Hiatal Hernia: It’s a condition in which your stomach protrudes from the diaphragm, a muscle that divides your abdomen from your chest. You may suffer from various hiatal hernia types. Food travels up and down via an opening in your throat called the hiatus, which serves as a passageway to your stomach. The stomach and lower oesophagus move up into the chest via diaphragm in a sliding hiatal hernia. This is the most common kind of hiatal hernia.
Having a para oesophagal hernia is more serious. It’s not that your oesophagus and stomach move; it’s only that part of your stomach squeezes through the gap. Squeezing your stomach might cause it to lose blood flow. The term “strangulated hernia” may be used by your physician to describe the condition.
Symptoms of a Hiatal Hernia
People with Hiatal hernias may not experience any symptoms. It’s possible that other people have:
- reflux disease of the gastroesophageal sphincter (GERD)
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Bloating
- Burping
- Inability to eat or drink
- In your mouth, you have a bad taste.
- gastrointestinal distress, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Food or liquid that has been digested in your stomach is expelled into your mouth.
- Constricted airways
Dangerous Factors for Hiatal Hernias
Women, overweight individuals, and those over the age of 50 are at an increased risk of developing a hiatal hernia.
Diagnosis of Hiatal Hernias
Your doctor may do tests like these to determine whether you have a hiatal hernia
- Take a dose of barium
To gain a clearer view of your oesophagus and stomach, your doctor will have you swallow a beverage that will show up on an X-ray.
- Endoscopy
An endoscope, which is a thin, long tube used by doctors, is sent down your throat. Your oesophagus and stomach may be seen via a camera attached to the end of the tube.
Manometry of the oesophagus
When you swallow, a separate kind of tube is inserted into your throat to measure the pressure in your oesophagus.
- A pH test
The acidity of your oesophagus may be assessed using this test.
- Treatment for Hiatal Hernias
Because most individuals don’t have symptoms, they don’t need to be treated for a hiatal hernia.
If you suffer from acid reflux, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following drugs to alleviate your symptoms:
- Antacids to lessen the acidity of the stomach
H-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors help limit your stomach from producing as much acid.
The Bottom Line
During surgery, your surgeon will reposition and strengthen your hiatus. Laparoscopic surgery is often used to treat Hiatal hernias. Small (5 to 10 millimetres) incisions will be made into your abdomen. A laparoscope, which transmits images to a monitor, is inserted via these incisions and allows your doctor to look inside your body. When compared to more conventional methods of surgery, these “minimally invasive” ones feature smaller incisions, lower infection risks, less discomfort and scars, and a quicker recovery time. In two weeks, you should be able to resume your normal activities.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
