What is a hernia?
A hernia is the protrusion of digestive organs through a weakening of the abdominal wall. If left untreated it can worsen and may require surgery. In fact, surgical procedures for hernias are one of the most common operations performed. The weakened abdominal wall can be present at birth but may develop later in life. Hernias can occur in different regions, with the most common being an inguinal hernia that happens in the groin area.
Symptoms of a hernia
The symptoms can vary depending on the location and severity, but may include:
- A visible bulge or swollen area, which becomes more obvious if you’re upright, cough or strain, and disappears when you lie down
- A heavy or uncomfortable feeling in the affected area, particularly when bending over
- Pain or aching, particularly on exertion (such as lifting or carrying heavy objects)
- Digestive upsets, such as constipation
Types of hernias
Inguinal hernia
This type of hernia is by far the most common—especially in males.
They can occur at any age, from newborns to the elderly. In men the descent of the testes at birth leaves the abdominal wall in this region more prone to weakness and herniation.
With ageing the muscles weaken and are more susceptible to being pushed apart by a loop of the intestine.
Lifting and straining are common factors associated with this kind of hernia.
Femoral hernia
More common in females than males—this type of hernia occurs lower in the groin where the leg joins the body. Femoral hernias occur when intestines force their way at the femoral canal until they protrude. They are not very common, but are important to diagnose as there is an elevated risk of developing complications such as bowel obstruction or strangulation which require urgent medical attention.
Umbilical hernia
Occurring at the navel (belly button) an umbilical hernia is caused by intestines or fatty tissue that protrude through the abdominal muscles. They are common in newborns and most of the time will resolve on their own.
Factors which contribute to umbilical hernias include:
- being overweight,
- frequent pregnancies
- multiple gestation pregnancies (having twins, triplets etc.)
- fluid in the abdominal cavity
- stomach surgery
- having a persistent, heavy cough
Incisional hernia
If the abdominal wall hasn’t repaired properly after an abdominal operation such as a gallbladder or bowel surgery, the surgical incision can tear open.
It has been reported that incisional hernias occur in up to 30% of major abdominal operations.
When an incision is made and sutured together, fluid and gas can cause the abdomen to distend and push against the wound. Other factors which lead to this type of hernia include straining, constipation, vomiting, infection and poor wound healing. This may happen very soon after surgery or even years later.
Hiatus hernia
When part of the stomach is displaced into the thorax through a tear or weakness in the diaphragm this is called a hiatus hernia. These hernias are very common, especially a sliding hiatus hernia, where herniated portions slide back and forth, into and out of the chest. A sliding hernia is normally small and usually causes no symptoms.
In a fixed hiatus hernia, the upper part of the stomach is caught up in the chest and can cause more problems.
Complicated hiatus hernias are rare and involve the entire stomach moving up towards the chest.
Hiatus hernia can lead to acid reflux, heartburn and belching.
Reflux of the acidic contents can damage the lower end of the oesophagus and lead to the formation of ulcers that can bleed. This can result in narrowing of the oesophagus, regurgitation of food, anaemia and difficulty and pain with swallowing. There is also an increased risk of developing Barrett's oesophagus, a condition where the cells lining the oesophagus undergo changes and become pre-malignant.
Strangulated hernia
If you can’t push the hernia back in, the contents can become trapped in the abdominal wall. This is known as a non-reducible hernia and runs the risk of becoming strangulated – cutting off blood flow to the tissue that's trapped. A strangulated hernia can be life-threatening if it isn't treated straight-away.
Signs and symptoms of a strangulated hernia include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever
- Sudden, intense pain
- A hernia bulge that turns red, purple or dark
- Inability to move your bowels or pass gas
Strategies to help
Some hernias may cause no symptoms and don’t require any treatment. However, most hernias require surgical intervention. Depending on what you might be experiencing, here are some suggestions to provide relief.
Supportive garments
Wearing a band around the abdomen may provide some symptomatic relief and your doctor may only recommend you wear it for a short time, such as leading up to a surgery.
Unfortunately, they don’t fix the problem, nor do they prevent complications from occurring.
Reflux
Regurgitation of the stomach contents into the oesophagus and mouth can be uncomfortable but if the problem is chronic it can cause a lot of damage. Herbs that can aid in minimising reflux include meadowsweet, liquorice, turmeric, mastic tree, and slippery elm. They also assist in reducing inflammation, ulceration and discomfort in the oesophagus. Other suggestions include eating small meals, avoiding bread, coffee, soft drinks, excess fat, spicy foods, alcohol and citrus.
Abdominal pain
If there is dull pain and digestive upsets, carminative herbs such as fennel, dill, chamomile and peppermint may be helpful. Anodyne herbs such as Californian poppy and corydalis may provide relief of minor pain.
Wound healing
After abdominal surgery ensure the incision wound heals well to prevent tearing. Herbs such as echinacea could be taken internally to prevent infection, along with zinc and vitamin C to promote connective tissue repair.
It has been found that individuals with lowered zinc and copper levels, as well as altered collagen repair are more susceptible to hernias.
Preventing a hernia
It is far easier to prevent a hernia then to treat one. Here’s what you can do to reduce strain on your abdominal muscles and tissues:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Refrain from smoking
- Avoid lifting heavy objects or lift using correct techniques
- Eat high fibre foods to prevent straining and constipation
- Eat foods high in antioxidants and micronutrients which support healthy collagen and connective tissue in the abdominal wall
References
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hernias
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inguinal-hernia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351547
- Ozdemir S, et al. The value of copper and zinc levels in hernia formation. Eur J Clin Invest. 2011 Mar;41(3):285-90
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20955209
- Geletzke AK. Prevalence of systemic inflammation and micronutrient imbalance in patients with complex abdominal hernias. J Gastrointest Surg. 2014 Apr;18(4):646-55
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24356980
- Henriksen NA. The collagen turnover profile is altered in patients with inguinal and incisional hernia. Surgery. 2015 Feb;157(2):312-21
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25616945
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health you should consult with a health professional.