JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 5 million Americans deal with hernias every year, but only 15% ever seek help from a medical professional, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. One Florida surgeon says that gap needs to close.
“Not all of these need surgery, but all hernias need to be evaluated, in my opinion, by a specialist,” said Dr. Hussain Abbass, a bariatric and general surgeon with HCA Florida Memorial Hospital.
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Hernias are weaknesses in the abdominal wall. They come in many forms, but some of the most common are umbilical, inguinal and femoral hernias.
Men are more likely to develop hernias overall. In fact, 1 in 4 men will develop an inguinal hernia — a condition where part of the bowel pushes into the inguinal canal.
Women face a different risk. While they develop inguinal hernias less often, Abbass says they are more prone to a type that requires faster attention.
He is referring to femoral hernias, where tissue or intestine pushes through muscles into the femoral canal, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Abbass says hernias are usually caused by a combination of factors — not just one big lift at the gym.
“Usually, it’s a combination. It’s genetically - you must be prone to just having a little bit of weaker tissue,” he said. “Generally, what I see in hernias is not necessarily the heavy lifting. It’s heavy lifting and the awkward stretching.”
Abbass says many of his patients put off getting checked out for years. Life gets busy. Time slips by, but he warns that waiting comes with a real downside.
“The problem with hernias — they cannot fix themselves because it’s an anatomical defect. It’s a hole,” he said.
A specialist can walk patients through all available treatment options. Two common paths include:
- Robotic surgery — Dr. Abbass says this approach carries a high success rate and a smoother recovery. Most patients go home the same day and return to full activity within two to four weeks.
- Watchful waiting — In some cases, it is safe to monitor a hernia over time to see if it worsens before taking more serious action.
“This is not as scary as it used to be in the past, and recovery is very fast,” Abbass said. “The vast majority of patients go home that same day, and they’re back to full activity within two to four weeks.”