What is a Hernia?
A hernia is when an internal body organ pushes through the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. The majority of these are abdominal, occurring between the chest and hips. But hernias can also occur in the groin and upper thigh.
Common types of hernia include: Inguinal, Femoral, Umbilical, Incisional, Epigastric, and Hiatal.
The first sign of a hernia is usually a bulge in the skin around the affected area. Most of them do not require immediate medical attention, but surgery is often the long-term treatment solution.
Understanding hernia-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
This occurs when tissue or an organ abnormally exits through the wall of the cavity in which it can be found. There are many different types of hernias, however, they usually involve the abdomen and groin.
Some hernias do not fix themselves and most require surgery. While not life-threatening in themselves, if left untreated they may eventually cause a more serious potential condition or emergency.
A hernia often presents as a noticeable bulge or lump in the affected area, such as the abdomen, groin, or near surgical scars. This bulge may become more prominent when straining, coughing, or standing and may reduce or disappear when lying down.
What should I do next?
In some instances, a hernia may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Hernia, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.