Hernia is a common health problem yet rarely discussed. The problem arises when organs protrude outward from muscle or tissue. The problem is pretty common and poorly understood. There are many common types of hernia.
I came across the problem when my uncle was diagnosed with the problem and went to the best general surgeon in Multan for the treatment of hernia. I read about the problem when he was struggling to choose between laparoscopic surgery or open surgery for hernia.
Though it was a troubling experience, this made me understand what it takes to suffer from the disease. Further, the problem is poorly understood and there are many common misconceptions about hernia that people have believed.
Common Myths About Hernias
Here are some of the common misconceptions about hernia that you may need to know about to understand the problem right:
1- Hernia is only of one type
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about hernia and many people believe that there is only one type of hernia. This misconception arises from the fact that one type of hernia is most common. Hernia present in the groin region is more common than any other type of hernia. But several other forms of hernia also exist.
2- Hernia only affects males
Keeping in mind that most of the hernia cases are reported in males, many people believe that hernia affects males only. However, there is no gender except when it comes to hernia and females also suffer from this. Males are more susceptible to developing it because of their body anatomy. The formation of testicles in males creates an area of weakness in males that increases their chances of developing hernia but this doesn’t mean that only males can develop it.
3- Hernias are quite complicated
Many people believe that hernias can be quite complicated and problematic to deal with. The problem of hernia can be serious but is nothing to be serious about. The problem of hernia is only problematic when it stays untreated and it can result in further complications such as gangrene development in the intestine and cutting off blood supply from the part of the intestine.
4- Lifting heavy weight can cause the hernia
When it’s about the causation of hernia, lifting heavy objects is considered important. However, the belief that the lifting of heavy objects can be the cause of hernia is a myth. This is because lifting heavy weight can strain existing weaker areas making it a cause of hernia. But there is not enough evidence to call it a leading cause of hernia as there are many other activities as well that can increase the pressure in the abdominal cavity.
5- You only get hernia once
Next in the list of misconceptions about hernia comes the popular belief that you can only get hernia once. This has nothing to do with the facts because having a hernia once doesn’t free you from the risk of getting a hernia later in life. If you have had hernia once in your life, unfortunately, you may develop these later in life in other areas. So, if you have believed this, you are highly mistaken and can get hernia again.
6- You always know if you have hernia
Hernia can come with different signs and symptoms and you may develop certain symptoms if you have hernia. A part of hernia symptoms includes tenderness, swelling, dull pain, nausea and problems with bowel movement.
Though it is true that in most cases you know when you develop a hernia this is not the only case so you can call it a myth. In certain cases, you may not know if you are suffering from hernia and this is because of the absence of clear signs and symptoms and major discomfort.
Bottom Line!
A hernia is a common health problem and many people get affected by this and there is not need to panic. Despite being this common, the condition is not properly understood and all these misconceptions are quite prevalent about hernias. If you suffer from a hernia, then there is no need to worry about it. You can immediately go to the relevant physician and get yourself treated immediately.
