Hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through an opening of the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. This opening usually is large enough to accommodate the esophagus alone. With weakening and enlargement however, the opening (or herniation) can allow upward passage or even entrapment of the upper stomach above the diaphragm. A hernia is the protrusion of organs, such as intestines, through a weakened section of the abdominal wall. If left untreated, the split in the muscle widens and greater amounts of tissue or organs are pushed through the opening, forming a sac. This visible lump or bulge is one of the key characteristics of a hernia

Types of hernias

Inguinal – occurring in the groin. This is the most common form, accounting for more than nine out of 10 hernias. A loop of intestine pushes against the small ring of muscle in the groin,

Femoral – occurring high on the thigh, where the leg joins the body. Similar to the events that cause an inguinal hernia, intestines force their way through the weak muscle ring at the femoral canal until they protrude.

Umbilical – a portion of the gut pushes through a muscular weakness near the navel, or belly button. This type of hernia is more common in newborns.

Incisional – after abdominal surgery, the site of repair will always be structurally weaker.

Symptoms of hernias
·    A noticeable protrusion in the groin area or in the abdomen
·    Feeling pain while lifting
·    A dull aching sensation
·    A vague feeling of fullness
            Digestive upsets, such as constipation
            The lump disappears when the person is lying down
  The lump enlarges upon coughing, straining or standing up.

Diagnosis
The most common symptoms caused by hiatus hernia are usually those due to gastro-oesophageal reflux and so hiatus hernia is often hard to tell apart from reflux just based on symptoms. Hiatus hernia is generally diagnosed when doctors perform a barium X-ray or endoscopy.
 The diagnosis of inguinal hernia rests on the history given by the patient and the physician's examination of the groin. Further tests are rarely needed to confirm the diagnosis. However, in unclear cases an ultrasound scan or a CT scan might be of help, especially to rule out a hydrocele
Treatment
If you have symptoms, you probably have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Hiatal hernia and GERD often occur together. Your symptoms may vary from mild to severe. If you have severe GERD symptoms, they often can be treated successfully with medications. Less commonly, a sliding hiatal hernia can be surgically repaired through fundoplication, a procedure in which the hernia is pulled down from the chest cavity and stitched (sutured) so that it remains within the abdomen.
Umbilical hernia occurs when the abdominal content protrudes beneath the skin through the umbilical hole.The umbilical hole, or the umbilicus is the healed scar situated in the lower abdominal area. Through it the umbilical cord enters the body while the child is still inside his mother, and through the cord vital substances are passed to the fetus.
After birth the umbilical cord is cut off and the small opening that remains should quickly close in. But, in some cases it does not close as it should, so a small 'crack' remains open.

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