Your doctor should also teach you how to put on the truss, patch or belt. A hernia belt will wrap around your waist, supporting the hernia. A hernia truss is an undergarment that helps keep the hernia in place.

Wash your hands before you put on the hernia support and make sure the support is clean and dry.

If it hurts when you apply pressure to the hernia, stop and contact your doctor. You don’t want to force the hernia into place which could cause more damage to your abdominal muscles.

If you’re using a hernia truss, simply pull the undergarment on to keep the hernia situated.

Your doctor may recommend using a hernia support until you’re able to get corrective surgery.

A hernia that’s become trapped in the abdominal wall. A hernia that’s become twisted and strangulated, which cuts off the blood supply. If this happens, tissue dies and can cause gangrene.

There are no medications to treat a hernia.

Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive although you’ll also need to be under general anesthesia. Recovery time is much shorter than with open surgery.

Ask your physician when you can resume activities like sex, driving, and exercising.

Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia and they usually occur in older men. Femoral hernias are more common in pregnant or obese women. If you have a femoral hernia, seek medical attention immediately as these are more commonly associated with femoral artery or femoral nerve injury since the canal is much smaller and tighter than other types of hernias.

Umbilical hernias also happen in obese women or women who have had multiple pregnancies.

Other signs of hiatal hernia: heartburn, feeling of food stuck in your throat, feeling full quickly, and, rarely, chest pain, which can be confused with a heart attack. Hiatal hernias are more common in women, overweight people, and people over 50 years of age. [8] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

Incisional hernias are more common in the elderly or obese.

Learn how to lift heavy objects or do weight training before you lift heavy things. This can prevent damage to your abdominal muscles. If lifting, you may want to get help.

If you have a cold or allergies, don’t be afraid to sneeze or cough. Suppressing these may actually lead to an inguinal hernia. [11] X Research source Talk with your doctor if you’re sneezing or coughing a lot.