Hernias are a common medical condition that often go unnoticed in public health discussions. They can develop from various causes and activities, such as heavy lifting. Dr. Michael Abboud, a leading surgeon at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, says hernias can also be due to congenital abdominal wall defects and can occur in different locations. They can be present from birth or develop later.
A hernia is when an organ or tissue pushes beyond its normal area, often due to a weakness in a muscle structure, like the abdominal wall muscles. This causes the abdomen’s contents to push through the wall, forming a pouch known as a hernia sac. Hernias can be of several types, including inguinal (groin), umbilical, ventral, or incisional.
Hernias usually form when the abdominal wall muscles and tendons, which hold the viscera and support the torso, lose their strength. Genetic or systemic disorders can make patients more likely to get a hernia, while poor wound healing after surgery can lead to incisional hernias. A hernia happens when the abdominal wall breaks at its weakest point due to increased pressure. Once a hernia forms, it may continue to grow. Other risk factors include chronic coughing, smoking, heavy lifting, straining, obesity, and pregnancy.