Call 0800 096 5000 or click here

 Treatments

  Information on hernias

   What causes a hernia?

Although some hernias may be present at birth (inguinal, umbilical and hiatus hernias), the majority develop later in life. Some develop along pathways formed during foetal development, existing openings in the abdominal cavity, or areas of abdominal wall weakness such as old scars. Any condition that increases the pressure of the abdominal cavity may contribute to the formation or increase pain and discomfort in a hernia:

• Obesity
• Heavy lifting (may make symptoms worse but not usually a serious cause of hernia formation)
• Coughing
• Straining during a bowel motion or urination
• Chronic cough
• Fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites)
• Previous abdominal surgery may weaken an area making you more susceptible to incisional hernia formation
• A family history of hernias can make you more likely to develop a hernia. If a member of your immediate family (father, grandfather, brother, etc.) had a hernia, then your chance of developing a hernia is greater than an individual without a family history.
• Pregnancy can weaken the abdominal tissues, making femoral hernias more common in women.

<<back