{"id":11887,"date":"2022-04-13T19:58:07","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T19:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=11887"},"modified":"2022-04-13T20:06:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T20:06:09","slug":"getting-over-the-hernia-hurdle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2022\/04\/13\/getting-over-the-hernia-hurdle\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Over the Hernia Hurdle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Getting<\/p>\n

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More than five million Americans suffer from hernias each year, yet only about 15% seek medical treatment. Often, people choose to avoid or delay treatment because they are worried about surgery and recovery time. However, hernias should not be ignored. If left untreated they usually get larger, become increasingly painful, and in some cases, can cause serious health risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cA hernia is an abnormal protrusion, or bulging out, of part of an organ through the connective tissue, or muscle, that normally contains it,\u201d explains Frank C. Koniges, MD, FACS<\/a>, a general surgeon who specializes in hernia surgery at Cooper University Health Care<\/a>. \u201cHernias can affect men, women, and children, and they can occur at any age.\u201d<\/p>\n

People who engage in heavy lifting or repetitive activities that put stress on the lower body may be at higher risk for hernias. Other risk factors include pregnancy and labor, constipation, and genetics. Hernias can also run in families.<\/p>\n

The most common sign of a hernia is a noticeable bulge in the abdomen or groin area, where there is a weakness in the muscle. Many times, a hernia is only visible when a person lifts something heavy, bends over, coughs, or laughs. Hernias don\u2019t always hurt, but the bulge may get bigger and more painful over time.<\/p>\n

Types of Hernias<\/h3>\n

Hernias affect people in different ways. There are many types, but the most common are:<\/p>\n