Q: I just noticed I have a bulge at my belly button. What could it be, and is it something I should worry about?
A: The most likely diagnosis is an umbilical (belly button) hernia. A hernia is a hole in the connective tissue beneath your skin. That connective tissue, the strongest layer of your abdominal wall, is made of a protein called collagen. If that collagen is weakened, a hole can develop and be made worse by time and pressure inside the abdomen. A nearby piece of fat or intestine can get pushed through the hernia by anything that increases the abdominal pressure (lifting, straining, coughing or sneezing) and causes the bulge. The hernia contents can swell and get squeezed. If that happens, the tissue’s blood supply also can get squeezed and tissue can die. That would necessitate an emergency operation. Your best bet before an emergency develops is to see your physician, who can send you to a surgeon for evaluation and treatment options.
— Dr. David Redd, general surgeon; member, Chattanooga/Hamilton County Medical Society
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