Belly Button Hernia In Adults Causes
A hernia occurs when the part of an organ or a tissue bulges out from its normal place. Belly button hernia in medical terms is referred to as umbilical hernia. Belly button hernia in adults results due to weak muscles of abdominal wall.
The three reason of umbilical hernia in adults can be classified as 1) A person having weak abdominal wall muscles since birth. 2) The area around the umbilicus of the abdominal muscles may have become weak with ageing. 3) The abdominal muscles may have weakened due to injury or surgery.
Belly button hernia is 5 times more common in women than in men. The patient is usually corpulent and between the age of thirty to fifty years. Obesity in women with flabby abdominal muscles and repeated pregnancy are important precipitating causes of belly button hernia in women.
Ascites (fluid in abdomen) commonly seen in cirrhosis of liver may also cause pressure on the abdominal wall, leading to belly button hernia.
Symptoms of belly button hernia in adults include a bulge in umbilicus or navel, the size may vary, it can be felt on pressing the navel, and the bulge recedes on pressing.
A large belly button hernia causes a local dragging pain by its weight.
Pain in abdomen and is due to traction of stomach or intestine.
Often there are transient attacks of intestinal colic due to sub-acute intestinal obstruction.
In old standing cases the adjacent skin area becomes red, swollen and often bluish.
Strangulation of a loop of intestine is a frequent complication seen in large belly button hernia in adults.
Treatment of Belly Button Hernia In Adults
The hernia increases in size if it is untreated, more and more of its contents become stuck. Eventually, strangulation may occur. Therefore without delay surgical correction should be done to prevent complications.
If the person is obese and the hernia is symptomless, operation can be postponed with advantage until weight has been reduced. During this period patient can take home remedy such as slippery elm in chamomile tea, a paste of slippery elm can be mixed in chamomile tea and sipped daily twice. This herbal remedy helps in cases of belly button hernia by strengthening the weak muscles. American ginseng and aloe vera juice is also beneficial.