During holidays, friends travel or visit friends and relatives. The increase in activity also brings a peak in the incidence of incarcerated hernia. This is one of the most serious complications of a hernia and can be life-threatening. What is an incarcerated hernia? A hernia, in simple terms, is a broken hole in the body with tissue protruding from it. And when the protrusion gets stuck in the hole and cannot go back out, it is an incarcerated hernia. The most common manifestations of hernias are localized protruding masses and soreness and discomfort, while its main hazards are limited mobility, impact on sex life, reduced quality of life, and gradually, digestive, urinary, and cardiopulmonary functions. However, the most serious danger of a hernia is impaction, which is a fatal complication. Is it possible for a hernia to become ingrown? Yes, they can! Especially in the cases listed below, they are the fighters among hernias and are at high risk for incarcerations: 1. Pediatric inguinal hernia Children are at high risk for incarcerated hernia, and the younger they are, the more likely they are to become incarcerated. Statistics show that nearly a quarter of inguinal hernias in babies within 6 months of age will become incarcerated. This is a condition in which the hernia does not completely return to the stomach. The protruding hernia may become smaller, but it cannot disappear. This means that a hernia that has been incarcerated before is much more likely to become incarcerated again, especially within 3 months. A femoral hernia is a hernia located at the root of the thigh and protruding from the femoral ring. Although femoral hernias are rare, once they develop, most of them become embedded. 5. Female hernia Inguinal hernia in women can lead to tubal and ovarian impaction, and hernias are more likely to be impaction during pregnancy. Females have fewer total hernias than males, but femoral hernias are more common and therefore more likely to become ingrown. If a person with a hernia fits any of these criteria, beware! Our advice is to remove this “bomb” from your body as soon as possible. How to avoid an incarcerated hernia? An incarcerated hernia occurs when there is a sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure, such as when coughing, sneezing, or holding your breath, which cannot be prevented by limiting your daily activities. If you refuse to exercise, travel, or have sex because of a hernia, you are also missing out on a lot of life’s pleasures and quality of life. With the development of medical technology, the treatment of inguinal hernia has entered the era of precise and individualized minimally invasive treatment. A hernia can be cured by day surgery and you can go home and live a normal life on the same day. Only when the hernia is cured can the risk of impaction be truly avoided. But don’t worry, I have two methods to teach patients who have not cured their hernia for the time being, for temporary use: 1. Hernia ring compression 2. Hernia belt What should I do if an incarcerated hernia occurs? When the protruding hernia cannot be retracted and becomes smaller, or even larger and darker, and is accompanied by pain. Sometimes there is nausea and vomiting, fever and other discomfort. This is the time to realize that you have an incarcerated hernia. Children are unable to express themselves actively, and the most common manifestation is crying. When you find that your baby is crying inexplicably, you should always unzip your pants to see if there is a hernia. In case of an incarcerated hernia, an emergency visit is the best decision you can make and should not be delayed for a moment. It is important to know that as time goes on, the damage becomes more and more serious. Adults should have emergency surgery to treat an incarcerated hernia. Pediatric patients are advised to retract first and wait for the tissue edema to subside before surgical cure. Finally, we wish every patient a happy holiday season, free from incarcerated hernia!