What causes umbilical hernia and how to treat it
Hernia, which has a prevalence rate of 2-4% in the society, is a serious disease that reduces the quality of life, causes job loss, and sometimes even causes life-threatening.
Hernia, which has a prevalence rate of 2-4% in the society, is a serious disease that reduces the quality of life, causes job loss, and sometimes even causes life-threatening. A hernia, which can be defined as the protrusion of an organ within the body through a weak point in the body area, can be congenital or develop later. The most common type of hernia is inguinal hernia. In addition, umbilical hernia, epigastric region hernia and, although very rare, lateral and posterior abdominal wall hernias may also occur. In addition, there may be herniations in internal organs such as the stomach.
What is an umbilical hernia?
An umbilical hernia originating from within or near the umbilical pit can range from the size of a hazelnut to the size of an orange. The disease, which is more common in women than men, usually occurs during pregnancy. Normally, the belly button is pointing inwards, but in case of a hernia, a structure that bulges outwards is formed. It may disappear or continue after pregnancy. Umbilical hernia, also known as abdominal hernia, is more common in people who actively engage in sports.
What causes umbilical hernia?
The area where the umbilical hernia occurs is right inside the belly button, which is a weak point where the cord that provides blood flow between the mother and the baby enters the baby’s abdominal wall. Within a few days following birth, the umbilical cord falls off and this area completely closes. Failure to close this area during infancy causes abdominal hernia in children. In adulthood, a severe increase in intra-abdominal pressure is the cause of umbilical hernia. Excessive straining, excess weight, being careless and fast when sitting down, excessive pressure, excessive load on the waist area, lifting heavy loads, cirrhosis, constipation, prostate problems and some problems experienced during pregnancy are the main causes of umbilical hernia formation.
Umbilical hernia symptoms
The most important symptom of an umbilical hernia is swelling and deformity that develops outward in the umbilical region. Feeling of pressure and pain around the swollen area are also among the symptoms of a hernia. The patient’s complaints increase with physical activity. An umbilical hernia usually contains small intestine and intra-abdominal fatty tissue. Situations such as inability to push the swelling in the belly, nausea, vomiting and constipation are considered emergencies. These symptoms are indicators of circulatory dysfunction and tissue destruction as a result of compression of the organs protruding through the hernia hole. In such a case, the patient must be operated on without delay.
Umbilical hernia treatment
The only treatment for umbilical hernia is surgery. An umbilical hernia that grows over time can cause very serious problems. Performing surgical intervention at the initial stage significantly increases the success of the surgery. Hernia treatment can be done with open or laparoscopic intervention. It is recommended to use an umbilical hernia corset to ensure that the patient experiences less pain until the hernia surgery.
