Obesity can lead to a variety of serious health problems including diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Did you know that patients with obesity are at high risk of getting a hernia? Hernia is a noticeable protrusion of internal organs through the muscle cavity. Hernias are treated through surgical procedures. Not all types of hernias require immediate surgeries, but in cases where the bulge has expanded to a point where it is causing pain, nausea and more seriously organ displacement, surgery becomes essential to prevent further difficulties. Although hernias can be caused by a variety of factors, including smoking, a persistent cough, lifting heavy weights, an enlarged prostate, or irregular bowel movements, obesity is found to be a major reason that can increase complications in hernia surgeries. If you are dealing with obesity or hernia or both, you should first consult a weight loss specialist in Dallas, Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas. But before that read this blog to understand the relation between hernia and obesity.
The link between obesity and hernia
Hernias are of many types and obesity is said to increase the risk of hernias in the abdominal wall. The extra fat in an obese patient’s body puts increased tension and pressure on the abdominal muscles, making them weak and vulnerable to the development of hiatal hernia. It is a type of hernia in which the stomach moves from the abdominal muscle cavity up through the esophageal (food pipe) hiatus to the chest cavity. Obesity may contribute to an increase in the size of a hernia over time. It not only worsens, but can also increase the recurrence of hernia in multiple patients. Further, hernia is a common diagnosis with a lot of weight loss surgery patients.
Is it risky for obese people to undergo hernia surgery?
Complications after hernia repair surgery are substantially more likely in people with a high BMI (Body Mass Index). These complications include:
- High likelihood of a recurring hernia after surgical repair necessitating a second operation
- High infection rates
- Slow healing of wounds
- Increased chances of formation of a blood clot called DVT (deep venous thrombosis) following the surgery
- Long surgery or operation time that might extend the hospital stay
This is why obese patients are first recommend to shed a few pounds before considering hernia surgery. It is much safer to opt for hernia surgery after attaining a favorable BMI. But not all obese hernia patients are at risk during surgeries. The suitability of the type of hernia repair and weight loss surgery will depend on the type of hernia present in the patient. To understand whether your weight is a complication for a hernia repair surgery, get medical advice from the top general surgeon with experience in femoral, hiatal and inguinal hernia surgery in DFW. Alternatively, obese patients can visit a weight loss specialist in Dallas to understand the risks with hernia surgeries in their case.
Mitigating hernia surgery complications for obese patients
By decreasing weight and lowering your BMI before hernia surgery, you can dramatically minimize the risks related to hernia surgeries. Weight loss alone can help relieve your pain to a large extent and shrink the bulge of your hernia to the point where surgery is no longer necessary. Prior to hernia treatment, it is advised that the patients have a BMI of less than 35. There are several ways to go about weight loss including changes in the diet, lifestyle and increase in physical exercise. For obese patients in whose case traditional weight loss measures do not work or a significant weight loss is required within a short period of time, weight loss surgeries are recommended. For patients in DFW, Gastrointestinal Surgery, gastric bypass, SADI and SIPS are among the many surgical procedures available for promoting weight loss. For non-surgical procedures for weight loss, obese patients can consult with a DFW Orbera Gastric Balloon, Obalon Gastric balloon, endoscopic sleeve gastroplastic specialists. It is crucial to get advice from the best weight loss specialist in Dallas, or anywhere in Texas to know the best weight loss treatment for your specific condition.
Final word
We understand that life can be difficult when you have to deal with hernia and obesity simultaneously. But with the right medical advice you will be able to tackle both conditions in time. Now that you understand the basic link between obesity and hernia, it is recommended that you visit an experienced and reputed hernia and weight loss specialist in the Dallas, Fort Worth region to discuss the best options available to you.
