Inguinal Hernia Symptoms

Inguinal hernia occurs when there is a lump in the groin due to a rupture or a tear in the abdominal wall. The lump is a soft tissue which is usually a part of the small intestine. It is very common in men, and is rarely found in women. Inguinal hernia develops in the inguinal canal in men; whereas in women, it is found in the area between the uterus and the vagina. It is the most common type of hernia.

Inguinal Hernia Causes
Most of the time, there exists a weak spot or a defect in the abdominal wall from birth. People with such a congenital defect are at the highest risk of developing inguinal hernia. On the other hand, increased pressure on the abdomen due to any reason like pregnancy, lifting heavy weight, straining during urination, etc. can also lead to inguinal hernia. Aging is also considered as one of the risk factors causing hernia.

Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia
No obvious symptoms are seen in the primary stage. A medical practitioner is able to identify inguinal hernia only after a person undergoes a physical examination or a surgery. Sometimes, a person may not even observe any obvious symptoms. As mentioned above, a bulge in the groin is one of the most common symptoms in women and men. It is hardly noticeable in the early phase. It is only when the person bends down, lifts weight, coughs or laughs; he experiences pain in the groin. The bulge that appears in the groin is very painful which tends to worsen with movement. A sudden pain in the scrotum and urinary problems are some of the other inguinal hernia symptoms in men. In case of children, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and discomfort, irritability and crying is also observed.

Inguinal Hernia Treatment
The bulge of hernia flattens when a person lies down. Inguinal hernia generally is not a life-threatening condition. However, if it is not timely treated, it can lead to several complications like trapping of the loop of the intestine in the hernia. In this case, the blood supply to the intestine gets cut off which results in strangulation of the hernia. A strangulated hernia can lead to several serious complications. Therefore, if one experiences frequent pain in the groin or other symptoms, he/she should consult the doctor as early as possible. Physical examination and urine tests can effectively help in diagnosis of inguinal hernia. In most of the cases, surgery is recommended for treating this condition. The doctor may suggest an open surgery where an incision is made in the groin or a laparoscopic surgery where a laparoscope is inserted inside the abdomen. Strangulated hernia is a serious medical condition and needs immediate surgery. On the other hand, if hernia is diagnosed at an early stage, the doctor may prescribe a truss garment for the patient which helps in pushing the hernia downwards. In case of women, inguinal hernia is completely treated and rarely appears again. On the contrary, in case of men, there are possibilities of it to reappear.

One should remember that inguinal hernia can be prevented by having a proper diet and avoiding obesity. It is also essential to avoid all the things that add pressure to the abdomen like lifting excess weight, straining during urination and defecation, constipation, etc. A change in lifestyle and maintenance of proper weight helps in preventing inguinal hernia effectively!