Health awareness: Inguinal Hernias

Have you heard of this condition? Or of this term? What is it? how it affect our health? What are the causes and symptoms? How can we avoid it? Is this curable?

This article is not to shame my father or any other person but to put awareness to all male out there or to all the parents who had sons. To put health in priority and never neglect any symptoms. Also to encourage of few things in order to avoid this condition. Most importantly to be brave and have faith in God to those who are struggling with this condition. I don't want you or any member of your family to suffer such conditions too that's why I'm sharing you this.

Looking back

My father is a very hard-working person. He tried many things in order for our family to survived. He had lots of job that made him so tired and neglectful on his health. He would carry things that is beyond his age and weight. Since he was young because that is their livelihood, up until I grow up and started my sophomore years in high school. Things changes when his condition got worse and we need to attend his need of medication. It was such a blessing to have an offer of free medication by the medical practionaire in our town. We grab the opportunity even though we are not 100% sure of his recovery.

Diagnosis

Father had an Inguinal hernias it is a condition which occur when part of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (omentum) or intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdomen — often along the inguinal canal, which carries the spermatic cord in men. Source

In Layman's term it is called "Danlak" in Cebuano and called "Luslos" in Tagalog. That's the doctor diagnosis to father's condition. His testicles is huge from its normal size. And it become bigger as times flies. Since we don't have money to take care for the operation. Father endured it for long time that made his condition worse. Also because he still continue working even under such condition.

Causes

Some inguinal hernias have no apparent cause. Others might occur as a result of:

• Increased pressure within the abdomen due to constant jumping or skipping without supporter

• A preexisting weak spot in the abdominal wall

• Straining during bowel movements or urination

• Strenuous activity

• Chronic coughing or sneezing

• heavy lifting, such as weightlifting

• obesity

• Excessive smoking

Source

We could tell by the given cause that my father's condition is due to heavy lifting. As I have mentioned earlier father was lifting heavy since he was young because that's part of their living. And he continue lifting up until we grow. Well, we don't have much of a choice because we are poor and our livelihood included lifting heavy objects.

Symptoms

The symptoms of an inguinal hernia include

• a bulge in the groin area and pain pressure,

• or aching at the bulge, especially when lifting, bending, or coughing.

• also have swelling around the testicles.

Maybe father had been enduring the pain and neglected the symptoms. Thus, making it worse and made his testicles swell. It was in his left testicle at first but because we didn't give it early medication that made the right testicle affected too. It is so visible and I suffered bullying in school due to father's condition. I am not shy because of his condition. I am proud that he is hardworking and pitied him because he need to suffer such condition for us.

Is it curable?

I believe it is if it's mild and if you go to the doctor immediaty after symptoms occur. If you have endured it for so long and it made your groin swell then immediate surgery will be performed to pushes the intestine back to its place but in father's case since it is worse, the doctor needs to fully get all the fluid inside that made it swell including his testicle itself. It was painful for him I know but he need to survive for us. I could remember my mom so worried because it takes 4 hours for his surgery to be finished. And unfortunately the doctor need to execute the long and painful process three times. It's because my father's case was worse and it swell again after few weeks.

Things to do to avoid

Steps that may help prevent an inguinal hernia include the following:

• Maintain a healthy body weight.

• Incorporate high-fiber foods into your diet.

  Fiber-rich foods can support regular bowel movements and help prevent constipation, which can lead to straining that increases your hernia risk.

• Avoid heavy lifting, or do it carefull

  If you have to lift a heavy object, bend down with your knees instead of your waist. Make your legs — rather than your torso — do most of the lifting effort.

  And if an object is too heavy for you to lift comfortably, know your limits and don’t do it.

• Don’t smoke. Smoking can cause coughing, which can put pressure on your abdomen and lead to an inguinal hernia, or worsen symptoms in one that you already have.

Source

Conclusion

Many of us suffered few condition but we tend to neglect the symptoms. It is maybe because we don't want to acknowledge the facts that we have health problems and we do need medication. Some reasons because we don't have money because of poor status in life. Health is wealth. What is the worth of all your hard work and money if you are weak and unhealthy or have illness. Let us take care of ourselves and be aware of the things that may harm ourselves. We are not just the one who will suffer to it, including our love ones.

If your reading this and you have brother, husband, or sons please share this awareness to them before it's too late. Remind them of few things to keep them healthy. If we really care for them, spread awareness to everyone. It was a very challenging days of our life. And we thank God of His goodness that He made my father recover from the condition.

Lead image by Unsplash

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