What Is Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall.

Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas. Most hernias are not immediately life threatening, but they don’t go away on their own and can require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications.

What Causes a Hernia?

Hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain. Depending on its cause, a hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time.

Common causes of muscle weakness include:

• Failure of the abdominal wall to close properly in the womb, which is a congenital defect.
• Age.
• Chronic coughing.
• Damage from injury or surgery.

Factors that strain your body and may cause a hernia, especially if your muscles are weak, include:

• Being pregnant, which puts pressure on your abdomen.
• Being constipated, which causes you to strain when having a bowel movement.
• Heavy weight lifting.
• Fuid in the abdomen, or ascites.
• Suddenly gaining weight.
• Persistent coughing or sneezing.

Preventing a Hernia

You can’t always prevent the muscle weakness that allows a hernia to occur. However, you can reduce the amount of strain you place on your body. This may help you avoid a hernia or keep an existing hernia from getting worse. Prevention tips include:

• Not smoking.
• Seeing your doctor when you’re sick to avoid developing a persistent cough.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Avoiding straining during bowel movements or urination.
• Lifting objects with your knees and not your back.
• Avoiding lifting weights that are too heavy for you.