Increased abdominal pressure Coughing Heavy lifting Constipation Pregnancy Obesity Advancing age Smoking Steroid use

Inguinal - These are hernias occurring in the inguinal region (between the hip bone and crotch) or groin. Umbilical - Occur around the belly button Femoral - Occur along the inner thighs Incisional - Occur when incisions from prior surgeries create weak points in an organ’s muscular container Diaphragmatic or hiatal - Occur when there’s a congenital defect in the diaphragm

Hernias can be very serious when they interfere with the functions your body needs in order to survive. If you are experiencing any constipation, see your doctor immediately.

Irreducible hernia: the hernia cannot return to a normal state, but instead gets larger; you may feel occasional pain. Strangulated hernia: the bulging organ is losing its blood supply, and could be dead soon without medical attention. You’ll feel significant pain in this case, along with nausea, vomiting, fever, trouble moving your bowels. This condition requires emergency surgery. [10] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Hiatal hernia: the stomach bulges out of its cavity, causing chest pains. This also affects the flow of food, causing acid reflux and making it hard to swallow. [11] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Untreated hernia: hernias are usually painless and symptomless, but if left untreated, may cause pain and other health problems.

If you know you have a hernia and feel sudden throbbing or pain in the area, go to the emergency room immediately. The hernia could become “strangulated” and cut off blood supply, which is highly dangerous.

If you have a history of hernias yourself, you’re at higher risk of having another one in the future.

Smokers are also at high risk for developing a chronic cough, and are also more likely to develop hernias.

Weak muscles are caused by poor diet, lack of exercise, and old age. Straining when urinating can also put you at risk of having a hernia. [17] X Research source

Premature babies are also at risk of hernias because their muscles and tissues have not yet fully developed and strengthened. [19] X Research source Brandt ML. Pediatric hernias. Surg Clin North Am. 2008;88:27–43, vii–viii Genital defects in babies can stress the areas most likely to develop hernias. These include abnormal position of the urethra, fluid in the testicles, and ambiguous genitalia (the baby has genital characteristics of each sex). [20] X Research source Buch KE, Tabrizian P, Divino CM. Management of hernias in pregnancy. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;207(4):539–542. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

Beware that large, sudden weight loss from crash dieting weakens the muscles and causes hernias, too. [23] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source If you lose weight, lose it healthily and gradually.

Direct inguinal hernia: Place your finger on the inguinal canal — the crease along the pelvis where it meets the legs. You will feel a bulge that pops out toward the front of the body, and coughing will make the larger. Indirect inguinal hernia: When you touch the inguinal canal, you will feel a bulge going from outside towards the center of your body (lateral to medial). This bulge may also move down towards the scrotum.

The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscle that helps you breathe. It’s also the muscle responsible for separating the organs in the abdomen and in the chest. This kind of hernia causes burning sensations in the stomach, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing

With umbilical hernias, you will see a bulge at the “umbilicus,” or belly button. Umbilical hernias usually go away on their own. But, if it lasts until the child is 5 to 6 years old, is very large or is causing symptoms, the hernia may need surgery. [30] X Research source Take note of the size; small umbilical hernias, around half an inch (1. 25cm), can go away on their own. Large umbilical hernias require surgery. [31] X Research source

Place gentle but firm pressure near the surgical site with your fingers. You should feel a bulge somewhere in the area.

Groin (pediatric): These hernias have a low recurrence rate of <3% after surgical treatment. They can sometimes heal spontaneously on their own in infants. Groin (adult): Depending on the experience level of the surgeon operating on this hernia, the recurrence rate after surgery can be anywhere from 0-10%. [38] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Incisional: About 3%-5% of patients will have a hernia recurrence after their first surgery. If the incisional hernias are larger, patients may see rates of up to 20%-60%. [39] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Umbilical (pediatric): These types of hernias can usually resolve on their own spontaneously. Umbilical (adult): There is a higher recurrence of umbilical hernias in adults. Usually, a patient can expect up to 11% recurrence rate after surgery. [40] X Research source