Inguinal hernia is a very common disease that affects millions of people in the United States alone. Inguinal hernia is considered a surgical disease and involves thousands of surgeries annually around the world.
Although hernia can occur in both sexes, the disorder primarily affects men. This type of hernia is also more common in the elderly, people who are physically strained and smokers. Inguinal hernia usually occurs against the background of a weak lower abdominal wall, which can penetrate internal soft tissues. Symptoms of a hernia are: abdominal pain and discomfort (which is made worse by heavy physical exertion or sudden movements), gas and nausea in the abdomen. Some people with a hernia are asymptomatic, making the diagnosis of the disorder considerably more difficult.
Many factors can lead to the development of a hernia, such as birth defects, internal disorders or acquired weaknesses in the abdominal wall. In the recent past, the majority of patients diagnosed with a hernia have been suggested to have their condition surgically corrected as soon as possible. However, there is a lot of debate today about the need for surgery in patients with hernias. Although hernia surgery is a straightforward procedure, postoperative recurrence of the disorder occurs in most patients. Therefore, surgical treatment of inguinal hernias in many cases only provides temporary relief, and most patients with surgical hernia repair are later hospitalized for complications.
Doctors began to doubt the effectiveness of most hernia surgical treatments, and today they recommend surgery only to patients with complicated forms of the disease. The majority of patients diagnosed with an uncomplicated hernia today have the option of deciding whether or not to repair their hernia surgically. In many cases, the best option for patients is to postpone surgery until it is absolutely necessary. Statistics show that patients whose hernias have been repaired surgically can relapse over time and are in fact more likely to experience complications than patients who delay surgery.
In many cases, the factors that lead to recurrence of a hernia in patients undergoing surgery are related to native dispositions. It appears that most patients with postoperative recurrence of their inguinal hernia have a weak abdominal wall or other internal physiological abnormalities. The categories most at risk for relapse are: people with natural abnormalities of internal organs (gastrointestinal problems), people with physiological abnormalities of the abdominal wall and people whose careers involve intensive physical activities. Patients in these categories are advised to postpone their hernia surgery for as long as possible to avoid a recurrence or even a worsening of the disorder.