Can laughter cause a hernia?

tickleboy3 · Feb 5, 2005

Can laughter cause a hernia? I heard of one lady who giggled so hard in a comedy club that she had a hernia. I'm not sure if this is possible.

So how does a hernia happen? If she is laughing so hard that she can't breathe, does the diaphragm flutter up and down too much and the stomach muscles get stretched too much?

Is this the same reason some women pee when they laugh too hard; too much muscle contraction in their tummy when the giggle?

Any medical opinions on this topic are appreciated.

desdemona · Feb 5, 2005

A hernia is a defect or tear in a muscle wall. Some of them are congenital (i.e. a birth defect) while others are secondary to trauma or another insult. Some of these are correctible with surgery while others aren't.

The woman may very well already have had a hernia and aggravated it by laughing so hard. The increase in abdominal pressure and the contraction of her muscles are definitely contributing factors.

No, this has nothing to do with why women pee. That has to do with laxity of their urethral sphincter (often seen in menopausal women). Otherwise, a full bladder can be a dangerous thing for males OR females with increased muscle activity seen with laughing.

Hope this helps.....

steph · Feb 5, 2005

Usually the folks we see in the hospital for hernia surg tend to be guys (not always) but for the most part it's caused by constantly lifting heavy objects~they tend to be truck drivers, loaders, etc...I've yet to meet a patient admit for laughing too hard...
XOXO