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What hernias are and how they are repaired

Shawna White, left, and Moustafa Hassan, MD (photo by Jim Howe)

Shawna White, left, and Moustafa Hassan, MD (photo by Jim Howe)

How would you know you have a hernia? A bulge may appear beneath your skin that's achy or painful, and it may become more obvious when you cough or strain. A hernia occurs when organs protrude from their cavity, such as intestines coming through a weak point in the abdominal wall. Usually, hernias require a surgical repair, says Moustafa Hassan, MD, director of Upstate's Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Program. He and nurse navigator Shawna White explain what to expect if you're diagnosed with a hernia. 

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