About this topic
An umbilical hernia starts with a weak place in your belly wall around the belly button. This is your umbilical area. With this kind of hernia, you have a bulge or swelling outside of your belly. This is from the lining of your belly pushing through the weak place. The lining pushes out when you cough, laugh, or strain your stomach muscles. The lining may not push outward when you are relaxed. Most of the time you will need surgery to fix an umbilical hernia in adults. ‚
A few people can have very serious problems from this kind of hernia. They may have a piece of the bowel get caught or twisted in the hernia. This is an emergency and needs to be fixed quickly. ‚
What are the causes?
The muscles in your belly formed before you were born. They should have sealed off around your belly button. Sometimes, when there is a lot of stress on your stomach muscles, you may get an umbilical hernia. This stress may be from lifting something very heavy, being pregnant, having a very bad cough, or being overweight. ‚
What are the main signs?
A lump near or around your belly button that is: ‚
- Soft
- Swollen
- Painless
- Gets larger in size with activity
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will find the hernia when doing an exam. The doctor may: ‚
- Feel the belly for a bulge or lump
- Check to see if hernia can be pushed back into your belly
- Ask you to cough or bend to feel the lump better
The doctor may order an ultrasound to check the organs in your belly. ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Surgery is most often needed to fix an umbilical hernia in adults. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no way to prevent this type of hernia. ‚
Where can I learn more?
American College of Surgeons ‚
https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/education/patient%20ed/adultumbilical.ashx ‚
Journal of the American Medical Association ‚
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=900171 ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-11-23 ‚
List_set bdysylist
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