
Symptoms
Types of hernias include:
- Inguinal hernia.
- Femoral hernia.
- Umbilical hernia.
- Incisional hernia.
- Epigastric hernia.
- Hiatal hernia.
Causes
More symptoms of a hernia include:
- Swelling or bulge in the groin or scrotum (the pouch that contains the testicles).
- Increased pain at the site of the bulge.
- Pain while lifting.
- Increase in the bulge size over time.
- A dull aching sensation.
- A sense of feeling full or signs of bowel obstruction.
Prevention
Types of hernia
- Inguinal hernia. Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. ...
- Hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into your chest cavity.
- Umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias can affect children and babies. ...
- Ventral hernia. ...
Complications
Some of these suggestions include:
- yoga
- self-massage, massaging your abdominal muscles in a downward motion while lying on your back on a flat surface
- consuming apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, aloe vera, slippery elm, or chamomile
What are the most common types of hernia?
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
What exactly is a hernia?
What can be done for a hernia?
See more

How would you describe a hernia on a physical exam?
With the fingers placed over the femoral region, the external inguinal ring, and the internal ring, have the patient cough. A palpable bulge or impulse located in any one of these areas may indicate a hernia. The examiner should then return to the sitting position.
How do you describe a hernia medically?
What is a hernia? A hernia occurs when an internal organ or other body part protrudes through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally contains it. Most hernias occur within the abdominal cavity, between the chest and the hips.
What is a hernia and what does it look like?
Hernias often look like a bulge or swelling under the skin. There are many different types of hernia. Most of the time, they are not serious, but some hernias require surgery. A hernia occurs when part of an internal organ pushes through the muscle or tissue of its normal location.
What is hernia in simple language?
A hernia is a tear in your muscle or tissue that allows part of your insides to bulge out. It can be a bulge of an internal organ or your intestines. Sometimes you can see the hernia, depending on its location and size. Certain activities can worsen the condition, like bending over or lifting heavy objects.
How long can you live with a hernia?
How long can you live with a hernia? The absolute answer is that it is “unpredictable.” Some can live with a hernia for their whole life while others will develop a hernia related emergency within months of the development of their hernia.
Do all hernias need surgery?
If your hernia does not bother you, most likely you can wait to have surgery. Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through. In some cases small, painless hernias never need repair.
What are the warning signs of a hernia?
A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you're upright, especially if you cough or strain. A burning or aching sensation at the bulge. Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting. A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin.
What type of hernia is most severe?
Strangulated hernias are life threatening and require emergency medical care.
How do you treat a hernia without surgery?
Top 10 Remedies That Can Cure Inguinal Hernia Without Surgery!Wear hernia belts.While coughing or straining, hold the hernia.Take light walks.Avoid foods that cause inflammation.Exercises to strengthen the Abdomen.Maintain a healthy weight.Apply some ice.Take a fiber-rich diet.More items...•
What are the 3 types of hernias?
Hernias develop when internal organs or tissue push through the muscle wall of your abdomen....Read on to learn more about the three most common hernias.Abdominal hernia. Abdominal hernias develop in the area above your groin and below your ribcage. ... Groin hernia. ... Incisional hernia.
What causes a hernia to occur?
What Causes Hernias? Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or fascia; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth; more often, it occurs later in life.
Can a hernia cause bloating and weight gain?
An inguinal hernia can cause someone to feel like they had an enormous meal when in fact they did not. This very common type of hernia can also make you feel bloated accompanied with pain in the groin and lower abdomen. Some of these easy to miss signs of a hernia can be potentially dangerous if not treated.
What are the 3 types of hernias?
Hernias develop when internal organs or tissue push through the muscle wall of your abdomen....Read on to learn more about the three most common hernias.Abdominal hernia. Abdominal hernias develop in the area above your groin and below your ribcage. ... Groin hernia. ... Incisional hernia.
How do you describe an inguinal hernia?
