In medicine, the word “hernia” means “something is not where it is supposed to be.” A hiatal hernia — sometimes called a diaphragmatic hernia — is movement of the stomach into the chest via a hiatus (a hole) in the diaphragm. Anatomically, the diaphragm muscle is between the stomach and the chest. The hiatus is the opening in the diaphragm where the esophagus or food pipe joins the stomach. A hiatal hernia, then, occurs when the stomach moves into the chest via the diaphragm. There are two types of hiatal hernias: a sliding hernia is when the stomach slides up into the chest and back down; a fixed hernia is when the stomach slides up into the chest and stays there. Both can be quite painful conditions, although some minor hiatal hernias can cause mild to no pain. Hiatal hernias are more common in women than in men.

Inguinal hernias are caused by a weakness in the abdominal wall. In some people, this weakness is congenital, which means it is present at birth. In others, it develops over time, as a result of excessive weight gain or loss, physical activity that places pressure on the abdomen, pregnancy, straining during bowel movements because of constipation, straining during urination because of an enlarged prostate, or chronic and intense coughing. Because the abdominal wall is weak, the hernia occurs during abdominal strain.

Femoral hernias, which can be virtually indistinguishable from the inguinal type, occur just below the groin crease, when abdominal contents pass into the weak area created by the passage of the femoral blood vessels into the lower extremities. An “incisional hernia” occurs when the defect is the result of an incompletely healed surgical wound.

Hernias can be diagnosed by a physical examination. Upon examination and the type of hernia present, simple remedies such as change in eating habits or less strenuous activities may alleviate hernia symptoms. Sometimes surgery is required to correct the problem when medication or habits cannot resolve the ailment.

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