Hernia

A bulge in the abdomen maybe a sign of hernia, which is caused by prolonged increase in intra-abdominal pressure that causes muscle weakness or loss of collagen. Some organs in the abdominal cavity may protrude through the weak point in the muscle, forming the visible bulge. Classification of hernias depends on the location and clinical presentation, such as whether it is reducible in sizes, obstruction in blood flow. Groin area, pelvis, areas around the umbilicus and diaphragm are all common sites for hernias. Inguinal hernia is the most commonly seen hernia, which is caused by weakened abdominal muscles, that leads to the intra-abdominal organs, like the small intestine or omentum, protrude into the scrotum through the groin. With current medical advances, inguinal hernia can be repaired by endoscopic surgeries

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Who are at risks of hernias?

Causes of hernias can be classified into congenital and acquired. The former one refers to congenital defects in the abdominal wall. The later one refers to chronic pressure on the abdominal wall that causes the loss of collagen and weakening of the muscle, so the intra-abdominal organs may protrude through the weak point. People who engaged in manual labor or weight lifting, constipation, or have problems with prostate glands may have higher risk of developing hernias.


How does hernia affect my health?

Do not underestimate the severity of hernias. Besides obstructing blood flow, involved area may become ischemic, causing tissue death, or even peritonitis in severe cases. The protruding parts may cause pain or redness, and the pain may spread through the abdomen.

How to diagnose hernias?

In general, doctors can diagnose if a patient has hernias with physical examination. Symptoms of hernia include a visible lump in the abdomen, which increases in size when the patient is coughing, standing or exercising, and it is reducible when the patient lays down.



Reference information:  http://surgeon.com.hk/hernia-surgery-hong-kong.html
It is not intended as medical advice to any specific person. If you have any need for personal advice or have any questions regarding your health, please consult your Surgery  for diagnosis and treatment.

止瀉藥不可亂服

相信不少人也試過腹瀉，「痾到腳軟軟」的痛苦經歷吧！為了貪方便，很多市民會自行服食成藥止瀉，惟此舉隨時會引致反效果，因為部分患者眼見成效不大，會擅自增加服藥份量，有的更由一日只服三次藥，變為一日服食三日藥物的份量。胡亂服用過多止瀉藥，會令腸道停止蠕動及腸道急性閉塞，嚴重更會引致腹膜炎，隨時致命。


亂服止瀉藥會引致什麼後果?

止瀉藥的功效是減低腸臟蠕動，藉此紓緩腹瀉不適，惟一旦服食過量，會使腸臟放鬆及停止蠕動，食物殘渣及大便等會停留在體內，由於無法排出體外，會產生大量氣體令腸子脹大，引致急性腸塞。部分患者在服食過多止瀉藥兩至三天後，會有嘔吐、肚脹、無法排便及肚痛等腸道閉塞的徵狀，有的甚至連屁也無法排出。

患者若出現以上情況，應盡快求醫，因為腸道一旦急性腸塞，嚴重的會令腸道脹至爆裂，大便會隨之流到腹膜，引致腹膜炎，致命率高達五成，絕不可看輕。當中患有腸黏連的患者，要格外留神，因為他們較易患上腸道閉塞。過去有腸黏連患者，因服食過量止瀉藥，在數天後才求醫，小腸由原先直徑一釐米脹大至五釐米，差不多爆裂。醫生需要用胃喉抽出胃部食物，並吊鹽水補充水份，等廿四小時讓症狀逐步紓緩。


腹瀉有哪些徵狀？

腹瀉的徵狀包括腹痛、排便量增加及排出稀爛糞便，一般情況下，大便的硬度減少及含水量增加。成人每天平均排便量約為二百克，腹瀉會超過正常平均量。


 
為何會出現腹瀉？

腹瀉可分為急性及慢性，前者常因患上腸胃炎所引致，其他因素包括毒素及受藥物影響，一般為期少於兩至三週。後者的慢性腹瀉亦可能因毒素及藥物而引致，並可能是其他疾病的徵狀，腹瀉約持續超過兩至三週。外科醫生會從臨床診斷及其他身體檢查，找出引致慢性腹瀉的成因。


治療腹瀉

腹瀉令人又痛又尷尬，不少患者為求速速止瀉，急於服食止瀉藥，其實，若腹瀉不屬太嚴重，不用急於服藥，相反可繼續排便，直至瀉清為止，一般情況下，約在一至兩天，身體便會逐步康復，惟期間應多補充水份及電解質，避免脫水；如仍然痾嘔不停，則應立即求診。

腹瀉注意事項：

•         多休息
•         多飲水補充水分
•         進食清淡食物
•         讓身體自然排清有毒物質
•         別亂服止瀉藥
•         若痾嘔不止，盡快求診

資料來源: http://surgeon.com.hk/antidiarrheal.html
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，
應向外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。