An inguinal hernia is a bulge that occurs in your groin region, the area between the lower part of your abdomen and your thigh. Inguinal hernias occur because of a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen.
What are the classification of hernia?
In many hernia studies the hernias were classified as direct or indirect, primary or recurrent. The existing classifications are based on anatomical findings in relation to the development of the hernia: posterior floor integrity, enlarged interior ring and size of the hernia.
What are the four types of hernias?
The most common types of hernia are inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from an incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach).
How to tell if a hernia is a hernia?
A: When most hernias start, the internal tissue that pushes through the muscle gap is usually fat. But it’s also possible for part of the bowel to protrude through the opening. The risk of this is very low, but when it happens, it needs emergency repair. Seek immediate medical attention if you have: 1 A painful bulge that doesn’t reduce in size when you lay down and rest 2 Worsening pain 3 Nausea and/or vomiting 4 Difficulty having a bowel movement 5 Bloating 6 Racing heart rate 7 Fever
What does a ventral hernia feel like?
Q: What Does a Belly or Abdominal (Ventral) Hernia Feel Like? A: If you have a ventral hernia in the belly area, you may see or feel a bulge along the outer surface of the abdomen. Typically, patients with ventral hernias describe mild pain, aching or a pressure sensation at the site of the hernia.
How long does it take to heal a ventral hernia?
However, repairing more complicated hernias may require a hospital stay of one to five days.
How long does it take to recover from an inguinal hernia surgery?
Minimally invasive robotic surgery (similar to laparoscopy, but surgeons use a controller to move instruments) is also an option. With minimally invasive surgery, patients are back to their regular activity within two weeks. Open surgery is the other treatment option — recovery takes four to six weeks.
What is the thinnest part of the abdominal wall?
Pregnancy is a risk factor that makes women more susceptible to developing another type of ventral hernia near the belly button, called an umbilical hernia. The umbilicus is the thinnest part of the abdominal wall. It’s a very common site to develop a hernia, whether you’re a man or a woman.
Where do hernias occur?
There are different types of hernias, but the most common hernias occur in the belly or groin areas .
Can ventral hernias be caused by abdominal surgery?
A: Anyone can develop a ventral hernia, but those who’ve had abdominal surgery have a higher risk. If you have an incision that disrupts the abdominal wall, the scar will never be as strong as the original tissue. This makes it more likely that you’ll develop a hernia, known as an incisional hernia , along the incision area. This occurs in up to 30% of patients who have open abdominal surgery.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Some types of hernia, such as hiatal hernias, can have more specific symptoms. These can include heartburn, trouble swallowing, and chest pain.
What is the term for a hernia in the abdomen?
Hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into your chest cavity. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that helps you breathe by contracting and drawing air into the lungs. It separates the organs in your abdomen from those in your chest.
What is a hernia in pregnancy?
In babies. Pregnancy. Complications. Prevention. A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall.
How do you know if you have a hernia?
Symptoms of a hernia. The most common symptom of a hernia is a bulge or lump in the affected area. For example, in the case of an inguinal hernia, you may notice a lump on either side of your pubic bone where your groin and thigh meet. You may find that the lump disappears when you’re lying down. You’re more likely to feel your hernia ...
How to repair a hernia?
They may repair your hernia by sewing the hole in the abdominal wall closed during surgery. This is commonly done by patching the hole with surgical mesh.
How does an open hernia surgery work?
During open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision close to the site of the hernia, and then pushes the bulging tissue back into the abdomen. They then sew the area shut, sometimes reinforcing it with surgical mesh. Finally, they close the incision.
Where do umbilical hernias occur?
This type of hernia is also more common in babies who are born prematurely or born with a low birth weight. Umbilical hernias occur near the belly button. They form when the muscles surrounding the hole left by the umbilical cord don’t close properly.
What is a hernia in the body?
A hernia is a hole in the muscular wall of the abdomen. This often occurs in areas of previous surgical scars, the umbilicus, ...
Where is a hernia located?
