How to Prevent Incisional Hernias

To avoid incisional hernias, you should follow preventative measures that strengthen the abdominal wall and reduce strain on it. An incisional hernia is a bulge that occurs near or directly along the line of an abdominal surgical incision. The stomach wall becomes weakened and internal organs can press through. Although there is no fool-proof way to prevent such a hernia, there are precautions that can lower the odds and that's worth doing. While the risk of an initial hernia occurrence can be as high as 13% for some operations, once you get one, the risk of recurrence can go as high as 52%.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Reach and keep your ideal weight. Lose weight before surgery if you are heavy and avoid gaining too much weight after your surgery. Extra pounds increase strain on the abdominal wall.
2. Follow a healthy diet that's high in fiber and fluids to avoid constipation and excess straining during bowel movements.
3. Lower your salt intake to prevent build-up of excess body fluids.
4. Quit smoking. Chronic smoker's cough can contribute to herniation.
5. Avoid heavy lifting for at least six to eight weeks after surgery, and learn the safe, low-strain way to lift objects using your arm and leg muscles.
6. Strengthen abdominal muscles through regular moderate exercise such as walking, tai chi, yoga, stretching exercises and gentle aerobics.

Tips & Warnings

• Here's a low-strain abdominal strengthening exercise: Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Keeping your shoulders on the floor, lift your buttocks and back. Repeat ten times.
• Hernias can occur months or even years after surgery, so don't go back to your old bad habits after just a few weeks.
• Strengthening abdominal muscles can't make a hernia go away once it has appeared and, in fact, can make it worse at that point.
• Poor healing can cause hernias through swelling and wound separation. Be sure to have your doctor check the incision site regularly until it is completely healed.