Hiatal Hernia Symptoms

The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is located just below the rib cage. It contains an opening which is large enough for the food pipe or the esophagus to pass through. This opening is referred to as a hiatal opening or esophageal hiatus. In case of some people, the size of this opening is larger. Owing to the larger than normal size of hiatal opening, a part of the stomach protrudes from the hiatal opening and is pushed up into the chest cavity. This anatomical abnormality is known as hiatal hernia. Though this condition generally develops in adults who have crossed the age of 50 years, sometimes, it can also manifest in the form of a congenital defect.

Causes

This form of hernia is classified into sliding type and fixed type. In case of fixed-type, a part of the stomach always remains stuck in the chest, whereas in case of sliding hernia, the part of stomach slides up and down through the hiatal opening. If the hiatal opening is larger than normal, the upper portion of stomach can slip up into the chest cavity. Another factor could be shortening of the esophagus due to acid reflux disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is known to aggravate hiatal hernia symptoms. Backflow of stomach acid to the esophagus can cause inflammation, scarring and ulceration of the esophagus. This condition can develop if the esophagus is very loosely attached to the diaphragm. Weakness of diaphragm, episodes of frequent and excessive coughing, chronic constipation, poor posture, obesity, smoking and stress can also play a great role in development of this condition.

Symptoms

Those suffering from this type of hernia might experience pain behind the breastbone. Generally the symptoms are aggravated due to acid reflux disease. The patients might experience pain, burning sensation, nausea, tightness in chest, lump in throat feeling, belching, heartburn or a feeling of fullness in the upper stomach after meals. This condition can affect children. The symptoms in children include bloating, feeling of tightness in chest, chest pain, regurgitation of stomach acid and difficulty in swallowing. Complications can arise when the blood supply to the stomach is cut off. This can happen if the part of the stomach that is herniated becomes twisted or pinched by the diaphragm. This condition is known as strangulated hernia.

Treatment

If you have been experiencing these symptoms, you must consult a doctor soon. When this condition is accompanied by acid reflux disease, esophagus is exposed to stomach acid. This can cause scarring, inflammation and ulcers in esophagus, therefore, it is important that this condition is treated soon. The doctors generally aim at easing the discomfort caused by heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux. Medicines that reduce the production of stomach acid and neutralize stomach acidity are generally prescribed by the doctors. Making some changes in your lifestyle might also help. It would be a good idea to have several smaller meals instead of heavy meals. You must also avoid spicy food. You should also follow the dietary guidelines suggested by the doctor. If the symptoms persist even after taking medicines and making dietary changes, doctors might suggest the use of a surgical procedure to restore the stomach to its normal position.

If you are experiencing the aforementioned symptoms, consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Barium X-rays, esophagoscopy and esophageal manometry are some of the diagnostic procedures that may be conducted for diagnosing this condition. If these test results are indicative of this condition, follow the advice of the doctor and also make some lifestyle-related changes.