Why are guys asked to turn their heads and cough when they go for physicals?
People are asked to turn their head and cough so that the doctor can test you for a hernia. A hernia (pronounced: hur-nee-uh) is an opening or weakness in the wall of a muscle, tissue, or membrane that normally holds an organ in place. If the opening or weakness is large enough, a portion of the organ may be able to poke through the hole. Imagine an inner tube poking through a hole in an old tire – that’s what a hernia is like. Coughing increases pressure in the abdomen, which would cause the hernia to poke through the hole or place where you have a weakness. The reason they might ask you to turn your head is not so you won’t see what they’re up to, but so you won’t cough in their face.
