Hiatus Hernia Symptoms

Click Here Now For This Vital Information On Hiatus Hernia and Acid Reflux.

I want to introduce you to an amazing report written by Barton Publishing, who certainly know a thing or two about stomach problems. They have researched natural home remedies that work with the body, thereby eliminating all the problems associated with common medical issues such as hiatus hernia, and allowing people to resume a normal life. Check out how these powerful home remedies can help you overcome chronic digestive problems and give you relief from pain.

Among all the information, misinformation, rumors, facts and myths about hiatus hernia (also known as hiatal hernia), a few things stand out. First, if you have a hiatal hernia, you’ll be in some discomfort, possibly even pain. Second, you might not be getting the right kind of care, or any medical care at all. Third, you may well have acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Fourth, you must take responsibility for getting this condition sorted out.

And there is no better place to get the vital information you need than from Barton Publishing’s comprehensive report on hiatal hernia, acid reflux and GERD. Click Here Now For This Vital Information On Hiatus Hernia and Acid Reflux.

What are the likely symptoms of hiatal hernia?

The large majority of hiatal hernias are called “sliding” hernias, and are not linked to any symptoms. However, the larger the hiatal hernia, the more probable there will be some symptoms. And if a sliding hiatal hernia does indeed produce symptoms, they will almost invariably be the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the complications which can arise from that.

This happens when the hernia reduces the efficiency of the lower esophageal sphincter, a valve which stops stomach acid refluxing into the esophagus. Men and women with GERD stand a much higher chance of having a hiatal hernia than people not affected by GERD. So the link between hiatal hernias and GERD is clear, but what we don’t know is whether a hiatal hernia on its own can produce GERD.

The fact is, GERD can occur when there is no hiatal hernia, so clearly some factors other than the presence of a hiatal hernia can cause GERD.  Symptoms of uncomplicated GERD include: heartburn, regurgitation, nausea, belching and vomiting.

How does a hiatal hernia cause GERD?

In a healthy stomach, several mechanisms stop stomach acid flowing backwards (refluxing) into the esophagus. One involves a ridged band of esophageal muscle located where the esophagus enters the stomach – it is known as the lower esophageal sphincter. This is actually contracted most of the time so that acid is stopped from refluxing or regurgitating, and it relaxes only when food or liquid is swallowed. As it relaxes, it allows food to pass down through the lower esophageal sphincter and enter the stomach.

The sphincter should be firmly attached to the diaphragm in the hole where it passes through, and equally the muscle of the diaphragm should also be wrapped around the esophageal sphincter. This muscle adds to the pressure exerted by the contracted sphincter to assist in preventing the reflux of acid. In addition, some valve-like tissue at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, located immediately below the sphincter, assists in preventing reflux.

The esophagus has a tangential angle of entry into the stomach, so normally there will be a sharp angle between the esophagus and stomach. The thin tissue located in this angle, which is composed of both esophageal tissue and part of the stomach wall, has the effect of forming a valve that has the ability to close off the opening to the esophagus under any circumstances in which pressure in the stomach increases, for example, during strenuous exercise.

If someone has a hiatal hernia, two things happen. The first is that the sphincter moves, or slides, up into the chest at the same time as the diaphragm remains in the position it normally occupies. This means that the pressure produced by the diaphragm overlying the sphincter and the pressure produced by the sphincter do not nay longer overlap, so causing the total pressure junction of the stomach and esophagus to reduce. The second is that when the gastro-esophageal junction and stomach are pulled up into the chest through the hiatal hernia with each swallow, the sharp angle at the junction of esophagus and stomach becomes less acute, and the valve-like effect is lost. Both of these anatomical changes promote reflux of acid.

Hiatus Hernia Treatment

There is a lot you can do at home. Lifestyle changes can go along way to reduce symptoms of hiatus hernia (also known as hiatal hernia). Start by reducing or eliminating heavy lifting, straining, and bending over.  Develop an improved posture; don’t slouch.  Take more exercise, and lose weight. You can also improve matters by sleeping on an incline, with the head of your bed raised 6 inches on blocks. 

Another great tip is to keep upright after a meal rather than sitting or reclining. And you should avoid the following: caffeine, chocolate, fried foods, fatty foods, stimulants like peppermint and alcohol, and meals within 3 hours of bedtime.

Also, take smaller meals more frequently – avoid large meals.

Over the counter remedies can be helpful. Therapy at home may include antacids such as Mylanta, Maalox, Gaviscon, or the simpler “Tums” for acute symptoms: these will give short term relief. Longer-lasting acid inhibitors such as Zantac, Tagamet, and Pepcid can also be helpful in preventing symptoms on a more long-term basis.

Medical Treatment

Medical treatment for hiatus hernia includes acid inhibitors such as Prevacid, Prilosec, and Aciphex (all available on prescription only).  Surgical treatments are rarely necessary unless you develop a strangulated hiatal hernia (a chronic condition where the blood supply to the herniated part of the stomach is cut off). 

And the good news? There are several surgical techniques available to fix hiatus hernia. Obviously the advice of a doctor is essential here.

To summarise, then: if treated appropriately, and if you make the correct lifestyle changes, the effects of a hiatus hernia can be reduced to a comfortable level. But if left untreated, complications are possible: if the hiatus hernia is linked to GERD, complications can include serious conditions such as bleeding, perforation of the esophagus, and even esophageal cancer, which is a serious type of cancer.

