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The hiatus is an opening through which food travels through the esophagus and into the stomach. A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach pushes through that opening in the muscular wall. Small hiatal hernias often go unnoticed. Larger hiatal hernias are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.
These symptoms include foods or liquids coming back up into the throat after being swallowed, pain from acid flowing back up into the esophagus, chest pain, abdominal pain, heartburn, bleeding, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing.
A simple hiatal hernia may be managed with antacids or acid-neutralizing medications.
A larger hiatal hernia may require surgery to reposition the stomach and secure it so that it doesn’t migrate back through the hiatus. Laparoscopic surgery keeps this treatment from being too invasive.
If you think you may have a hiatal hernia, contact the physicians at Orlando Gastroenterology today.
Small hiatal hernias often cause no symptoms at all and need no treatment beyond managing reflux. Treatment becomes worthwhile when the hernia is producing persistent heartburn, regurgitation, chest or abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath or bleeding — or when reflux is damaging the lining of the esophagus.
A hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease frequently occur together, because a hernia weakens the barrier that normally keeps stomach acid out of the esophagus. Long-standing reflux is also what drives Barrett’s esophagus, which is why persistent symptoms are worth evaluating rather than managing indefinitely with over-the-counter antacids.
A hiatal hernia is usually found on upper endoscopy or a barium swallow study. Endoscopy also lets the physician check whether reflux has inflamed or damaged the esophageal lining.
Many people manage symptoms with the same measures that help reflux: eating smaller meals, avoiding trigger foods, not lying down for two to three hours after eating, losing weight if overweight, stopping smoking and raising the head of the bed.
To discuss this with a gastroenterologist, call (407) 445-9224 or book at one of our four Orlando-area offices.
