Can you get a hernia from coughing? This statement is quite surprising and rare but it can happen. You can get a hernia from coughing and more so from a persistent cough.
In this article, you will get to know how you can get hernia from coughing.
Hernia
A hernia happens when a tear in the muscle or tissue holding an organ in place allows it to pull through. The area of the abdomen between the chest and the hips is where the majority of hernias form. The intestines might, for instance, rupture a weak area in the abdominal wall. Additionally, the groin and upper thighs may experience them.
Most hernias don’t immediately provide a danger to one’s life, but they also don’t go away on their own. On occasion, surgery may be required to prevent potentially harmful side effects.
Can you get a hernia from a cough?
Yes, you can develop a hernia from a cough. A hernia may develop suddenly after coughing, laughing, bending, lifting heavy objects, or any of these activities, or it may develop gradually over the course of weeks or months. As pressure is released from the area when you lie down, symptoms could get better.
How can coughing cause a hernia?
Coughing is one activity known to put pressure on some internal organs. Hernias usually develop in the presence of a weakened muscle. If any muscle that is supposed to be ensuring that certain organs remain within a given compartment becomes weak, it is liable to result in a hernia following any small pressure.
As such, in the face of a weakened muscle, coughing can exert pressure on some internal organs and push them out of their compartment if the muscles guarding them have become weak.
Such weakening of muscles usually occurs with age, hormonal imbalances, and the presence of some other clinical conditions.
Summary
Coughing can sometimes lead to hernia. Coughing is among the most frequent causes of abdominal hernias. Strong, persistent coughing can cause a painful hernia more so than straining or lifting. These are undoubtedly more common at our clinic in the spring due to coughing brought on by a cold or flu illness.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Are there any home treatments for hernia?
There are certain things you may do to assist reduce your symptoms, but home cures won’t heal your hernia.
By consuming more fiber, you may be able to overcome constipation. Constipation might make you strain while going to the bathroom, which aggravates hernias. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are some foods high in fiber.
A hiatal hernia’s symptoms can also be managed through dietary adjustments. Avoid eating large or heavy meals, avoid lying down or bending over after eating, and maintain a moderate body weight.
Avoid foods that could trigger acid reflux, such as spicy cuisine and tomato-based dishes, to prevent the condition. If you smoke, giving it up might also be beneficial.
What are the types of hernia?
Ventral hernia
A ventral hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a tear in your abdominal muscles. The size of a ventral hernia may appear to decrease when you’re lying down.
Although it can happen from birth, a ventral hernia is more likely to form throughout the course of your lifetime. Ventral hernias are frequently brought on by obesity, pregnancy, and strenuous activity. Ventral hernias can also occur at the site of a surgical incision. A surgical scar or the weakening of the abdominal muscles close to the surgery site might cause an incisional hernia.
Umbilical hernia
Umbilical hernias can occur in kids and babies. They arise when the intestines poke through the abdominal wall just below the belly button. You might see a bulge in your child’s belly button area if they are crying.
When the muscles of the abdominal wall get stronger, only an umbilical hernia frequently goes away on its own. This typically happens by the time the youngster is 1 or 2 years old. By the time the child is five years old, if the hernia has not gone away, surgery can be used to treat it.
Adults can also get umbilical hernias. They may appear as a result of the abdomen being strained over time by conditions including pregnancy, ascites, or obesity. Find out more details on umbilical hernias.
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia occurs when a part of your stomach pushes through the diaphragm and into your chest cavity. A muscle sheet called the diaphragm helps with breathing by contracting to force air into the lungs. It separates your abdomen’s organs from your chest’s.
Adults over 50 years old account for the majority of instances of this type of hernia. An underlying congenital birth problem is frequently to blame if a child has the condition.
Hiatal hernias typically invariably cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD patients have a burning sensation in their esophagus as a result of the stomach contents seeping backward into it. To learn more, research hiatal hernias.
Inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernias are the most prevalent type of hernia. They occur when the intestines pass through a weak spot or tear in the lower abdominal wall, frequently in the inguinal canal.
The inguinal canal is located in your groin. The area in men where the spermatic cord attaches to the abdomen is known as the scrotum. This rope fastens around the testicles. The circular ligament, which is present in females’ inguinal canals, helps retain the uterus in place.
Inguinal hernias are more frequent in men than in women because the testicles pass through the inguinal canal shortly after birth. The canal will soon almost completely close behind them. Sometimes the canal won’t close all the way, leaving a weak point. Learn more about inguinal hernias.
Is there any exercise for hernia?
In a 2018 study, the effects of an exercise regimen on obese patients after ventral hernia repair surgery were examined. Surgery-related problems were less common in those who finished the exercise regimen.
Keep in mind that certain workouts, such as weightlifting or ones that put stress on the abdomen, can make the hernia area more pressurized. The hernia may even enlarge further as a result of this. Exercises performed incorrectly have the same effect.
It is best to discuss exercise with a doctor or physical therapist if you have a hernia. They can carefully collaborate with you to advise you on the exercises that are most effective for you and how to carry out each one to avoid aggravating your hernia.
Can babies get hernia?
Babies with umbilical hernias are born between 10 and 25 percent of the time. Additionally, babies who are delivered prematurely or with low birth weight are more likely to have this form of hernia.
Abdominal hernias happen close to the belly button. They develop as a result of improper closure of the muscles surrounding the umbilical cord opening. As a result, a section of the gut protrudes.
You might notice an umbilical hernia in your child more when they cry or cough. Children’s umbilical hernias normally cause no pain. But if you experience symptoms like pain, nausea, or swelling where the hernia is, you should get emergency medical help.
Can hernia be treated with surgery?
An operation might be recommended by a surgeon if your hernia is getting worse or causing you pain.
Your abdominal wall may need to be sewn closed during surgery to correct the hernia if it creates an additional hole due to the hernia. Surgical mesh is frequently used to fix the hole in this situation.
A hernia can occasionally cause one of the body’s passages to widen even wider than normal. For instance, this could happen where the esophagus is supposed to pass through the diaphragm. In some circumstances, surgery can be done to close the opening.
Open surgery or laparoscopic surgery can both be used to treat hernias. A small incision is made near the hernia during open surgery, and the protruding tissue is subsequently pushed back into the abdomen. After that, they sew the area shut, occasionally adding surgical mesh for reinforcement. They finally stitch up the wound.
The hernia is fixed during laparoscopic surgery using a tiny camera and tiny medical instruments. It simply needs a few little incisions and causes minimal harm to the nearby tissue.
Not all hernias can be treated laparoscopically. Your surgeon will consult with you to decide which procedure is most appropriate for your condition if your hernia needs to be repaired through open surgery.
Hernia in children
One of the most frequent surgical disorders in newborns and kids is an inguinal hernia.
Laparoscopic surgery is quicker than open surgery for bilateral hernias, but there is no appreciable difference in operating time for unilateral inguinal hernia repair, according to a 2014 systematic review of 20 years’ worth of data on conventional open hernia repair (herniorrhaphy) and laparoscopic hernia repair (herniorrhaphy) in infants and children.
Both procedures have a similar likelihood of recurrence, but open surgery is more likely to cause complications, especially in young patients, like wound infections.
WRITTEN AND EDITED RESPECTIVELY BY:
Michael Sarfo
Michael Sarfo is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. He is a content creator for enochkabange.com and a writer for Wapomu
Dr. Ehoneah Obed is a registered pharmacist and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana. He has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has experience working in a Tertiary hospital as well as various community pharmacies. He is also a software engineer interested in healthcare technologies.
His love for helping others motivates him to create content on an array of topics mostly relating to the health of people and also software engineering content.
He is knowledgeable in digital marketing, content marketing, and a host of other skills that make him versatile enough to uplift any team he joins.
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