How to Breathe Properly During Heavy Lifting to Avoid Hernias

I have seen some scary videos lately of people getting hernias while lifting heavy. I am looking for how to breathe properly during heavy lifting to avoid hernias. I know about the Valsalva maneuver but I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. I sometimes feel a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen when I am bracing for a big lift.

I try to take a deep breath into my belly and hold it while I complete the rep. I am wondering if I should be wearing a belt more often to give my abs something to push against. I also want to make sure I am not holding my breath for too long and causing my blood pressure to spike too high.

What are your tips for a safe and strong brace? I am especially interested in how you manage your breathing during high rep sets where you cannot hold one breath for the whole time. I want to stay strong but I definitely want to avoid any internal injuries or trips to the surgeon!