Hiatus Hernia - Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

In our body, the esophagus is connected to diaphragm in a chest cavity. The diaphragm is connected to stomach through a small opening (this is also referred to as esophagus hiatus); this hole is supposedly the weakest part of diaphragm. At times, the connected part of stomach slides upward through the hole in to the chest cavity causing a protruding surrounding the diaphragm hole. The esophagus opening generally contracts or expands due to some reason allowing the portion of joint with stomach to slide upward. This condition is referred to as Hiatus Hernia.

Hiatus hernia can lead to a serious condition and is a normal condition in people of age group 55 and above (Also please note that, this condition can occur in people of any age). In the beginning, hiatus hernia does not show any significant symptom, but in the later stage can cause conditions such as pain in the part surrounding the esophagus hiatus.

Types of Hiatus Hernia:

• Sliding Hiatus Hernia: In this type of hiatus hernia, the esophagus opening which is formed of muscle rings (or sphincter) contracts or changes in shape which allows the part of stomach to slide upward through the diaphragm. This is a simplest for of hiatus hernia and patient normally do not witness any significant symptoms. This type of hernia conditions are generally healed up by our body on its own.
• Rolling or Fixed Hiatus Hernia: In this type of hiatus hernia, the part of stomach near the esophagus opening starts swelling through the esophagus opening causing a protruding part of stomach. Patients may face serious problems with this type of hiatus hernia.

Along with the two conditions/types mentioned above, hiatus hernia can take a serious form and the patient then can experience problems due to it.

What are the causes of hiatus hernia?

• Age is considered as one of the general cause of people experiencing hiatus hernia. People of age group 55 and above are normally prone to this disease.
• If you apply more pressure during stools, when you cough, or even sit in a wrong posture then the esophagus opening may get strained causing hiatus hernia.
• People with weaker diaphragm and esophagus are prone to this disease.
• Obesity is one of the possible causes in people experiencing hiatus hernia.
• Wrong exercising practice (weight lifting) may cause strain on the esophagus opening causing hiatus hernia.
• Sometimes, it has been witnessed that hiatus hernia can be hereditary
• People who eat more chocolates, spearmint, excessive smoking etc. can also lead to change in the shape of esophagus opening causing hiatus hernia.

What are the symptoms of hiatus hernia?
As mentioned earlier, hiatus hernia generally do not show significant symptoms. Patients may experience:

• Heartburn
• Pain in the area surrounding esophagus opening and also pain in chest
• Frequent attacks of hiccups
• People who are suffering from GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) may experience a sudden feeling of vomiting, where the liquid from the stomach which is responsible for digestion of food starts flowing upward through the diaphragm toward esophagus (this same situation leads to heartburn).
• Sometimes, patient may experience unconsciousness due to the pressure on heart and also due to the lower blood supply to the part of stomach
• At times, patient may feel it hard to swallow food.

Treatments
As soon as you experience any of the symptoms enlisted above, you should approach your physician. Instant medical attention is very important in this case, as the hiatus hernia may take serious form and the patient may needs to be treated immediate.
Your physician can ask you to undergo some clinical tests for further clarification and confirmation of condition. Based on the symptoms and results of initial clinical tests, your physician might ask you to visit a specialist doctor.

You also might need to undergo tests like X-ray, endoscopy, biopsy, electrocardiogram, blood tests & barius swallow test etc.

Based on the results of tests and symptoms, your doctor may prescribe you medications.

Your doctor may also suggest you few changes in your dietary and daily habits such as:

• Take food in smaller portions rather than eating full meal at a time.
• Avoid wrong exercising habits.
• Avoid sitting in wrong posture, unnecessary pressure on internal parts of body.
• If you are suffering from obesity, then you should try losing some weight
• Avoid food material which can worsen the condition of hiatus hernia and also try to avoid smoking.

If your doctor finds out that your condition is worsening, then he may suggest you to undergo a surgery where no medication can help.