A hernia is a hole in the muscular wall of the abdomen. This often occurs in areas of previous surgical scars, the umbilicus, or in the groin area.
Why is a hernia strangulated?
Strangulation is an emergency because of the potential for loss of viability of the intestine or other hernia contents.
What is the most common type of hernia?
Types of Hernias. Inguinal Hernia – This is the most common type of hernia and occurs in the groin. It often presents after sudden heavy lifting or coughing or straining. One may notice a burning sensation or pressure in the groin associated with a bulge. Femoral Hernia – This bulge occurs low in the groin and is more common in females.
What is the procedure to repair a hernia?
Hernia repair surgery usually involves implantation of a special mesh that functions as a secure patch over the opening in the abdominal wall.
How long can you live with a hernia?
Some individuals live with their hernia for decades without any problems. Many people describe a long history of a painless hernia and some experience symptoms and emergencies even in cases of a newly diagnosed hernia.
Where is a femoral hernia?
Femoral Hernia – This bulge occurs low in the groin and is more common in females.
What is a hernia in the body?
What Is a Hernia? A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. The most common types of herniaare inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from an incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach).
What Causes Hernias?
Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or fascia; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth; more often, it occurs later in life.
What is a femoral hernia?
A femoral hernia occurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral artery into the upper thigh. Femoral hernias are most common in women, especially those who are pregnant or obese.
Why do men have groin hernias?
About 96% of all groin hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area. In an incisional hernia, the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall at the site of previous abdominal surgery. This type is most common in elderly or overweightpeople who are inactive after abdominal surgery.
Where does a femoral hernia occur?
A femoral herniaoccurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral arteryinto the upper thigh. Femoral hernias are most common in women, especially those who are pregnant or obese. In an umbilical hernia, part of the small intestine passes through the abdominal wall near the navel.
Where does the bladder protrude in a hernia?
In an inguinal hernia, the intestine or the bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the groin. About 96% of all groin hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area.
What is Hernia?
There are many different types of hernias including inner groin, outer groin, femoral, inguinal, umbilical, hiatal, and incisional.
How to know if you have a hernia?
When you feel like you have a hernia, you need to seek medical help for proper diagnosis. A physical examination can help diagnose an inguinal and incisional hernia. The doctor may feel a bulge in the abdomen or groin that grows in size when you a cough, stand, or strain.
How to diagnose a hiatal hernia?
A hiatal hernia may be diagnosed by a barium X-ray or an endoscopy. A barium X-ray is X-ray picture of your digestive tract captured after you drink a barium liquid solution. An endoscopy can also be performed if you feel hernia symptoms.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Pressure, weakness, or heaviness in the abdomen. Burning, gurgling or aching where the bulge is located. Discomfort or pain in the affected area, especially when lifting, coughing, or bending over. Symptoms of a hiatal hernia may include: Difficulty swallowing. Chest pain.
What is the term for a bulge in the belly button?
In children, umbilical hernia appears as a bulge at the belly button and settles by itself after a year. An incisional hernia may happen to elderly or overweight people who have undergone an operation and remain inactive. A hiatal hernia or an abdominal hernia is when the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus.
Why are men more susceptible to inguinal hernias?
Men are more susceptible to inguinal hernias because they have a natural weakness in the groin area. The bladder or intestine protrudes in the groin area through the abdominal wall. A femoral hernia is common in pregnant or obese women. It occurs due to soft tissues passing through the femoral artery.
How many abdominal wall hernias are repaired annually?
There are more than one million abdominal wall hernia repairs performed each year in the United States. An inguinal hernia makes up nearly 770,000 of the cases. About 90 percent of inguinal hernia treatments are performed on males.
What is a hernia in the body?
Share on Pinterest. A hernia occurs when a piece of tissue bulges through an area of the body — usually a weak point in a person’s abdominal wall. Some hernias may cause few symptoms. Others can be a medical emergency. Here we’ll discuss different areas in the body where hernias can occur, plus guide you to more in-depth articles about each hernia ...
