Conditions that increase abdominal pressure and the risk of hernia

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Conditions That Increase Abdominal Pressure and the Risk of Hernia

Conditions that can increase the pressure within the abdominal cavity, causing an inguinal hernia to bulge, include:

Being overweight.
Lifting weights that are too heavy for your body size.
Having problems with constipation or with the urinary tract, which may cause you to strain during bowel movements or urination.
Coughing frequently because of an upper respiratory infection, or because of smoking, chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or allergies.
Being pregnant.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery
Last Revised	April 26, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 26, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.