Doctor Decoded: What Is a Hernia?

A hernia is when part of an organ or other tissue bulges through a weakened muscle wall, or a defect in the muscle wall. For example, think of a plastic trash bag. The bag may become weak in some parts (if it gets stretched out or torn). As the bag fills up, bits of trash may break through that weak spot and bulge out. This is similar to how tissue can bulge through the muscle wall.

In this video, learn more about what hernias are and how they're treated. You can read more about different types of hernias here.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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