a hernia is an opening or weakness in the muscular structure of the wall of the abdomen. this defect causes a bulging of the abdominal wall. this bulging is usually more noticeable when the abdominal muscles are tightened thereby increasing the pressure in the abdomen. any activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure can worsen a hernia; examples of such activities are lifting coughing or even straining to have a bowel movement. imagine a barrel with a hole in its side and a balloon that is blown up inside the barrel. part of the inflated balloon would bulge out through the hole. the balloon going through the hole is like the tissues of the abdomen bulging through a hernia. serious complications from a hernia can result from the trapping of tissues in the hernia -- a process called incarceration. trapped or incarcerated tissues may have their blood supply cut off leading to damage or death of the tissue. the treatment of an incarceration usually involves surgery.
what is a hernia?