear and tear in the muscles under their skin. Obesity and smoking can also make hernias more likely, even in younger people.
Knowing the risk factors for a hernia can help you prevent them from happening or reoccurring if you’ve had one before. For example, losing weight can reduce the risk of a hernia if you’re overweight or obese, and stopping smoking could also help. Of course, some risk factors, like old age, can’t be helped, but it’s good to be aware of how hernias can happen.
Recovering From a Hernia
Unfortunately, hernias don’t heal on their own. Generally, the primary type of treatment for a hernia is surgery. Most hernia surgeries are quite simple, meaning that you can recover relatively quickly.
Laparoscopic or keyhole hernia surgery is a common option, because it only involves a small incision. This makes recovery much easier and the surgery itself is a lower risk. Depending on the hernia or the situation, however, you may need open surgery.
Always follow the advice of your doctor in recovery. Look out for signs of infection, like excessive pain or a fever. Even when you’re sent home after your surgery, you should try to get someone to check on you until you’re relatively recovered. You should also arrange a checkup with your doctor after your recovery to make sure things have gone well and to get some targeted advice to lower your risk of another hernia.
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