What causes a hiatal hernia?

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What causes a hiatal hernia?

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Most of the time, the cause of a hiatal hernia is not known. Some people develop a hiatal hernia after sustaining an injury to the chest or abdomen; others are born with a predisposition to the condition. Some experts suspect that increased pressure in the abdomen from coughing, straining during bowel movements, pregnancy and delivery, or substantial weight gain may contribute to the development of a hiatal hernia.

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