Cause 3: Excessive Weight and Obesity
The prevailing global challenge of obesity isn’t solely a cosmetic concern. Excess weight, particularly around the abdominal region, leads to augmented pressure on the diaphragm. The mechanism is straightforward; the additional weight pushes against the stomach and consequently against the diaphragm, challenging its integrity.
Imagine holding a steadily increasing weight on a stretched piece of cloth. As the weight increases, the cloth is increasingly prone to tearing. Similarly, the diaphragm, continually faced with heightened abdominal pressures due to obesity, becomes more susceptible to hernias.
However, it isn’t just the physical pressure of the added weight. Obesity often accompanies other health concerns like GERD, which results in acid reflux. This reflux irritates the esophagus, potentially leading to chronic coughing. As we’ve established, such coughing is another risk factor, which in conjunction with obesity, increases the hernia likelihood.(3)
