Misdiagnoses Report Highlights Need for Expert Hernia Exams

LOS ANGELES, July 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Concluding that outpatient diagnostic errors affect one of every 20 U.S. adults, a recent study stresses the need for more specialized examinations for hernias, particularly for women, suggests Dr. Shirin Towfigh of the Beverly Hills Hernia Center. Many cases of abdominal discomfort or groin pain can be too easily misidentified as gastroenteritis, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, or simply chronic pelvic or abdominal pain. Dr. Towfigh cautions that male and, even more frequently, female hernia cases can produce symptoms mirroring those caused by other ailments, and the potential for hernia trouble should not be overlooked.

As the only surgeon dedicated exclusively to treating abdominal hernias in the Western United States, Dr. Towfigh is acutely aware of all hernia-related symptoms for women, men and children. At the Beverly Hills Hernia Center, Dr. Towfigh applies her expertise for accurate diagnosis of the full range of hernias including the most common variety, an inguinal hernia. Dr. Towfigh also specializes in hernia diagnosis for women; the ailment is up to 20 times more common with males and most doctors lack experience when it comes to treating female patients with hernias.

Hernia should be added to a long list of possible diagnoses for abdominal or groin-area discomfort, and severe or prolonged pain indicates a need to involve a specialist. A recent study by BMJ Quality & Study, a journal for healthcare improvements, estimated that approximately 12 million Americans encounter an erroneous outpatient diagnosis each year. The report estimates about half of the errors could be potentially harmful for patients. Outpatient physicians and clinics are not entirely to blame as they must manage a multitude of ailments for many Americans. However, Dr. Towfigh and the Beverly Hills Hernia Center note that the study highlights a need for patients to understand that seeking more specialized help may sometimes be called for.

This is especially true with women experiencing groin pain, considering such issues as the proximity of the uterus and ovaries to hernia trouble areas, as well as potential complications from birthing children. Female anatomies require different approaches to a hernia examination, with considering for woman-specific factors as Caesarian-section surgeries and uterine fibroids.

If you have been examined for pain in your body's mid-region, but have yet to feel relief, Dr. Towfigh and her highly skilled medical staff at Beverly Hills Hernia Center can determine whether a hernia is the cause. Dr. Towfigh will check for hernia signs and symptoms such as a bulge in the area on either side of the pubic bone; pain or discomfort in the groin; weakness or pressure in the groin; and pain or swelling around the testicles in men. It's the first important step on the path to recovery from a painful and distressing hernia.

About Dr. Shirin Towfigh

Dr. Shirin Towfigh is a hernia and laparoscopic surgery specialist serving the Greater Los Angeles area through her Beverly Hills Hernia Center. If you or a family member suffer from symptoms of a potential hernia, or simply seek to ensure optimal personal health, please contact the hernia treatment team at 310-358-5020, or learn about Dr. Towfigh's pioneering approach to hernias by visiting www.BeverlyHillsHerniaCenter.com.

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SOURCE Beverly Hills Hernia Center