How Can I Prevent Hernia?

Are you trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight?

Do you exercise regularly?

Have you included high fiber foods in your diet?

Do you take steps to prevent and treat constipation to avoid straining during bowel movements?

Do you avoid lifting heavy loads?

Have you stopped smoking or at least reduced the number of cigarettes you smoked to alleviate your smoking cough?

Do you avoid overexerting yourself?

If you suffer from an enlarged prostate or a persistent cough, are you being treated?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you prevent hernia. A hernia develops when a part of an organ or tissue is pushed through a weakened layer of muscles (usually in the abdomen). A hernia is more common in overweight people. You should try to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, because excess body fat additionally presses on the abdominal wall muscles and contributes to their weakening. Regular exercise can strengthen the abdominal muscles. Useful exercises can include yoga, pilates, sit-ups or crunches, while jumping and squatting exercises should be avoided because they can increase the pressure on the abdominal wall.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to prevent hernia. A hernia is often the result of constant straining, whether it is straining during bowel movements, due to persistent cough or lifting heavy loads. Take steps to prevent constipation. Include fiber-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes) in your diet. You need to drink enough water to stay hydrated, and when necessary, you can use laxatives with your doctor's advice. Avoid lifting heavy loads or do it carefully. If you feel that something is too heavy for you, it is better to give up than to overexert yourself.