You can't prevent the congenital defect that may lead to an inguinal hernia, but the following steps can help reduce strain on your abdominal muscles and tissues:

* Maintain a healthy weight. If you think you may be overweight, talk to your doctor about the best exercise and diet plan for you.
* Emphasize high-fiber foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains are good for your overall health. They're also packed with fiber that can help prevent constipation and straining.
* Lift heavy objects carefully or avoid heavy lifting altogether. If you have to lift something heavy, always bend from your knees, not from your waist.
* Stop smoking. In addition to increasing your risk of serious diseases such as cancer, emphysema and heart disease, smoking often causes a chronic cough that can lead to or aggravate an inguinal hernia.
* Don't rely on a truss for support. Contrary to what you may have heard, wearing a truss isn't the best long-term solution for an inguinal hernia. A truss won't protect against complications or correct the underlying problem, although your doctor may recommend wearing one for a short time before surgery.

An inguinal hernia, or a groin hernia, is a protrusion (lump) of the small intestine or fatty tissue into the groin through a weakness or tear in the abdominal wall.

Description of Inguinal Hernia
In a man, an inguinal hernia develops in the region where the spermatic cord and blood vessels to the testicles pass out of the abdominal cavity and into the scrotum. The area where these pass through is called the inguinal canal.

In a woman, an inguinal hernia develops where the connective tissue binding the uterus exits from the abdomen to join with the tissue surrounding the vaginal opening.

There are two (2) TYPES of inguinal hernias - indirect and direct.

An indirect hernia affects men only. A loop of intestine passes down the inguinal canal from where a testis descends into the scrotum.

A direct hernia affects both sexes. The intestinal loop forms a swelling in the inner part of the fold of the groin.

Additionally, there are three (3) CLASSIFICATIONS of hernia - reductible, incarcenated and strangulated.

In a reductible hernia the protrusion can be put back into place.

In an incarcenated hernia the protrusion can't be put back into place without surgery because some surrounding tissues or parts have grown together.

In a strangulated hernia the protrusion becomes twisted or swollen and interferes with the normal blood flow and muscle action. Immediate surgery is needed in this type of hernia.

Causes and Risk Factors of Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernias are usually caused by a congenital defect which occurs as a weakness in the inguinal canal manifesting after injury, pregnancy or aging. Inguinal hernias may appear following surgery or after heavy lifting, birthing a child, exercising, persistent coughing, straining while urinating or defecating or by gaining a lot of weight.

Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia
Frequently hernias produce no symptoms. However, some people may experience the following symptoms:

* A lump or swelling in the groin

* A sudden pain into the scrotum

* Abdominal discomfort

* A heavy feeling in the groin

* Pain in the groin while standing or moving

Diagnosis of Inguinal Hernia
If the lump is large, the doctor can see an obvious swelling or lump in the groin. If the hernia is small the doctor will examine the groin area for a bulge in the affected area.

Treatment of Inguinal Hernia
If the hernia is causing only slight discomfort and can be pushed back (reductible hernia), the doctor will recommend that the patient wear a supportive garment called a truss. A truss is a device that puts pressure on the hernia and holds it in.

Hernias that are painful and can't be pushed back (incarcenated or strangulated hernia) are treated surgically. There are two surgically procedures available for the treatment of inguinal hernias - open surgery or laparoscopy.

Open surgery is the most common type of treatment, accounting for 95 percent of inguinal repairs. This procedure is done under local anesthesia and requires a 4- to 6-inch incision in the groin. The doctor then pushes the herniated tissue back into place and sutures the opening shut. Sometimes a small piece of synthetic material is placed over the gap to serve as a scaffolding on which scar tissue will grow. Full recovery time takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Laparoscopy is done under general anesthesia and involves three small incisions (1/2 inch or less) in the abdomen which in then inflated with carbon dioxide. A laparoscope (a fiber-optic narrow tube with a light on the end) and other instruments are inserted through the incisions. Using a monitor the surgeon pushes the herniated tissue back into place and staples a patch over the opening. Full recovery takes a week or less.

sir i have three times hernia surgery but faild my age 28 my problem direct inguinal hernia