Symptoms. Hiatal hernias, especially Type I hernias, do not usually cause symptoms. They may, however, be associated with the following: burping, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and/or regurgitation into the esophagus. A paraesophageal hernia, or Type II, III, or IV hernia, may cause more severe symptoms.
Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus (acid reflux) Difficulty swallowing. Chest or abdominal pain. Feeling full soon after you eat.
The assessment of hiatal hernias (HH) is typically done with barium swallow X‑ray, upper endoscopy, and by high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM).
Your hiatal hernia is located at the junction between your abdomen and your chest. If you feel pain from the hernia itself, it might feel like chest pain or abdominal pain. You might feel a hiatal hernia if it gets compressed or pinched during certain activities or positions.
Typically, eating brings on chest pain from a paraesophageal hernia. Some patients have pain every time they eat, and others only experience discomfort every once in a while.
The exact cause of hiatal hernia is not known. The condition may be due to weakness of the supporting tissue. Your risk for the problem goes up with age, obesity, and smoking. Hiatal hernias are very common.
If hernia is left untreated, the size of protruding intestine might get bigger and become strangulated leading to the reduction of blood flow to surrounding tissue.
It's rare for a hiatus hernia to cause complications, but long-term damage to the oesophagus caused by leaking stomach acid can lead to ulcers, scarring and changes to the cells of the oesophagus, which can increase your risk of oesophageal cancer. Read more about the complications of a hiatus hernia.
It is not possible for a person to make a hiatal hernia go away without medical care. However, hiatal hernias do not require treatment if they are not causing a person to experience symptoms.
Hiatal hernias that do not cause symptoms do not require immediate treatment. However, symptom-producing hiatal hernias may need to be treated. They do not heal on their own and require surgical intervention. The majority of paraesophageal hernias can be successfully repaired using laparoscopic techniques.
More serious hiatal hernia symptoms may include trouble swallowing, heartburn, belching, tiredness and chest pain. Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have these possible hiatal hernia symptoms and they are causing you concern.
Other diet tips known to lower the symptoms of hiatal hernia include: Eat frequent meals and snacks in small portions. Drink plenty of fluids (particularly water) each day.
More serious hiatal hernias, also known as paraesophageal hernias, become larger over time and the stomach starts to rise farther into the chest. This sometimes causes significant chest pain after eating and can even cause weight loss and bleeding. “In those cases, surgery is usually needed,” says Dr. Rosen.
A hiatal hernia is a structural problem, so it does not flare up. However, its symptoms may be worsened by eating too quickly, eating within three hours before bed, and lifting heavy objects.
Approximately 99% of hiatal hernias are sliding, and the remaining 1% are paraesophageal. Most hiatal hernias are found incidentally, and they are usually discovered on routine chest radiographs or computed tomography (CT) scans performed for unrelated symptoms.
Can You Live With a Hiatal Hernia? Most people who have hiatal hernias can live normal lives without any problems. However, if you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to see a doctor and get treatment. Left untreated, some hiatal hernias can lead to more serious health complications.
Antacids, such as Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums, may provide quick relief. Overuse of some antacids can cause side effects, such as diarrhea or sometimes kidney problems. Medications to reduce acid production.
This keeps stomach juices in the stomach as you sleep. Sleep on your left side for the same reason. Don't wear constricting garments around the abdomen or too tight a belt. Take antacids as needed — Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta and Maalox.
Eg: Broccoli, spinach, capsicum. 6. Apple and bananas are the most preferred fruits for hiatal hernia patients as they are known to reduce acid production in the stomach.
Hiatal Hernia: Foods That Are Less Likely to Cause Symptoms
The following foods are low-acid-producing foods and are less likely to aggravate your hiatal hernia symptoms: Bananas and apples. Green beans, peas, carrots, and broccoli. Grains, like cereals (bran and oatmeal), bread, rice, pasta, and crackers.
It is believed that the size of the hiatal hernia increases as patients age. We are not exactly sure why this happens, though it is most likely associated with the increase of intra-abdominal positive pressure over the years, which enlarges the diaphragmatic opening and pushes the hiatal hernia upward.
Emotional stress can't cause a hernia, but emotional stress is related to hernias in other ways. Finding a lump on your body can cause you to worry that it's something else, like a tumor. And the pain from your hernia can get in the way of your daily life and physical activities, which can cause emotional stress.