A hernia (burut) is when part of an internal organ, such as the bowel, pushes through a gap or weak area in the muscle that holds it in place, usually causing a lump in the groin, upper thigh or around the belly button. The lump often gets bigger when you cough or strain and smaller when you lie down. The main types are inguinal (groin), femoral (upper thigh, more common in women), umbilical (belly button, common in babies) and hiatus hernia (stomach into the chest, causing heartburn). Some need no treatment, but many adult hernias are repaired with surgery. Get urgent help if a hernia becomes painful, hard or discoloured, or you vomit or cannot pass wind or poo, as these can be signs of a strangulated hernia.
Hernia maksud: what is a hernia (burut)?
According to the NHS, a hernia is where part of an internal organ, such as your bowel, pushes through a gap or weak area in the muscle that keeps your organs in place. In Malay, it is often called burut.
Most hernias develop in the tummy (abdomen) or groin, where the legs join the abdomen. Some cause a lump under the skin, while others are internal and cannot be seen. Some improve on their own, but others need surgery.
What are the types of hernia?
| Type of hernia | Where it happens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inguinal hernia | Groin, where your leg joins your abdomen | May not need treatment if it causes no symptoms; surgery if it causes pain or to prevent complications |
| Femoral hernia | Upper thigh, near the groin | Rare; far more common in women, particularly older women; usually repaired straight away because of a higher risk of complications |
| Umbilical hernia | Under or near the belly button | Common in babies and usually goes away by age 5; in adults, surgery is usually recommended |
| Hiatus hernia | In the chest: part of the stomach moves up | Very common over 50; can cause heartburn and acid reflux |
| Lumbar hernia | In or near the spine | |
| Stoma hernia | Under or near a stoma (an opening made in the tummy for the bowel or bladder) |
Source: NHS.
What are the signs of a hernia?
According to the NHS, symptoms depend on where the hernia is and how long you have had it. Common symptoms include:
- a bulge or lump in the groin, upper thigh or tummy that may get bigger when you cough, sneeze or cry, and smaller when you lie down;
- the skin over the lump looking tight and stretched;
- a heavy, dragging feeling in your leg from a femoral or inguinal hernia;
- indigestion symptoms such as heartburn or reflux from a hiatus hernia;
- pain in or around the hernia, usually with smaller hernias, which can be a sign of strangulation.
A large hernia may not be painful, because the weak area of muscle becomes stretched and the hernia passes through easily. See a doctor at a klinik kesihatan or a GP if you think you have a hernia; they may refer you for tests or treatment.
When is a hernia an emergency?
A hernia can become strangulated, when the muscle tightens around the organ and cuts off its blood supply, or it can cause a blocked bowel. According to the NHS, a strangulated hernia is a medical emergency because it can lead to serious conditions such as sepsis and gangrene, and it needs surgery as soon as possible.
Get urgent medical help (call 999 or go to the emergency department) if you have a hernia and:
- pain in or around the hernia, or very bad tummy pain that does not go away;
- the hernia is more swollen than usual, hard, or the skin around it has changed colour;
- a bloated tummy;
- you feel sick, are being sick, cannot keep food down, or vomit blood or something that looks like coffee grounds;
- you cannot fart or poo, or are constipated;
- a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery, or suddenly confused.
For other causes of sudden tummy pain, see our guide to apendiks.
What causes a hernia?
A hernia happens when there is a weak spot in the muscle wall. According to the NHS, things that put strain on the tummy or weaken the muscles make some types more likely:
- being overweight (see our guide to losing weight safely);
- straining on the toilet because of constipation (see our guide to sembelit);
- carrying or pushing heavy loads;
- a persistent, heavy cough (see our guide to batuk);
- smoking;
- for umbilical hernias in adults, having several pregnancies or a build-up of fluid in the tummy (ascites), for example from liver disease;
- for hiatus hernias, being over 50, pregnant or overweight.
According to the NHS, femoral hernias are far more common in women, particularly older women, because of the wider shape of the female pelvis.
Hernia perut: umbilical hernia in babies and adults
Many people search for hernia perut (a hernia in the tummy). The most common one near the belly button is an umbilical hernia, a soft swelling or lump coming out of the belly button. According to the NHS:
- Babies: many babies are born with one, because the muscles around the umbilical cord do not close properly after birth. It is usually painless and usually disappears by the age of 5. Treatment is usually only needed if it is very big or does not go away.
- Adults: an umbilical hernia is unlikely to get better by itself, so surgery is usually recommended. It can be caused by living with obesity, several pregnancies or fluid build-up in the tummy.
See a doctor if the lump is painful, hard or does not move, or is getting bigger.
What is a hiatus hernia?
A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest. According to the NHS, it is very common if you are over 50 and does not normally need treatment if it is not causing problems. When it does, it causes symptoms of acid reflux (GORD): heartburn, bringing up food or bitter fluid, bad breath, bloating, feeling sick and difficulty swallowing. See our guide to gastrik and pedih ulu hati.
