Hernias are equal opportunity offenders. Hernias strike overweight people, smokers, and trained athletes. Hernias happen to people who lift too heavy objects and to people that are sitting still. There's no rhyme or reason to a hernia. A hernia happens when a small portion of tissue from inside the body pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. Most of the time a hernia happens in the area where the abdomen meets the thigh. Men are 25 times more likely than women to develop a hernia and the bulge sometimes protrudes into the scrotum.
It was previously believed that hernias were caused by heavy lifting, coughing or straining. Such activities may bring on a hernia if a weakness already exists in the abdominal tissue, but the current belief is that the weakness is usually caused by impairment in collagen metabolism caused by smoking, infection and obesity - as well as straining - can increase the risk.
If you have a hernia, you may not know it until a doctor detects it on a routine examination. The hernia can be seen or felt as a tender bulge or round lump that becomes more prominent when you cough, strain, or stand up. In the early stages, it's possible to push the protruding tissue back in place temporarily.
A break in the abdominal wall will not get better on its own. And a serious problem could occur if fatty tissue or an organ gets trapped inside the hernia and is deprived of blood flow or strangulation. Because of the risk of gangrene and tissue death, strangulation is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgery.
Because of the risk of strangulation, many persons undergo surgery right away, even if the hernia is not causing pain or other symptoms. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jan. 18, 2006) found, however, that immediate action may not always be necessary.
Adults choosing to delay surgery might need to wear a belt or other device in order to handle every day activities without pain or discomfort. While hernia surgery is usually worry-free, recurrence has been a problem. The traditional repair involved suturing together the ends of the defect in the abdominal wall. With the resulting increased tension on the abdominal muscle tissue, another tear is eventually likely to happen.
New surgical approaches aim to reduce tension by stitching a mesh patch made of synthetic material into the defect. In one study, recurrence rates over a 10-year period were 32 percent for patches compared to 63 percent for traditional suture repairs.
To enhance the strength of the repair, many doctors today place the patch under the abdominal muscle as deeply as possible. With this approach, pressure from inside the abdomen may even strengthen the repair by pressing it firmly against the abdominal muscles.
If you have a small hernia that doesn't cause symptoms, the below article says that there's no need to let it worry you. When it becomes large enough to cause you pain, you should have no trouble finding an experienced surgical team.
Source: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18258789&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=222089&rfi=6
