A hernia is a condition in which an internal organ (usually the intestine) protrudes through a gap or weakness in the muscles that support it. The main causes of this are:
Weakness of the muscles: Hernias can occur due to weakness of the muscles at birth or due to natural muscle weakness with age. Organs push out through this gap in the muscles.
Excessive physical exertion: Lifting heavy objects without proper precautions puts excessive strain on the abdominal muscles. This causes the muscles to enlarge and form a hernia.
Chronic cough and constipation: Excessive straining to defecate due to prolonged coughing (for example, smoker’s cough) or chronic constipation increases the pressure on the abdominal muscles.
Obesity and pregnancy: Excessive weight gain puts constant stress on the abdominal muscles. Similarly, the expansion and pressure of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy increases the risk of hernia in women.
Post-surgical weakness: The muscles in the area where there are scars from previous abdominal surgeries are weak. Organs are more likely to protrude through such areas (Incisional Hernia).