Doctors in the United States have revealed that being overweight, smoking, and chronic coughing or sneezing increase the risk of developing a hernia. A hernia occurs due to weakness in the muscles and external tissues, which prevents them from holding internal organs in their natural place inside the body, leading to them protruding under the skin. Dr. John Fisher, a surgery specialist at the American University of Pennsylvania, stated that the risk of developing a hernia also increases if a person has had abdominal surgery or suffers from a health condition that leads to fluid buildup in the abdomen. The initial symptoms of a hernia are typically a feeling of a lump under the skin, but the patient may initially feel some discomfort and pain in the hernia site. Dr. Fisher added that "a hernia affects daily activities and a person's ability to work and achieve, as well as sleep and overall health, in addition to how a person feels about their appearance and their ability to socialize." He also noted that smokers and patients with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a health condition known as "surgical hernia."
