Hernia Symptoms in Women and Men Can Differ Considerably

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- If you tend to think of hernias as a mostly male affliction, that may be largely because hernias suffered by females are often less obvious and therefore harder to diagnose. As the only doctor in the Western United States who focuses exclusively on the treatment of abdominal wall hernias and their complications, Shirin Towfigh, M.D., F.A.C.S., of Beverly Hills Hernia Center knows that detecting hernia symptoms in women – and sometimes in men as well – requires a great deal of understanding and savvy.  A nationally respected surgeon and teaching physician, Dr. Towfigh is able to correctly diagnose hernias on a consistent basis. That's the first and most crucial step on the path to a prompt and complete hernia surgery recovery.

Hernias come in many shapes and sizes and their treatment can be dramatically different. For example, an incisional hernia repair, which deals with hernias that arise as a complication from various types of operations, is treated significantly differently from naturally occurring hernias. (Most hernias occur at pre-existing holes in the body.) It takes decades of learning and experience to be able to understand the subtle distinctions between different types of hernias, as well as other non-hernia conditions that may appear to be similar.

Since there are very few other surgeons who focus so closely on hernias, many doctors have had difficulty in identifying abdominal pains that are not accompanied by obvious protuberances. This happens more often with women, who may find themselves suffering from mysterious discomfort that non-specialists may misdiagnose, leaving them suffering with pain.

Some patients are told they have to live with their pain, but Dr. Towfigh disagrees. Hernia-related pain is curable. Dr. Towfigh has received media attention for her outstanding record in helping both women and men deal with misdiagnosed or undiagnosed hernias, curing them of prolonged pain and suffering.

Dr. Towfigh is also at the forefront of hernia prevention and, when possible, addressing hernias non-surgically. Though a surgeon, she strongly believes that appropriate exercise and lifestyle interventions may benefit patients, in some cases more than an operation.

When an operation is required, however, patients can relax in the knowledge that Dr. Towfigh is the United States' foremost expert in the treatment of all hernias and their complications. She is on the teaching staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She also holds leadership positions in numerous key surgical organizations including the American Hernia Society, the American College of Surgeons, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

If you or a loved one is suffering from symptoms that may be related to any type of abdominal wall hernia, please don't wait to contact Dr. Towfigh at 310-358-5020. You can also learn more about her approach to hernias via her website at www.BeverlyHillsHerniaCenter.com.

PR Submitted by Cyberset.com

SOURCE Beverly Hills Hernia Center