Ask anyone who’s had one… nothing slows you down quite like a hernia. A hernia is a type of weakness of the abdominal wall resulting in a bulge. There are many types of hernias, but two of the most commonly treated hernias at Mithani MD are ventral or umbilical hernias and inguinal hernias.

• Ventral or Umbilical Hernia: A ventral or umbilical hernia occurs when contents of abdomen bulge through the abdominal wall, belly button or possibly the site of a prior surgical incision.
• Inguinal Hernia: Inguinal hernias are the most common type. In the case of an inguinal hernia, a portion of the intestine pushes through an area of weakness in the groin/lower abdominal wall.

A hernia may result from straining a muscle – or simply from muscle weakness. They can occur suddenly (acute) or slowly over time. Heavy lifting, constipation, pregnancy, obesity, a persistent cough, and recent surgery in the abdominal area are just a few causes that may lead to a person developing a hernia. Hernias may result in pain or contents of the abdominal wall getting stuck in the hernia sac, possibly resulting in an emergency surgery.