What increases my risk for a hiatal hernia?

Your risk for a hiatal hernia increases as you age. Adults age 50 and older develop hiatal hernias more often than younger adults. Being overweight or obese increases your risk. Smoking increases your risk. Having a congenital weakness or developing weakness of the diaphragm muscle due to an injury also increases your risk for developing a hiatal hernia. Women have a slightly higher risk of hernias as they age.