A hernia is the abnormal exit of tissue or an organ, such as the bowel,

through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. Symptoms are present in about
66% of people with groin hernias. Risk factors for the development of a hernia include:
smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, pregnancy, peritoneal dialysis,
collagen vascular disease and previous open appendectomy, among others. and occur more
often in certain families. Inguinal, femoral and abdominal hernias were present in 18.5
million people and resulted in 59,800 deaths in 2015. Groin hernias occur most often before
the age of 1 and after the age of 50. Signs and symptoms By far the most common hernias
develop in the abdomen, when a weakness in the abdominal wall evolves into a localized
hole, or "defect", through which adipose tissue, or abdominal organs covered with
peritoneum, may protrude. Another common hernia involves the spinal discs and causes
sciatica. A hiatus hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through
the esophageal opening in the diaphragm. Hernias may or may not present with either pain
at the site, a visible or palpable lump, or in some cases more vague symptoms resulting from
pressure on an organ which has become "stuck" in the hernia, sometimes leading to organ
dysfunction. Fatty tissue usually enters a hernia first, but it may be followed or accompanied
by an organ. Hernias are caused by a disruption or opening in the fascia, or fibrous