India, Nov. 9 -- A common yet often misunderstood medical condition called hernia is often ignored by people at large. Doctors opine that ignoring the early symptoms and leaving it untreated can worsen the condition overtime and give rise to a host of medical complications. It occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. Of the five different types of hernia, inguinal hernia is the most common type which primarily affects men. The primary cause of inguinal hernia is weakened abdominal muscles. It occurs when a portion of the intestine or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, often near the groin, so as to lie outside to abdomen. This results in a visible bulge that may increase in size when standing, coughing, or straining. Additional symptoms to watch out are: While inguinal hernias can develop in both men and women, they are more common in men. Factors that increase the risk include: If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications. With passage of time the opening becomes weaker and wider thus enabling more tissues pushing through it and eventually getting trapped or strangulated, creating an emergency condition where blood flow to the affected tissue is cut off that requires immediate surgery. Not every inguinal hernia needs a surgery. If the hernia is small and or the patient is unfit for surgery, close monitoring may be the only option. Surgery is the definitive cure for inguinal hernias which is performed by an open method and of late by laparoscopic or robotic surgery. In the former approach, the surgeon makes an incision in the groin to push the hernia back into place and reinforcing the area with stitches or synthetic mesh. This technique is obsolete now, except in select situations. A laparoscopic or robotic surgery is the latest approach in treatment of inguinal hernia with a host of benefits to patient. It is a minimally invasive, suture-less approach that uses small cuts and a camera to cure the hernia. A mesh is usually placed to give strength to the area and prevent recurrences. This technique results in a quicker recovery time and minimal post-operative pain....