There are many different types of hernias (which we’ve discussed previously on this site), but all of them involve a piece of tissue pushing through a wall of muscle. There are certain genetic hernia risk factors that cannot be avoiding, but there are other things you can do to lower your risk of a hernia. Here, we will explain a few things that can increase your risk of sustaining a hernia, as well as some tips for prevention.

Hernia Risk Factors

First off, there are a few factors that increase your hernia risk that you cannot change. These are hereditary elements that you are born with, such as:

• Being a man (men are at a greater risk than women statistically).
• Premature birth
• Having certain hereditary connective tissue disorders

While you can’t do anything about these hernia risk factors, there are others that you do have control over. For example:

• Being overweight or obese
• Sudden extreme weight loss (or gain)
• Not exercising regularly – which can lead to weak abdominal muscles
• Poor diet
• Smoking – which can lead to chronic coughing episodes
• Straining while on the toilet

Most of these factors can be eliminated with simple lifestyle changes, which we’ll discuss next.

Tips for Avoiding a Hernia

Here are a few tips for changing these risk factors and decreasing your likelihood of developing a hernia:

• Exercise on a regular basis
• Watch what you eat and do your best to keep your weight at a healthy level
• Refrain from straining when going to the bathroom
• Quit smoking

Even when you abide by all of these prevention tips, a hernia is still possible. When you sustain a hernia, it almost always needs to be surgically repaired. Don’t wait, contact a Minnesota general surgeon with the experience needed to perform your hernia procedure.

Have any more questions about hernia prevention or treatment? Feel free to leave a comment!