A herniation is a protrusion of tissue through a weakness in the abdominal wall. It can be either external or internal.
The most common types of hernia are inguinal, incisional, and umbilical.
People can be born with weaknesses that make them prone to hernias. Anything that causes muscle strain, weakens tissue, or increases abdominal pressures can then induce herniation. Examples include obesity, lifting heavy objects, constipation, smoking, poor nutrition or persistent coughing. Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain: a weak spot in the muscle tears under the pressure of strain, and an internal organ or tissue then pushes through the tear. Sometimes under heavy pressure, the tearing pain of a hernia may be felt.
Sometimes you will be able to feel it yourself on the side of the abdomen or groin. You may feel pain when you lift heavy objects, cough, strain during urination or bowel movements, or during prolonged standing or sitting. The pain may be sharp and immediate or a dull ache that gets worse towards the end of the day. Severe, continuous pain, redness and tenderness are signs that the hernia may be entrapped or strangulated. These symptoms are cause for concern and immediate contact of your physician or surgeon is recommended.
A doctor's physical examination is often enough to diagnose a hernia.
The weakened area may recover by itself or preventative measures may keep the problem from recurring.
A strangulated hernia may cause abdominal distension.
For general hernias, take the cell salt Calc Fluor in tablet or liquid form several times per day.
Calcarea carbonica is a leading remedy for general use in hernias.
Surgery will usually be required to repair the area. It is important to get your hernia seen to by a doctor because if it is left untreated, the protruding organ may become strangulated (have its blood supply cut off), and infection and tissue death may occur as a result. In babies, umbilical hernias frequently heal themselves within four years, making surgery unnecessary.
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