It was seen that although a hernia can appear in almost any part of the body, the muscles of the abdominal wall are more often affected. To describe a hernia, we can say it is an abnormal bulging out or protrusion of part of an organ through the tissues that normally contain it.It is known that hernias produce pain and reduce general mobility, they never cure themselves, even if some of them can be cured by external manual manipulation.There are cases when hernia can cause serious complications, and this depends on the nature of the protruding organ, and the solidity of the structure through which it is protruding.A dangerous hernia occurs when the bowel is contained within the protruding loop, because the flow through the intestine may be hindered or stopped. There can appear a much dangerous situation, in case we are dealing with a strangulated hernia, which can lead to necrosis.

There are many types of hernias, and we can mention the most usual ones. Also called an epigastric or ventral hernia, the abdominal wall hernia affects 1% of the persons. This category includes inguinal hernias and umbilical hernias too.Indirect inguinal hernia affects only men, this hernia descends from the abdomen into the scrotum, following the pathway that the testicles made during prebirth development. It has the tendency to increase in size progressively.The direct inguinal hernia is known to affect both sexes; it consists in a swelling formed by the intestinal loop in the inner part of the fold of the groin.Femoral hernia affects both sexes, but women are more predisposed to it. An intestinal loop passes down the way that the femoral artery, vein, and nerve leave the abdominal cavity to enter the thigh and is causing a bulge in the groin and another one at the top of the inner thigh.Umbilical hernia appears when an intestinal loop protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal wall at the navel, and this hernia affects both sexes.Incisional hernia appears in rare cases, after abdominal surgery, because the flaw in the abdominal wall, created during the operation can determine the apparition of an area of weakness, and there hernia will develop.The hole through which the oesophagus passes is the weakest part of the diaphragm, and when part of the stomach slides through this hole into the chest cavity, we can say there appeared a hiatal hernia. This hernia also affects both sexes.

There are some factors that can cause hernia. We can mention straining during elimination, coughing, obesity, lifting heavy objects,accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, and chronic lung disease.At first, hernias can be soft lumps under the skin, not very large and showing no pain. In time, because the internal pressure against the weaken wall increases, the hernia will become larger.In the early stages, the hernia can be reducible, but there are situations when hernia cannot be pushed back to the normal location, and in this case, we are dealing with an incarcerated hernia, also named irreducible hernia.The most effective treatment for hernia is a surgical repair of the muscle wall through which the hernia protrudes, procedure named herniorrhaphy.

If there is a very large weakened area, some strong synthetic material may be sewn over the defect to reinforce that area.It is known that recovery is usually quick and complete, but postoperative care involves protecting the patient from respiratory infections that might cause coughing or sneezing.

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