What Is a Hernia?
Lower abdominal pain can have many causes; a common cause is hernia. “A hernia is a defect in a connective-tissue layer that separates one part of the body from another,” says Dr. Jeffrey Bell, a board-certified surgeon at Washington Regional General Surgery Clinic. For instance, a hernia can occur when part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall; the weak spot might be present at birth or develop later in life due to aging, injury, abdominal surgery or, for smokers, constant coughing.
“The most common hernia is an inguinal hernia, in which part of the abdominal tissue pushes out through the groin and causes a bulge,” Bell says. Another type of hernia that occurs in the lower abdomen is femoral hernia, in which abdominal tissue pushes through the wall of the femoral canal that carries blood vessels into the thigh.
Hernias are not limited to the groin area. “A hernia can happen between any two body cavities,” Bell says. “It can happen between the abdomen and the chest; it can happen between the abdominal wall and higher on the abdominal wall. It can even happen inside the abdomen, where part of the abdominal contents will herniate through to other abdominal contents.”
While a hernia itself is not necessarily dangerous, it can lead to serious complications if its contents become trapped, or incarcerated, in the abdominal wall. If the hernia is trapped and doesn’t return to place with a gentle push, it may become strangulated, which means blood flow is cut off to the tissue that's trapped. “When that happens, it can become a life-threatening emergency,” Bell says.
“The good news is, that doesn’t happen frequently,” he adds. “But the bad news is that over the long term, when it happens with enough regularity, it becomes a real health problem.”
Bell says symptoms of a hernia include:
- Bulge in lower abdomen
- Pain or burning at the site
- Change in bowel habits
- Abdominal bloating
A hernia won’t improve on its own, so it’s important to have it evaluated by a health care provider. “Hernias are much easier to fix when they’re smaller, and the risk of them coming back is much lower,” Bell says.
For more information about Dr. Bell or hernia treatment options, visit Washington Regional General Surgery Clinic.