4 life style habits for managing Hernia Symptoms

Posted by Ananya on December 1st, 2022

People often associate hernias with the abdomen or pelvis, but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. A hernia is a condition in which tissue that’s supposed to hold an organ or another body part in place fails to do so, which allows the part to bulge through into an area it doesn’t belong.

Most hernias aren’t immediately life-threatening, but that doesn’t make them less scary. Fortunately, you can rest easy knowing they’re very treatable with typically routine surgical intervention. The most important thing is to seek treatment if you think you have a hernia.

An early diagnosis can help keep your hernia from worsening or becoming more painful. On top of that, repairing a hernia with surgery as early as possible generally requires less surgical time which can lead to better outcomes, faster recoveries, and fewer risks.

Dr.S.N.Baser at Harsh hospital & Maternity Home uses minimally invasive methods such as laparoscopic surgery to treat hernias whenever possible. If you’re undergoing hernia treatment or had a hernia in the past, Dr.S.N.Baser recommends adapting these four lifestyle habits to help keep your symptoms under control.

1. Watch your weight

The majority of hernias are caused by excessive pressure or strain on weak tissue, which pressure can be caused by carrying too much weight.

Being overweight can place more pressure on the abdominal wall, which can lead to hernia formation. A high body mass index (BMI) also increases the risk of complications following hernia surgery.

2. Rethink your diet

Although only surgery can treat your hernia, modifying your diet might help with weight loss, which as mentioned above may improve your symptoms and possibly prevent your situation from getting worse.

3. Choose the right exercises

Many individuals believe that once they develop a hernia, they will no longer be able to exercise, yet nothing could be farther from the truth. Maintaining a healthy weight and remaining strong, vibrant, and active requires regular physical activity.

While the majority of people may safely exercise despite having a hernia, there are certain exercises you may want to avoid, like:

• Situps and reverse crunches for the abdomen

• Performing heavy lifting

• Pushing or pulling exercises

• kicks or punches, or actions that involve them

And lastly, think about exercising as a means to become more in tune with your body, especially the area where the hernia exists. By being aware of it, you can prevent unnecessary pain, discomfort, and further injury.

4. Quit smoking

Did you know that smokers experience hernias more frequently than non-smokers? There are various causes for this.

Smoking also prevents the body from producing collagen. The strength of tissues declines along with collagen levels, particularly in the abdominal wall. Smoking also has a significant impact on the body's capacity for recovery. The outcome? Smokers are four twice as likely to experience recurring hernias.

To know more details about Hernia, it is advised to consult a laparoscopic surgeon, who helps in treating hernia.