Essay On Hernia
In Home Care Services: Senior Hernias
June is Hernia Awareness Month. A hernia occurs when one part of the body protrudes through the muscle or wall of another part of the body that is supposed to contain it or hold it in place. Many people who suffer from hernias don't even know they have them. Others will experience sharp pain. Some hernias are life-threatening, while others may be with you your whole life without incident. Perhaps the best known hernia type occurs when part of the intestine or some body fat pokes through a hole in the muscles of the lower abdomen. This is just one of many types of hernias, however.
In addition to abdominal hernias, there are femoral hernias (upper thigh near the groin), umbilical hernias (intestine poking through the belly button area), diaphragmatic hernia (one of your abdominal organs moves upward into your chest because of a weakness in the diaphragm), hiatial hernia (like the diaphragmatic hernia, but the stomach pushes up through a space in the diaphragm called the hiatus), inguinal hernia (in the groin area), lumbar hernia (intestines or abdominal organs …show more content…
protrude through a weak area in the muscles of the lower back), and so forth.
When we think about senior hernias, there are some types of hernia that are more common in the elderly than others.
Typically, these hernias are the result of overexertion, poor lifting posture, or lifestyle choices such as smoking which weaken the muscle tissue. The most common senior hernias are also the most common for all age groups other than infants, the abdominal and inguinal hernia. In fact, the vast majority of inguinal hernias occur in males over 40. For seniors, this occurs because the abdominal wall has been weakened through life from illness, surgery, childbirth, smoking, or obesity. The more of these factors that come into play, the greater the chance of experiencing an abdominal hernia. The femoral hernia is much more common in older women, but can occur in men. They are typically the result of muscles initially weakened from pregnancy and
childbirth.
Hernias are typically detected when there is pain in an area which is often made worse with bending or twisting. Many times a lump will be found in the tender area.
The best ways to prevent senior hernias is through proper body care. This means that seniors should stop smoking and avoid areas with second-hand smoke, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, and lift and bend properly.
The good news is that most hernias are not difficult to repair and life can continue as normal in just a short amount of time. Many hernia surgeries are now performed laparoscopically, with just a few tiny incisions being made near the hernia site. A great number of these surgeries can now be performed on an outpatient basis or with only a single night stay for observation. One study at the University of Genoa School of Medicine found that hernias that could be repaired with mesh cold be done quickly using only local anesthetic with no adverse effects.
Hernias are common, with an estimated 5 million Americans sporting one. In seniors, hernias can develop complication more readily than when they were young.With the advances in medicine and the ease of repair, there is not reason your senior loved one should be one of the 90 percent who do not have it treated. If you notice the signs of symptoms of a hernia, go ahead and make that call to the doctor, you'll be glad you did.
June is Hernia Awareness Month. A hernia occurs when one part of the body protrudes through the muscle or wall of another part of the body that is supposed to contain it or hold it in place. Many people who suffer from hernias don't even know they have them. Others will experience sharp pain. Some hernias are life-threatening, while others may be with you your whole life without incident. Perhaps the best known hernia type occurs when part of the intestine or some body fat pokes through a hole in the muscles of the lower abdomen. This is just one of many types of hernias, however.
In addition to abdominal hernias, there are femoral hernias (upper thigh near the groin), umbilical hernias (intestine poking through the belly button area), diaphragmatic hernia (one of your abdominal organs moves upward into your chest because of a weakness in the diaphragm), hiatial hernia (like the diaphragmatic hernia, but the stomach pushes up through a space in the diaphragm called the hiatus), inguinal hernia (in the groin area), lumbar hernia (intestines or abdominal organs …show more content…
protrude through a weak area in the muscles of the lower back), and so forth.
When we think about senior hernias, there are some types of hernia that are more common in the elderly than others.
Typically, these hernias are the result of overexertion, poor lifting posture, or lifestyle choices such as smoking which weaken the muscle tissue. The most common senior hernias are also the most common for all age groups other than infants, the abdominal and inguinal hernia. In fact, the vast majority of inguinal hernias occur in males over 40. For seniors, this occurs because the abdominal wall has been weakened through life from illness, surgery, childbirth, smoking, or obesity. The more of these factors that come into play, the greater the chance of experiencing an abdominal hernia. The femoral hernia is much more common in older women, but can occur in men. They are typically the result of muscles initially weakened from pregnancy and
childbirth.
Hernias are typically detected when there is pain in an area which is often made worse with bending or twisting. Many times a lump will be found in the tender area.
The best ways to prevent senior hernias is through proper body care. This means that seniors should stop smoking and avoid areas with second-hand smoke, achieve and maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise, and lift and bend properly.
The good news is that most hernias are not difficult to repair and life can continue as normal in just a short amount of time. Many hernia surgeries are now performed laparoscopically, with just a few tiny incisions being made near the hernia site. A great number of these surgeries can now be performed on an outpatient basis or with only a single night stay for observation. One study at the University of Genoa School of Medicine found that hernias that could be repaired with mesh cold be done quickly using only local anesthetic with no adverse effects.
Hernias are common, with an estimated 5 million Americans sporting one. In seniors, hernias can develop complication more readily than when they were young.With the advances in medicine and the ease of repair, there is not reason your senior loved one should be one of the 90 percent who do not have it treated. If you notice the signs of symptoms of a hernia, go ahead and make that call to the doctor, you'll be glad you did.