Table Of Contents
- What is Hiatal Hernia?
- What are the causes of Hiatal Hernia?
- What are the symptoms of Hiatal Hernia?
- How is Hiatal Hernia diagnosed?
- How is Hiatal Hernia treated?
- What are Hiatal Hernia Lifestyle changes and home remedies to be made?
What is Hiatal Hernia?
A hiatal hernia occurs when your stomach bulges up into your chest via an opening in your diaphragm, the muscle that separates these two areas. This opening is called hiatus, and hence this condition is also known as a hiatus hernia.
The Sliding and Paraesophageal are two types of Hiatal hernias.
Your esophagus (food pipe) normally passes through the opening and connects to your stomach. In the sliding hiatal hernia, your stomach and the lower part of your esophagus slide up into your chest through the diaphragm. A sliding hernia is the most common hiatal hernia.
A paraesophageal hernia, on the other hand, is more harmful. Your esophagus and stomach remain in their usual position, but a portion of your stomach squeezes through the opening to sit near the esophagus. This can cause your stomach to become suffocated, thus cutting off its blood supply causing a strangulated hernia. Consult your doctor immediately.
What are the causes of Hiatal Hernia?
There are no known reasons why hiatal hernia occurs. Some of the causes include:
- Born with a large hiatus than usual
- Any injury to the area
- Changes in the diaphragm as you age
- Increase in pressure in your stomach due to pregnancy, obesity, coughing, heavy lifting
- or straining in the toilet
What are the symptoms of Hiatal Hernia?
People with Hiatal hernias usually don’t notice any symptoms.
- Heartburn from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Chest pain
- Bloating
- Burping
- Having difficulty swallowing
- Bad breath
- An upset stomach and vomiting
- Backflow of food or fluids to your mouth from the stomach
- Having trouble breathing
Seek immediate attention if there is:
- Severe chest pain or stomach pain
- Persistent upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Can’t poop or unable to pass gas
These are signs of strangulated hernia or an obstruction that need immediate medical attention.
How is Hiatal Hernia diagnosed?
To diagnose, your doctor will ask you to do the following tests:
- Barium swallow – drink a liquid that will show in the X-ray for the doctor to get a proper look at the esophagus and stomach.
- Endoscopy – your doctor will insert a long, thin tube with a tiny camera down through your throat. This tube is called an endoscope that will display the inside of your esophagus and stomach.
- Esophageal manometry (pressure study) is another kind of tube inserted via your throat to check the esophageal pressure when you swallow.
- pH test – to measure the acid levels in your esophagus.
How is Hiatal Hernia treated?
The majority of people don’t have any symptoms and do not require treatment.
If you have acid reflux, the doctor may ask you to take:
- Antacids to reduce stomach acid production
- H-2 receptor blockers to limit the production of acid
- Prokinetics to strengthen your esophageal sphincter – the muscle that keeps stomach acid from flowing up back to your esophagus. They also aid in making your esophagus muscles work and emptying the stomach.
If you have a paraesophageal hernia (when part of your stomach squeezes through the hiatus), your doctor may recommend surgery to save your stomach from becoming strangled. Sliding hernias that bleed or become big, strangulated, or swollen may require surgery.
Your doctor will strengthen your hiatus and shift your stomach during surgery. Laparoscopy is a technique used in many hiatal hernia operations. A few small (5 to 10 mm) incisions will be made in your stomach by your doctor. A laparoscope is inserted via these incisions that transmit images to a monitor, allowing your doctor to see inside your body. Traditional operations feature larger wounds, a higher risk of infection, less pain and scarring, and a longer recovery time. These “noninvasive” treatments have smaller cuts, a lower risk of infection, less pain and scarring, and a faster recovery time. You can resume your daily activities in two weeks.
What are Hiatal Hernia Lifestyle changes and home remedies to be made?
Acid reflux symptoms can be alleviated by making some lifestyle modifications. They are as follows:
- After eating your food, don’t exercise or lie down for 3 to 4 hours.
- Avoid acidic foods such as orange juice, tomato sauce, and carbonated drinks (like soda).
- Have mashed and soft foods up to 2-3 weeks after surgery.
- Reduce your intake of fried and fatty meals and wine, vinegar, chocolate, and caffeine.
- Have smaller meals (4-5 modest meals per day) and eat slowly.
- Raise the head of your bed to six inches.
- Wearing tight belts or clothes that press your stomach is not a good idea.
- Get rid of the additional pounds.
- Please don’t smoke. Smoking is a potent source of heartburn.
