Hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain. Hernia surgery is one of the most common procedures in the U.S., with more than one million hernia repairs performed each year in the U.S. Depending on its cause, a hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time. Hernias are mostly found in the abdomen, but may also be in the upper thigh, belly button and groin areas.
Factors that may cause a hernia include being pregnant, being constipated, heavy weight lifting, fluid in the abdomen, sudden weight gain, persistent coughing or sneezing. If your hernia growing larger or causing pain, your doctor may decide it is best to operate. Hernias can be repaired with either open or laparoscopic surgery.
Surgery to repair a hiatal hernia is either performed using a single incision in the chest wall (thoracotomy) or the abdomen (laparotomy). Laparoscopic surgery uses a tiny camera and small surgical equipment to repair the hernia using only a few small incisions.
Treating Gallbladder Issues
If you suffer from pain in the upper right or upper middle part of your stomach after eating it could be your gallbladder causing the issue. The gallbladder is located under the liver, which stores and collects bile produced in the liver. When your gallbladder is acting up, you will experience pain when eating food -- particularly when eating fat.
Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes and a bloated belly.
The main reason for having a gallbladder removed is the presence of gallstones. They can be as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. Gallbladder removal (cholecystitis) is a common surgery and is performed using general anesthesia. It can even be performed on pregnant women with low risk to both the baby and the mother. Importantly, gallbladder surgery can eliminate painful gallstones and prevent gallbladder cancer.