What kind of hernia is in the upper abdomen?

What kind of hernia is in the upper abdomen?

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges through the large muscle separating your abdomen and chest (diaphragm). Your diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) through which your food tube (esophagus) passes before connecting to your stomach.

What is the lump in my upper abdomen?

In most cases, a lump is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia is when the abdominal cavity structures push through a weakness in your abdominal wall muscles. Usually, this can be easily corrected with surgery. In rarer cases, the lump may be an undescended testicle, a harmless hematoma, or a lipoma.

Can I have a hernia in my upper abdomen?

Epigastric hernias are lumps or bulges that occur in the upper part of the abdominal wall – in an area known as the epigastrium, which is above the navel and just below the breastbone. Epigastric hernias can be present from birth.

What does a abdominal hernia look like?

Abdominal wall hernias are generally visible: they will look like a lump or bulge beneath the skin. These hernias don’t usually cause any other symptoms except for mild pain or discomfort, usually when you are straining (for instance, lifting something heavy).

Is it okay to leave a hernia untreated?

Untreated hernias may not only keep increasing in size but may also become harder to manage, more uncomfortable, more painful, and in worst case scenarios, life-threatening.

Can you sleep on your stomach with a hernia?

Anything that presses on the stomach can aggravate hiatal hernia symptoms. When your stomach is full, avoid bending over or lying down. This increases abdominal pressure and makes heartburn more likely. Do not bend over or lie down for two to three hours after eating.

When should I worry about hernia pain?

Seek immediate care if a hernia bulge turns red, purple or dark or if you notice any other signs or symptoms of a strangulated hernia. See your doctor if you have a painful or noticeable bulge in your groin on either side of your pubic bone.

How can you prevent a hernia from getting worse?

If you have a hernia, try to keep it from getting worse:

1. Avoid heavy lifting when you can. Lifting puts stress on the groin.
2. When you must lift, don’t bend over. Lift objects by using the legs, not the back.
3. Eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water.
4. Maintain a healthy body weight.

How do you shrink a hernia?

Apply ice or cold compress to the hernia for several minutes to reduce swelling and allow an easier reduction (see the image below). Ice pack is applied to patient with left inguinal hernia in Trendelenburg position. To reduce an abdominal hernia, lay the patient supine.