To ease symptoms, the NHS suggests eating smaller, more frequent meals, not eating within 3 to 4 hours of bed, raising the head of your bed by 10 to 20 cm, losing weight if needed, avoiding tight waistbands, not smoking and not drinking too much alcohol. A pharmacist can recommend antacids or alginates. See a doctor if symptoms last more than 3 weeks, and urgently if you lose weight without trying, find swallowing difficult, vomit often or bring up blood.
If medicines do not work, keyhole surgery may be an option. In a study of 40 patients at Hospital Umum Sarawak who had laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair, quality of life improved significantly by 12 months, and 72.5% no longer needed medicine at one year.
How is a hernia treated?
According to the NHS, treatment depends on the type of hernia, its cause, and whether it is new or has come back. Options include medicines for the indigestion of a hiatus hernia, losing weight if you are overweight, and surgery to repair the hernia.
For an inguinal hernia, the NHS says surgery may be done if it causes symptoms such as pain, or to prevent a blocked bowel or a strangulated hernia. It may not need treatment if it causes no symptoms. Surgery can be:
- keyhole (laparoscopic), with a few small cuts in the tummy; or
- open surgery, with one larger cut in the groin.
The hernia is pushed back into place, and usually a thin sheet of material called mesh is fixed over the weak spot. The operation usually takes 30 to 90 minutes, under a general or local anaesthetic, and you can usually go home the same day.
A femoral hernia is almost always repaired straight away because of the higher risk of complications. An umbilical hernia in adults is usually repaired, with a mesh for larger hernias.
Recovering from hernia surgery
According to the NHS, it usually takes up to 4 to 6 weeks to recover from an inguinal or umbilical hernia repair. To help your recovery:
- take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed;
- keep moving with gentle exercise such as walking, and increase activity slowly;
- stay off work for usually at least 1 to 2 weeks, or up to 6 weeks if your job involves heavy lifting;
- place your hand over the wound when you cough or sneeze;
- do not lift anything heavy or do strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks;
- do not drive until your healthcare team says it is safe.
Complications are uncommon but include wound infection, lasting pain or numbness in the groin, and the hernia coming back.
Can you prevent a hernia?
You cannot always prevent a hernia, but according to the NHS you can lower your chance of some types if you:
- lose weight if you are overweight, and keep to a healthy weight;
- are physically active: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week;
- quit smoking;
- see a doctor if you have a cough that does not get better or keeps coming back.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is a hernia (hernia maksud)?
A hernia is when part of an internal organ, such as the bowel, pushes through a gap or weak area in the muscle that keeps your organs in place. Most hernias develop in the tummy or groin. Some cause a lump under the skin, while others are internal and cannot be seen. In Malay, a hernia is often called burut.
What are the signs of a hernia?
The most common sign is a bulge or lump in the groin, upper thigh or tummy that may get bigger when you cough, sneeze or strain and smaller when you lie down. Other signs include a heavy, dragging feeling in the leg, or heartburn and reflux from a hiatus hernia. See a doctor if you think you have a hernia.
When is a hernia an emergency?
Get urgent medical help if you have a hernia with pain in or around it, a hernia that has become hard, more swollen or changed colour, a bloated tummy, nausea or vomiting, or you cannot fart or poo. These can be signs of a strangulated hernia, where the blood supply is cut off, which needs surgery as soon as possible.
Will a hernia go away on its own?
Some do and some do not. Umbilical hernias in babies usually disappear by the age of 5. In adults, an umbilical hernia is unlikely to get better by itself, and surgery is usually recommended. An inguinal hernia that causes no symptoms may not need treatment, while a femoral hernia is almost always repaired straight away.
How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery?
It usually takes up to 4 to 6 weeks to recover from an inguinal or umbilical hernia repair. Many people go home the same day, and most need 1 to 2 weeks off work, or up to 6 weeks if their job involves heavy lifting. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
What is a hiatus hernia?
A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach moves up into the chest. It is very common in people over 50 and often causes no problems. When it does, it causes heartburn, acid reflux, bloating or difficulty swallowing, which can usually be eased with smaller meals, not eating late and pharmacy medicines.
Can a hernia be prevented?
You cannot always prevent a hernia, but the NHS suggests keeping to a healthy weight, being physically active, quitting smoking and seeing a doctor about a cough that does not get better. Avoiding straining on the toilet by treating constipation may also help.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
References
- Hernia — NHS
- Inguinal hernia repair — NHS
- Femoral hernia repair — NHS
- Umbilical hernia — NHS
- Hiatus hernia — NHS
- Siow SL, Ong ECW. Quality of life following laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and anterior 180° partial fundoplication for symptomatic sliding hiatal hernia. Asian J Endosc Surg. 2025;18(1):e70074
