I. What is a hernia? A hernia is a condition in which the contents of the abdominal cavity (intestinal canal, greater omentum) protrude outside the abdominal cavity through a weak or cracked area in the abdominal wall. The most common type of hernia is the inguinal hernia, also known as “small bowel pneumonia”, in which an organ of the body, such as fatty tissue or intestinal tissue, protrudes outward through this location, forming a visible protrusion under the skin, and the pressure generated by penetrating the weak area can cause discomfort and great pain. The pain is especially pronounced when pressure is applied to this area, such as when standing for long periods of time, urinating or defecating, or lifting heavy objects. Hernia is a common and frequent disease in abdominal surgery, and the incidence rate in China is about 3.47 million cases/year according to current statistics, with a large number of people. How does a hernia arise? The traditional view is that lifting heavy objects can cause a hernia, but in fact most hernias are due to a long-standing weak area in the body. Usually, the weak area of the abdominal wall is inherent and becomes weaker with age and metabolism, and the intestinal canal and omentum break through the weak area, leading to the formation of a hernia. Although hernias are more common in men than in women, they can occur in anyone and can be caused by many factors, including actions or activities that add extra pressure to the abdominal wall, such as smoking, chronic coughing, constipation, difficulty urinating, abdominal stress during urination and defecation, obesity, pregnancy, abdominal stress during lifting of heavy objects with a hernia, and persistent sneezing due to allergies.