13-Heartburn
There’s a distinct type of hernia in the abdominal cavity called hiatal hernia. This is a sliding of the stomach through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm into the thoracic region. This hernia is often asymptomatic and remains undetected because it does not cause any bulge, pain, or any other symptom commonly associated with hernias. One of the leading symptoms in Hiatal hernias is heartburn, and these patients usually have acid reflux and may be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
As you can see, abdominal hernias are not a simple thing. It’s not a simple bulge that grows bigger and hurts when you’re lifting weight. It can become a surgical emergency when it becomes strangulated or incarcerated. In these cases, a hernia may compromise the normal circulation of the blood and lead to an intestinal infarction or compromise the normal peristalsis in your intestines and lead to an obstructed bowel.
The symptoms of an abdominal hernia might improve after resting appropriately and using over-the-counter painkillers. However, it is highly likely they will become recurrent, and these measures will not be sufficient when it gets complicated. Complicated hernias are usually solved with emergency surgery, which is more dangerous than planned and scheduled surgery. Thus, if you want to prevent any adverse outcomes and was diagnosed with a hernia, talk to your doctor about your treatment choices. If he recommends surgery, do not neglect your condition and follow the advice to prevent an incarcerated or strangulated hernia.