How to know if you have a hernia?
Seek immediate medical care if you have a hernia and experience the following symptoms: 1 constipation 2 fever 3 nausea 4 problems passing gas 5 sudden and severe pain at the hernia site 6 vomiting
How common is an inguinal hernia in men?
They’re also much more common in men: An estimated 27 percent of men and only 3 percent of women will develop an inguinal hernia in their lifetime. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between a femoral and inguinal hernia.
What is the name of the area where the body bulges?
Umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias are those in which tissues in the body bulge through an area of weakness in the belly button area (umbilicus). According to the American College of Surgeons, an estimated 10 percent of all hernias in the stomach are umbilical hernias.
Why do women have femoral hernias?
Women experience femoral hernias more often than men. A femoral hernia can be a cause for concern due to the femoral artery and vein being nearby. It’s possible the hernia could affect these blood vessels and block blood flow to and from the leg.
How do you know if you have an epigastric hernia?
If you have an epigastric hernia, you may be able to feel it when there is pressure on the abdominal wall, such as when you cough, laugh, or bear down to have a bowel movement . You may also have some pain or tenderness around where the hernia is.
What does a femoral hernia feel like?
A femoral hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a weak point in the groin or inner thigh. The hernia may feel like a small- to medium-sized lump in the groin.
Where are hernias located?
Assess the anatomical relationship of the hernia in relation to the pubic tubercle: Inguinal hernias are typically located above and medial to the pubic tubercle. Femoral hernias are typically located below and lateral to the pubic tubercle.
What is an inguinal hernia?
An inguinal hernia is a protrusion, or movement of abdominal contents, from within the abdominal cavity. This tissue then protrudes, or emerges, at the exit point, the superficial inguinal ring.
How to differentiate direct and indirect inguinal hernias?
To differentiate between direct and indirect inguinal hernias: 1. Locate the deep inguinal ring ( midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle). 2. Manually reduce the patient’s hernia by compressing it towards the deep inguinal ring starting at the inferior aspect of the hernia. 3.
What is a parastomal hernia?
Parastomal hernias are a common complication of stoma formation. Surgical drains: note the location of the drain and the type/volume of the contents within the drain (e.g. blood, chyle, pus). Mobility aids: items such as wheelchairs and walking aids give an indication of the patient’s current mobility status.
Where do incisional hernias occur?
Incisional hernia. Incisional hernias occur at the sites of previous operations where tissue integrity has been compromised. Location: incisional hernias present as a bulge or protrusion at or near the site of a previous surgical incision. Inguinal hernia 1. Inguinal hernia extending into the scrotum.
What are the scars on my abdomen?
Obvious scars: these may provide clues regarding previous abdominal surgery and be closely associated with an incisional hernia.
What is a reducible hernia?
A reducible hernia is one which can be flattened out with changes in position ( e.g. lying supine) or the application of pressure.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
Most small hiatal hernias cause no signs or symptoms. But larger hiatal hernias can cause: 1 Heartburn 2 Regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth 3 Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus (acid reflux) 4 Difficulty swallowing 5 Chest or abdominal pain 6 Feeling full soon after you eat 7 Shortness of breath 8 Vomiting of blood or passing of black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding
Why does my stomach bulge up?
Causes. A hiatal hernia occurs when weakened muscle tissue allows your stomach to bulge up through your diaphragm. It's not always clear why this happens. But a hiatal hernia might be caused by: Age-related changes in your diaphragm. Injury to the area, for example, after trauma or certain types of surgery.
What is the term for a hernia in the upper abdomen?
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges through the large muscle separating your abdomen and chest (diaphragm).
What does it mean when you vomit blood?
Vomiting of blood or passing of black stools, which may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding
Can a small hernia cause problems?
A small hiatal hernia usually doesn't cause problems. You may never know you have one unless your doctor discovers it when checking for another condition.
