Hernias can be difficult to detect. As you age, your groin and abdominal muscles weaken. That natural wear and tear plus pressure from an organ or tissue on a weak area of muscle can lead to a hernia.
La Porte Physician Network will provide a free hernia screening and education on Saturday, March 14 at its Lifeworks Campus, 3777 N. Frontage Road, Suite 900 in Michigan City. Screening appointments and related education will start at 9:00 a.m. Pre-registration and scheduling is required. For more information or to schedule your March 14 screening time call 219-325-7648.
Most common in men under the age of 50, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, hernias are portions of organs, such as the intestines, or tissue that bulge through weak spots in the surrounding muscle. Hernias occur most frequently in the groin, where they’re known as inguinal hernias, but they can also form at the sites of scars (incisional hernias), in the upper thigh (femoral), near the top of the stomach (hiatal) and around the belly button (umbilical).
Hernias don’t always have symptoms, but they often cause a bump beneath the skin that’s visible during certain activities, such as standing or straining. They often disappear when laying down. Over time, a hernia may become painful.
The Surgical Solution
If you have a hernia, surgery is often the only way to fix it, but you may not need an operation right away. For a small hernia, your physician may be able to gently press the portion of the organ or tissue back into the proper position and monitor it for changes. If that is not an option, you’ll need laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery, or open surgery to close the hernia with stitches or surgical mesh. Hernia surgery is one of the most common operations in the United States, the National Institutes of Health reports.
Ignorance Isn’t Bliss
Ignoring a hernia can have serious consequences. If you allow a hernia to go untreated, the piece of organ or tissue that has pushed through an area of weak muscle may get stuck. Blood flow to the hernia can get cut off, putting the organ or tissue at risk of injury. This is known as strangulation, and it’s a life-threatening medical emergency.
Signs of a strangulated hernia include:
- A bulge that sticks out all the time instead of intermittently
- Nausea
- Redness and tenderness at the hernia site
- Severe, persistent pain
- Vomiting
If you notice any of those signs, go to the nearest emergency department.
For more information about La Porte Physician Network’s free hernia screening, or to schedule your screening March 14 screening time call 219-325-7648.
