7. The Unnoticed Trigger: Heavy Lifting and Femoral Hernia
When it comes to hernias, the phrase “lift with your legs, not with your back” takes on a whole new meaning. While many think of hernias as a male-centric issue often triggered by heavy lifting, few recognize the toll it takes on women, specifically in the case of femoral hernias. Heavy lifting, especially when done improperly, can act as an immediate trigger.
Imagine you’re lifting a heavy box or even doing a strenuous workout that involves lifting weights. The increased abdominal pressure generated while doing these activities can sometimes push an internal organ or fatty tissue through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. It’s like blowing up a balloon too much and seeing it pop at its weakest point.
The mechanism is particularly relevant for professions that require manual labor, but this is a more gender-neutral hazard. Women in these fields are just as susceptible, if not more, due to the anatomical predispositions that already place them at risk for femoral hernias. The added pressure on the femoral canal can lead to a tear, and voila—a hernia forms.
Interestingly, existing literature points to the cumulative effect of heavy lifting over time. It’s often not a one-off event but the result of constant strain that weakens the abdominal wall over a prolonged period. This gives the notion of ‘lifting responsibly’ a whole new level of importance, making it a preventive measure that is largely overlooked. (7)
