Hiatal Hernia

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Hiatal Hernia

What is a hiatal hernia?

A hiatal hernia occurs when the top portion of the stomach pushes through a weakened opening in the diaphragm where the food pipe (esophagus) joins your stomach (called the hiatal opening).

Signs and Symptoms

A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms. Pain and discomfort are due to the upward flow of stomach acid, air, or bile.

You may never know and it is discovered after a chest x-ray.

Signs that one could possibly have a hiatal hernia:

  • Heartburn
  • Chest Pain
  • Belching
  • Nausea

Treatment

The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Treatments may include:

  • Medicines to control stomach
  • Medicine to strengthen the muscles in the lower esophagus that keeps stomach contents from backing up
  • Surgery to repair the hiatal hernia

Other measures to reduce symptoms include:

  • Avoiding large or heavy meals
  • Not lying down or bending over right after a meal
  • Reducing weight and not smoking
  • Raising the head of the bed 4 to 6 inches

If medicines and lifestyle measures do not help control symptoms, you may need surgery.