A hiatal hernia is one more sort of hernia that occurs when the upper portion of the stomach pushes over the diaphragm and into the chest area.
The diaphragm is a large muscle positioned between the abdomen and chest. This muscle helps you breathe. Your stomach is located below the diaphragm. However, in individuals with hiatal hernia, a part of the stomach pushes up through the muscle and the opening is known as a hiatus.
This medical condition is common among the age group of 50 years, and it can influence about 60 per cent of individuals when they’re 60 years of age.
A hiatal hernia can be of two types: sliding and paraesophageal.
Usually, the throat – (oesophagus- food pipe) goes across the hiatus and appends to the stomach. In case of a sliding hiatal hernia, the stomach and the lower section of the oesophagus slide up into the chest across the stomach. Many individuals with hiatal hernia have this sort of hernia.
A paraesophageal hernia is more severe. In this condition, the throat and the stomach stay at their position, however, a portion of the stomach pushes through the hiatus to sit close to the throat. The stomach gets squeezed and loses its blood supply. This condition is also known as a strangulated hernia.
What are the symptoms of hiatal hernia?
Many individuals experiencing hiatal hernia may not notice any symptoms. Few others may experience the following symptoms of hiatal hernia:
- Chest pain, bloating, and burping
- Vomiting and upset stomach
- Breathing problem
- Indigestion due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Problem swallowing and unusual taste in your mouth
Immediately contact your doctor in case you have a hiatal hernia and experiencing:
- Vomiting and upset stomach
- Terrible pain in stomach and chest
- Difficulty in bowel movement or can’t pass gas.
These symptoms may indicate a strangulated hernia or a blockage that require immediate medical attention.
What are the causes of a hiatal hernia?
In medical terms, it is difficult to explain the causes of a hiatal hernia. However, it may include:
- A large and unusual opening of Hiatal from birth.
- An injury or damage to the region.
- Stressing during bowel movements.
- Changes in the diaphragm as you grow old.
- Lifting heavyweight
- Being obese
- Vomiting
- Coughing
- Multiple pregnancies
How to diagnose a hiatal hernia?
Your doctor can diagnose a hiatal hernia with the following tests:
- Endoscopy. In this test, your doctor puts a long tube called an endoscope down to your throat to examine your stomach and throat condition.
- Oesophageal manometry. Your doctor inserts another type of tube into your throat to examine the pressure in the oesophagus when you swallow.
- Barium swallow. Your doctor will give you a liquid to swallow that appears on an X-ray to examine the stomach and oesophagus.
Treatment of Hiatal Hernia
Treatment of Hiatal hernia at Southlake General Surgery, Texas is performed by the experienced general surgeon Dr. Valeria Simone MD.
In cases an individual doesn’t have any symptoms, you might not require any treatment.
If an individual is experiencing acid reflux, then your PCP may prescribe medicine to treat the problem, including:
- Antacids to break down the stomach acid.
- Prokinetics to create the oesophageal sphincter. The muscle that prevents stomach acid from upholding into the oesophageal – stronger. It also helps muscles in the oesophageal work and helps to make the stomach empty.
- H-2 receptor blockers or proton pump inhibitors to hold the stomach back from making excess acid.
The doctor recommends the surgery in case a patient is experiencing a paraesophageal hernia to avoid strangulation.
Laparoscopic surgery at Southlake General Surgery, Texas is also recommended by Dr. Valeria Simone MD to treat a hiatal hernia. In this procedure, the doctor makes few small incisions close to the hernia site to insert the laparoscope through these incisions. This helps the doctor to view inside the abdomen on a monitor and perform the hiatal hernia surgery.
This procedure is also known as “minimally invasive surgery” wherein the recovery after a hiatal hernia is faster, a patient will have less risk of infection after surgery, less pain and scars as compared to conventional surgery such as open hernia surgery.
Life After Hiatal Hernia
A few adjustments to your daily lifestyle can help with acid reflux symptoms. They include:
- Avoid food that increases acids such as orange juice, soda, tea, caffeine, and tomato sauce.
- Avoid or reduce the consumption of fatty or greasy meals, vinegar, chocolate, and alcohol.
- Add small meals to your diet schedule.
- Don’t rest or go to bed just after your meal at least for 3 or 4 hours.
- Avoid tight clothes and belts that can increase the pressure on the belly.
- After a hiatal hernia surgery, follows the dietary guidelines recommended by your doctor.
- Maintain healthy body weight.
- Lift the head about 6 inches from your bed.
- Quit smoking.
To know more about a hiatal hernia- causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and quick consultation or appointment with Dr. Valeria Simone MD. Please contact our healthcare experts today at +1 (817) 748-0200. For Online appointments with us. Click Here
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