The truth about women and hernias
"I knew the feeling right away," says Barbara Aguilar of Cinnaminson. "I was getting over a nasty cold. I coughed, and I felt a pop." This wasn't the first time Aguilar had this feeling. Ten years earlier, she suffered a hernia on the opposite side of her lower abdomen so she knew what was happening right away.
Barbara is not alone. Each year, nearly 700,000 Americans seek treatment for hernias. "Many people don't think hernias are a women's health issue," says Christopher Boynton, MD, Virtua Memorial Hospital chief of general surgery. "Most women are surprised when diagnosed. People don't realize almost as many women as men are treated for hernias."
The most common types
The symptoms
The treatment
The most common types
Dr. Boynton diagnosed Aguilar with an inguinal hernia, one of the two most common types. "Inguinal hernias occur when the intestine pokes through a weakness in the abdomen wall," explains Dr. Boynton. "Umbilical hernias are the second most common form. More frequent in women, the weakness is located around the navel."
Many people with hernias think they could have been avoided. "However most hernias are congenital," according to Phillip Aronow, MD, Virtua West Jersey Hospitals chief of general surgery. "Some people are born with a potential weakness in their abdomen. It's only a matter of time before something triggers it."
What are the symptoms?
Aguilar was experiencing much discomfort, which sometimes forced her to lie down to ease the pain. Dr. Aronow explains that both types of hernias have similar symptoms. "With an inguinal hernia, the patient sees evidence of a bulge or swelling," he says. "The bulge may pop in and out with episodes of pain and tenderness. With an umbilical hernia, the symptoms are similar but appear around the navel. If left untreated, a hernia could lead to more serious complications."
The treatment
There are two standard outpatient procedures to repair hernias. After assessing Aguilar's condition, Dr. Boynton recommended the laparoscopic procedure. This includes repairing the weakness from inside the abdominal cavity with a surgical telescope called a laparoscope. The alternative is to repair the weakness through a small incision. Both methods often include a synthetic patch or plug to strengthen the area. Surgeons perform both procedures in Virtua's state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with the latest technologies.
To increase awareness of hernias, C.R. Bard Foundation recently awarded Virtua Health with a grant to provide educational programs and screenings throughout the community. The C.R. Bard Foundation is the charitable arm of C.R. Bard Incorporated, an international supplier of healthcare products. Programs will be announced in the future.