Footnote: GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease - means a condition where the stomach contents leak upwards from the stomach into the esophagus (in case you don’t know what this is, it’s the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This can irritate and inflame the esophagus, thereby causing heartburn and other symptoms.

Exams and Tests For Hiatus Hernia

The first tests will rule out more serious conditions such as heart disease. Together with your medical history, this will determine any circumstances that may be causing your symptoms: obviously it’s important that you tell your medical adviser anything which may be relevant. For example - anything that lessens or worsens the symptoms of hiatus hernia.

An initial examination will focus on the digestive system, the lungs, and the heart. It may also be wise to have a rectal exam and stool test for blood (this establishes if there is bleeding in the digestive tract). The tests conducted as part of this process may include an ECG to look for heart disease, tests for pneumonia, collapsed lung or other chest problems, blood tests for anemia or any infection, and tests for injury to the heart, pancreas, or liver. Possible follow-up tests include a barium X-ray. (You drink barium fluid, X-rays are taken, and the structure of the gut and stomach shows up on the X ray plate.)

A gastroenterologist may do an endoscopy. This is a process where a long fiberoptic tube is passed into the stomach. The doctor can see if there is an ulcer, tumor, or other tissue damage.

Hiatus Hernia

Hiatus hernia refers to a condition where the upper portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest through an opening around the esophagus. This opening is called the esophageal hiatus; usually it allows only the esophagus to pass through the diaphragm into the stomach, but occasionally it opens wide enough to permit part of the stomach to pass upwards into the chest cavoty. This happens because of weakening of the muscles of the diaphragm and subsequent enlargement of the opening. This is called “herniation”; the upward passage or even entrapment of the upper stomach above the diaphragm which results from this can cause pain, acid reflux, belching, difficulty eating, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Hiatal hernia is comparatively common. Up to 60% of 60 year olds  have it to some degree.

There are 2 types of hiatal hernia: first, the sliding type, which happens when the junction between the stomach and esophagus moves up through the esophageal hiatus from time to time, for example during times of greatly increased pressure in the abdomen, as may occur when coughing, straining for a bowel movement, lifting heavy weights, and so on. When the excessive pressure reduces, the stomach moves back down to its correct location.

The fixed type of hiatus hernia (or paraesophageal hiatus hernia) is where a portion of the stomach remains stuck in the chest cavity.

Causes of Hiatal Hernia

Suspected causes include obesity, poor posture (such as slouching), frequent coughing, straining during bowel movements, bending over or heavy lifting, and a congenital predisposition. Smoking, too, may be a factor.

Hiatus Hernia Symptoms

Often, a hiatus hernia causes no symptoms. When it does they may include chest pain or a feeling of pressure, heartburn, trouble swallowing, coughing, belching, hiccups, and pain. Chest or upper abdominal pain can occur when the stomach becomes trapped over and above the diaphragm, protruding through the narrow esophageal opening or hiatus.

Other problems occur rather rarely. For example, a fixed hiatus hernia may develop into a serisous medical emergency: the blood supply to the trapped part of the stomach may be cut off, which can cause extreme pain and illness. This ”strangulated hiatal hernia” is a medical emergency.

Hiatus hernia also causes discomfort when it occurs with gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called GERD. This is characterized by stomach acids and digestive enzymes moving into the esophagus through the unusually weak sphincter muscle – normally, of course, this acts as a one-way valve between the esophagus and stomach. Hiatus hernia is associated with the weakening of this sphincter muscle.

Although hiatus hernia or GERD can cause chest pain which resembles angina (a collective word for heart pain) and even radiate to the arm or neck, it’s wise not to conclude that such pain is due to hiatus hernia. See a doctor to eliminate the possibility of serious problems such as coronary artery disease or heart attack.

Certainly, if you experience any of the following you should seek medical attention.

• When the symptoms are new, won’t go away, or severe
• When it is not clear what the problem may be
• When you have chest pressure or pain, especially if you have known heart disease, or  diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, you are over 55 years of age, or there is a family history of heart attacks or angina at an early age
• If you are vomiting blood
• If you have dark, bloody bowel movements
• You experience palpitations or feel faint
• You are short of breath
• You cannot swallow solid food or liquids easily

If you’re experiencing a hiatus hernia you’ll probably know just how uncomfortable it can be. However, your first problem might be diagnosing the fact that you have a hiatus hernia. It’s actually been called the “great mimic” because there are so many other physical conditions that it can resemble, for example: palpitations due to irritation of the vagus nerve, shortness of breath caused by the haiatus hernia’s impact on the diaphragm, and acid reflux because of the weakness in the stomach muscles.

There are actually two sorts of hiatus hernia: the first and most common, which accounts more than 95% of the condition, is where the gastroesophageal junction – that’s the junction between the oesophagus and stomach – moves above the diaphragm together with some of the stomach wall. The second kind – which is much less common – is called paraesophageal hiatus hernia, and is caused by  the stomach herniating through the oesophageal hiatus and lying beside the esophagus without movement of the gastroesophageal junction.

In most cases a person with a hiatus hernia won’t actually experience any discomfort, and treatment will probably not be required. Such hernias only cause discomfort and esophageal stricture when they are large, in which case surgery may be recommended (because of the chronic reflux associated with severe cases of hiatus hernia; the acid can injure the oesophagus).

There are many home remedies that you can use to help hiatus hernia; keep an eye on this blog for the latest posts about how you can deal with this problem.