Hernia - Dr. Gaurang Shah

What is Hernia?

A hernia may occur whenever the muscles of the abdomen develop a weak spot or tear. These muscles normally hold the organs and surrounding tissues in place. An organ such as the intestine can push the abdominal lining (peri-toneum) through the weakness and form a balloon-like sac.

This sac can usually be seen as a bulge under the skin when the patient is standing up. The sac is often detected when it is about the size of a small marble.

A hernia can sometimes be present at birth, or it may develop over time due to strain on the abdominal mus-cles. Most hernias develop later in life. A hernia can be aggravated by the strain of a chronic cough, constipation or heavy lifting, and often causes significant pain. A hernia usually gets worse with time.

Hernias occur in males and females of all ages. However, they are most common in men. About one man in every 20 will develop a hernia at some time in his life.
About nine out of 10 hernias occur in the groin area (inguinal and femoral). Hernias occur occasionally at other sites in the abdomen:

at the site of a previous operation (incisional)
in the midline below the breast bone (epigastric)
at the navel (umbilical).

Occasionally, umbilical hernias in children less than two years old close off and heal spontaneously. Other hernias do not go away on their own and may require surgical repair.