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.
Your oesophagus can become severely irritated, because it's not protected against stomach acid. This can cause symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, and swallowing problems (dysphagia).
The most common pains related to a paraesophageal hernia are chest and epigastric (upper abdomen) pain, most often during or shortly following eating.
Chest pain. Heartburn, worse when bending over or lying down. Swallowing difficulty.
Larger hernias may require surgery, but typical hiatal hernias can heal with exercises and stretches that can strengthen the diaphragm.
Most hiatal hernias present no symptoms and need no treatment. 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 symptoms and they are causing you concern.
A hiatal hernia may allow stomach acid and juices to back up into the esophagus (acid reflux). This can cause a feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain behind the breastbone. This feeling may often occur after you eat, soon after you lie down, or when you bend forward, and it may come and go.
Ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique that may be useful in the diagnosis of a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux.
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.
The easiest way to assess for a hiatal hernia is to place your fingers on the upper belly just below the sternum. Take a deep inhalation and feel if your abs expand.
Small, asymptomatic hiatal hernias don't usually need treatment. If you have a hiatal hernia causing mild symptoms, lifestyle changes and medication are sufficient treatments. It's the severe hernias that require surgery.
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.
Treating GERD and hiatal hernias with minimally invasive surgery. Nissen fundoplication is a surgical procedure used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, and hiatal hernia. It tightens and reinforces the sphincter at the top of the stomach to prevent stomach acid from rising into the esophagus.
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. Keep a food diary to identify your triggers.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
A person may wish to try using OTC medications to alleviate acid reflux that has occurred due to a hiatal hernia. Antacids, such as Gaviscon or Tums, may help alleviate GERD 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.
2 to 3 days to go home. 3 to 6 weeks to go back to work. 6 weeks before you can eat what you want. a few months to recover from side effects like bloating, burping, farting and difficulty swallowing.
The most common cause of a hiatal hernia is an increase in pressure in the abdominal cavity. Your abdominal cavity is the space in the middle of your body that holds several organs, including the: Lower part of the esophagus and stomach. Small intestine, colon and rectum.