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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reviewed 10/6/2023</strong></p>
<div class="nR_HL_igDesc">
<h2>Hernias: True or false? </h2>
<p>You've no doubt heard of a hernia. That's when part of an organ or other tissue breaks through a muscle wall in the belly, groin or chest. However, not all hernias are alike. How much do you know about them?</p>
<p>True or false: Hernias always occur in the groin from lifting or straining too hard. </p>
<p>False. There are different types of hernia and many likely causes. Some hernias develop in a weakness at the belly button or over an old surgical incision site. With a hiatal hernia, part of the upper stomach extends through the diaphragm into the chest. </p>
<p>True or false: Hernias almost always happen in men. </p>
<p>False. It's true that some types of hernias occur often in men. But women are more likely to have a femoral hernia than are men. With this type of hernia, a portion of intestine or tissue pokes through the abdomen wall near the upper thigh and groin. However, an inguinal (groin) hernia occurs mostly in middle-aged and older men. </p>
<p>True or false: A bulge under the skin is a common sign of a hernia. </p>
<p>True. A hernia may appear as a bulge in the abdomen, and it may be sore. It also may hurt if you lift something, cough, or stand on your feet a lot. If you have a hiatal hernia in the chest, you won't notice a bulge. Instead, you might sometimes have pain, heartburn or trouble swallowing. </p>
<p>True or false: Hernias occur in both children and adults. </p>
<p>True. People of all ages&mdash;even babies&mdash;can get hernias. Children may be born with a hernia, or the hernia may develop when they get older. Babies can also be born with a hiatal hernia. Some children have hernias that are discovered when they become adults. </p>
<p>True or false: Hernias generally heal on their own. </p>
<p>False. Surgery is the only sure way to repair a hernia. It usually involves stitching together tissue to close the hole. Sometimes mesh is used to patch and reinforce the weakened abdominal wall. Emergency surgery may be needed for some hernias&mdash;for examples, if part of the protruding intestine becomes stuck inside the abdominal wall. </p>
<p>If you think you have a hernia, let your doctor know. You can learn more about this condition in our Hernia topic center. </p>
<p><a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/Topic.aspx?TopicID=088a79fa-1911-4631-9f07-8fb2cc2c4c7a">Learn more about hernias </a></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Sources</strong></p>
<ul>
    <li>MedlinePlus. "Hernia." <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000960.htm">https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000960.htm</a>.</li>
    <li>MedlinePlus. "Hiatal Hernia." <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001137.htm">https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001137.htm</a>.</li>
    <li>National Center for Biotechnology Information. "Risk Factors for Inguinal Hernia in Middle-Aged and Elderly Men: Results from the Rotterdam Study." <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25596770/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25596770/</a>.</li>
    <li>Sages. "Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery Patient Information from Sages." <a href="https://www.sages.org/publications/patient-information/inguinal-hernia-repair-surgery-patient-information-from-sages/">https://www.sages.org/publications/patient-information/inguinal-hernia-repair-surgery-patient-information-from-sages/</a>.</li>
</ul>

Hernia quiz