Types of Hernias: Inguinal Hernia

An Inguinal Hernia is a condition in which one spot of the abdominal muscle weakens, and this causes muscle tissue to protrude outwards, causing a bulge. Therefore, you can call this hernia a protrusion bulge as well. It is the projection of an organ through the muscle tissues that make up the body wall. Mostly, an Inguinal Hernia encompasses the projection of a particular part of an organ instead. Hernias can be either external or internal in classification.

What is Inguinal Hernia?

An Inguinal Hernia is a type of external hernia that occurs around the intestine and bladder region. Other people refer to this region as the groin area in the body. This type of hernia is the most common amongst other hernias. About 96 percent of hernia patients suffer from inguinal hernias.

In this type of hernia, the inguinal canals in the abdomens tend to weaken. This weakness is mostly a natural occurrence, while other times, it occurs due to excessive abdominal strain. Therefore, this weakening of the inguinal tissue causes intestinal tissue to protrude through and cause a lump in either the left or right side of the groin. This area makes up the base of the abdomen, just below the waistline.

Both men and women have inguinal canals and can suffer from inguinal hernia. A protruding bulge around this area is a clear indication that you are suffering from this condition. Many people tend to overlook this sign and leave it unnoticed. This is a highly dangerous circumstance, as leaving the bulge untreated for a long time can lead to further protrusion and serious conditions.

(Source)

Types of Inguinal Hernias

There are four types of inguinal hernias, indirect, direct, incarcerated, and strangulated. Each type of inguinal hernias has differing severity and causes.

Indirect Inguinal Hernia

This is one of the most common types of inguinal hernias. It has an often occurrence amongst premature births. It is also a very common condition between males, even though it happens mostly at birth. You can be subject to it anytime in your life. The closing of the inguinal canal at the time of birth has much to do with this condition.

Direct Inguinal Hernia

The primary cause of direct inguinal hernia is old age. As you get older, the internal and external muscles in your body start to weaken. Therefore, doctors believe that a direct inguinal hernia happens because of the weakening of interior muscle tissues due to old age. This is evident because this type of hernia more commonly occurs in adult men.

Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia

In this situation, a person becomes unable to push back a bulge. This is because the bulging is stuck in the lower groin region and has no space to retrace inside.

Strangulated Inguinal Hernia

This is a critical condition of an inguinal hernia. It requires intensive and immediate medical care, and you need to treat it surgically. In this condition, the blood flow entering the inguinal hernia stops, and you start losing feeling in that specific region.

Symptoms

The most noticeable symptom of the inguinal hernia is the protruding bulge. The lumpy surface of the groin area is a clear indication that you have an inguinal hernia. Furthermore, the inguinal hernia tends to increase in size depending on your abdomen position. When the inguinal hernia worsens, it can lead to other complications such as pain, burning sensation, and even swelling.

Causes/Risk Factors

There is not a particular cause of a hernia that you can single out. Adults and senior citizens that suffer from hernias usually pay the price of lifelong stress on the abdominal region. The accumulated stress on the abdomen area can cause a person to undergo a groin hernia.

Furthermore, an inguinal hernia may also be a hereditary defect in a person. In this case, a person needs to be extra careful while lifting heavy objects. Not to mention, lifting heavy objects from the ground-up is a very common cause of hernias.

(Source)

People make the mistake of carrying a heavy load without stabilizing their core. This leads to herniated complications in their abdomen. Other risk factors include being male, overweight, premature birth, constipation, and pregnancy.

Diagnosis and Treatment

An external hernia is very simple to diagnose for a physician. A physical examination of the patient shows the doctor a view of the bulging protrusion. By carefully looking at it, a doctor can tell what kind of a hernia it is. If the bulging lump is reducible and acute, your doctor will simply push the protrusion back while you lie down flat. For more serious and painful hernias, surgery will be required.

Prevention

The best way to stay away from the inguinal hernia is to live a healthy lifestyle. This involves frequently exercising so that you can maintain your body weight and strengthen your core. Moreover, you should also keep a good nutrition intake that is full of fiber and proteins. Fiber keeps your gut health in check and prevents you from constipation. It is also advisable to avoid smoking and lifting weights beyond your strength capacity.

Inguinal Hernia Conclusion: Contact Expert General Surgeons

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an inguinal hernia or any other type of hernia, then contact Lenox Hills Surgeons. We provide you with excellent treatment and professional consultation. Call us now on 646-846-1136 to book an appointment or visit our website for more information.

LENOX HILL SURGEONS
155 East 76th Street
Suite 1C
New York, NY 10021
646-846-1136
lenoxhillsurgeons@gmail.com