If you’ve been diagnosed with a hernia, you might wonder how serious it is and whether it can lead to further complications and health problems. But first, it’s important to know exactly what a hernia is to better understand how treatment can help.
A hernia forms when a hole forms in a body’s structural walls and internal organs or tissue bulges out. Most hernias occur in the abdominal region.
There are five main types of hernias:
- Inguinal hernias form in the groin
- Umbilical hernias form around the belly button
- Incisional hernias form through scars
- Hiatal hernias form through small openings in the stomach muscle and allow a section of the stomach to move into the chest cavity
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernias form as a birth defect and need surgery to correct
Hernias can affect men and women of all ages. Some people are more likely to get hernias than others because of genetic factors, including weak abdominal muscles. In addition, some hernias are caused by straining, especially when lifting heavy objects or weights.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Hernia?
Health care providers usually detect hernias during physical examinations. However, many people develop symptoms of hernias long before they’re officially diagnosed.
Symptoms and warning signs of hernias include:
- A bulge in the affected area, which includes the groin and abdomen
- A sharp or dull pain that gets worse upon standing
- Heartburn, indigestion, and pain—especially for Hiatal hernias
In addition to physical examinations, hernia examinations may also involve ultrasound imaging and computer tomography (CT) scans.
What Are Hiatal Hernia Symptoms?
Hiatal hernias are different from other types of hernias because the symptoms associated with them are usually less about pain and more about acid leaking into the esophagus. Hiatal hernias can develop due to injuries or birth defects, and the risk of them forming increases with age, chronic alcohol use, obesity and smoking.
People with Hiatal hernias often have acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They may experience frequent heartburn and a burning sensation in their throats after eating or while lying down. People with acid reflux and GERD don’t always have Hiatal hernias, but people with Hiatal hernias often develop these conditions.
How Serious Is a Hernia?
According to the National Institutes of Health, you should ask your doctor if you think you might have a hernia. Although hernias can sometimes be tolerated, they can get worse. Over time, they can even become life-threatening.
Strangulated hernias occur when the blood supply to the affected internal organs is reduced or cut off. This condition can be fatal without immediate treatment, and it can cause symptoms such as severe pain, nausea and vomiting.
Strangulated or trapped intestines caused by hernias need emergency surgery. In fact, hernias are one of the most common reasons for surgery in the U.S., with around 800,000 hernia surgeries being performed in the country each year.
What Happens if Hernias Are Left Untreated?
People with hernias may not have any symptoms. In some cases, the only symptom that a person has a hernia is when they see or feel a bulge in the affected area. Hiatal hernias may cause only mild heartburn or no symptoms at all.
However, hernias can worsen and grow. When hernias become extremely painful, hard or can no longer be pushed in, it’s a sign that they need immediate treatment. Those symptoms may indicate that the hernia is in danger of infecting, blocking or strangulating an internal organ, which can be a life-threatening emergency.
How Are Hernias Treated?
There are two main treatment options for hernias: surgery and watchful waiting. The main types of hernia surgery include:
- Open hernia repair—This surgery involves making an incision near the site of the hernia and repairing it with hernia mesh or by stitching the muscle closed to prevent growth and strangulation.
- Laparoscopic hernia repair—This surgery involves repairing a hernia with a mesh or sutures which are inserted through instruments placed into the abdomen through small incisions.
Watchful waiting is often recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with hernias but who aren’t experiencing any symptoms. This approach requires patients to be ready to seek treatment if they experience sudden sharp abdominal pain or vomiting, as those symptoms could indicate their hernias have grown and worsened.
In addition, some patients may benefit from trusses or belts which are used to apply pressure at the site of the hernia to keep internal organs in place.
Can a Hernia Heal Itself?
Hernias don’t heal themselves or go away on their own. Only surgery can truly repair a hernia. However, some hernias can remain asymptomatic for years. People can reduce their risk of developing hernias and their risk of their hernias worsening by taking a few important healthy living steps, including:
- Achieving a healthy BMI
- Eating less for each meal
- Lifting less weight at the gym and using proper lifting techniques when they do lift
- Reducing their intake of tobacco and alcohol
- Reducing their intake of spicy and high-fiber foods
Think You Have a Hernia?
Remember, hernias won’t heal on their own, and in many cases, they get worse over time. If you suspect you have a hernia or have already been diagnosed with one, you will need surgery to correct it if it becomes symptomatic.
The first step is to contact your primary care provider for a diagnosis and referral to a surgery center if needed. If you are in excruciating pain, go to the emergency room right away.
