About five million Americans have an abdominal hernia, according to statistics provided by the National Center for Health Statistics.



An abdominal hernia occurs when either fatty tissue or an organ in the abdomen protrudes through a weak point or tear in the muscles or tissues around it. The protrusion can be labeled either as reducible, which means it can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity and seem to disappear, or non-reducible, which means it cannot be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.

The American Medical Association says that when a non-reducible protrusion involves a portion of the intestine it is possible for it to become tightly trapped, subsequently losing its blood supply and then that section of the intestine dies. This dangerous condition, called strangulation, often requires immediate surgical repair.

A hernia may be caused by anything that creates increased pressure in your abdominal area. The most common causes of this increased pressure, from which a hernia may result, are:

?strenuous coughing;

?vomiting

?straining, particularly that resulting from constipation;

?sudden physical exertion;

?obesity;

?pregnancy.

Treatment and prevention:

The American Medical Association suggests that most people who develop a hernia should see their doctor, even if the only symptom is the visible protrusion. Depending on the location and size of the protrusion, and considering other factors including your age and general health, the doctor may recommend surgery to reduce the risk of possible strangulation in the future.

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) advises that there two basic methods of surgery:

?conventional surgery - which involves an incision in the abdomen. The protruding tissue is then either removed or pushed back into the abdomen and the abdominal wall repaired. If necessary, that section of the abdominal wall can be strengthened either by sewing surrounding muscle over it or by covering that section with a special type of mesh;

?laparoscopic surgery - which uses a long metal tube inserted through a tiny incision in the abdomen. This minimally invasive surgical procedure uses telescopes and instruments that are much smaller than normal. If this procedure is appropriate for your condition, smaller incisions will be made and post-operative abdominal tenderness may be significantly reduced. The actual operation is much the same.

Statistics from ACS report that over half a million people undergo hernia surgery each year.

If you have had hernia surgery, or if you have been fortunate enough to avoid developing a hernia to date, there are some ways you can reduce your future hernia risk. This requires you to avoid those things that contribute to the development of hernias ? as outlined earlier in this article. These include:

?avoiding heavy lifting or strain;

?as smoking often leads to chronic coughing, quitting smoking can help;

?a high fiber diet combined with plenty of fluids can help avoid constipation and the consequent strain during bowel movements;

?losing weight can reduce abdominal strain.