Hernias are a kind of lump-formation in the groin or umbilical region. Most of the hernias develop in the abdominal walls. The lump may be painful or painless depending upon its intensity. Any sort of activities that increase stress on the internal side of abdominal walls may increase the seriousness of the disorder and lead to irreparable damage. Early detection and proper treatment is very necessary to get rid of the lump- formation right in the early stages and avoid further damage to the abdomen.

Hernias and its Causes

Hernia is basically an opening in the muscular walls of the abdomen. Increased stress on these muscular walls increases the severity of the disease and may also lead to other health complications including abdominal pains. Prolonged cough, strain on bowels and lifting heavy objects may prove to be risk factors for the disease.

Hernia can be severe and affect other adjacent areas of the body if the live and vital tissues present in the region get trapped in hernia. Trapping of tissues leads to insufficient supply of blood, oxygen and other vital resources to the cells present in the region. This results into the death of cells and tissues present in the area and forces the whole organ to perform inefficiently.

The disorder can be genetic and may pass on from one generation to another. Risk of being prone to hernia also increases with age as some of the vital parts like intervertebral disc and annulus fibrosus weaken in old ages. Over-exercise, stern methods adopted to lose weight quickly, muscle stretch during pregnancy and scars or wounds of previous surgery may also make a person susceptible to the disorder.

Diseases like Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may also increase the chances of damage to abdominal walls leading to hernia. Ascites (fluid acumination in peritoneal cavity), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Bowel Obstruction and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (change in shape and size of the prostate) are some other main causes of the disease.

Types of Hernias

Inguinal hernia is the most common form of hernia and accounts for more than 75% of the overall cases. This type of disease is further sub-divided as indirect inguinal hernia and direct inguinal hernia. The lump develops through a weak spot on the back side of inguinal canal. The disease is equally common in both men and women.

Femoral hernia is other common type of the disease and occurs near the inguinal ligament. The disorder is more common in females. Though these lumps appear quite similar to those formed in inguinal hernia, femoral type lumps are more round in shape. Treatment pattern is quite similar in femoral and inguinal forms.

Umbilical hernia is a disease occurring near the umbilical cord passage near the abdominal wall. Lump-formation in such type of disorder is usually spontaneous and is more prevalent in obese people or pregnant women.

Incisional hernia is another important form of disorder and develops due to improper surgical methods. The disease is a result of improper healing of surgical wounds and can be very difficult to treat.

Other forms of hernia include diaphragmatic, epigastric, hiatal, perineal, properitoneal, spigelian anal, intracranial and sports hernia. Location is an important factor in diagnosis and cure of the disease and the kind of treatment to be adopted may vary from person to person depending upon his previous medical history.