Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernia is one of the conditions that require surgical intervention in addition to the possibility of treating the condition through the use of some medications prescribed by the specialist doctor, due to the size of the hernia and the symptoms that appear on the patient.

Hiatal hernia

Many people develop hiatal hernia, which occurs when part of the stomach passes through this hernia improperly to reach the chest cavity by crossing the opening of the esophagus:

Most often, the hernia is small and doesn't cause any problems.
It can also appear in a large size that contributes to the return of what the stomach contains to the esophagus with a sensation of chest pain and burning.

The most prominent symptoms of hiatal hernia

Although there are no symptoms of a small hiatal hernia, there are many symptoms that occur in the case of a large hernia, which require consulting a specialist, as follows:

The occurrence of heartburn.
In addition to nausea and hiccups.
Pain in the chest and abdomen area.
Shortness of breath.
The return of fluids, foods and acid from the stomach to the mouth.
Difficulty swallowing.
Feeling full shortly after eating.
Bloody vomiting or the appearance of waste in black color, indicating gastrointestinal bleeding.

How to diagnose hiatal hernia.

The specialist doctor diagnoses the case of hiatal hernia by inquiring about the medical history and the factors that lead to the occurrence of various symptoms, where the diagnosis is made through the following steps:

X-ray

The doctor recommends an X-ray with the help of barium for the upper abdomen and chest, as this material allows the parts of the digestive system to be clearly identified, while making sure that part of the stomach rises to the cavity that is located in the chest, which is the case of hiatal hernia.

Gastroscopy

This procedure is done by inserting a soft tube into the larynx and reaches the esophagus and then moves to the stomach and there is a camera at one end that contributes to making sure that the esophagus has inflammation that results in heartburn with many other symptoms in the digestive system.

Causes of hiatal hernia.

There are many reasons that lead to the occurrence of hiatal hernia, which are as follows:

The presence of a rise in the pressure of the muscle, as this can lead to its inability to withstand this pressure, which contributes to the emergence of the stomach through the cavity that is located in the chest, and this pressure rises through vomiting, coughing, continuous and active bowel movement, and lifting heavy objects.
This hernia also results from weakness in the muscle due to injury or birth defect due to genetic factors, as it contributes to the expansion of the opening and then the way is paved for part of the stomach to pass through the opening of the chest cavity.

Risk factors of hiatal hernia

The risk of hiatal hernia increases in some people and they are as follows:

Smokers
and those over 50 years old.
Obese patients.

The main complications of hiatal hernia

In the case of neglecting the treatment of hiatal hernia, many complications can occur, as follows:

Gastroesophageal reflux.
In addition to the appearance of some ulcers inside the esophagus.
Persistent burning sensation.
The appearance of a possible malignant tumor inside the mucosa of the esophagus.

Treatment methods for hiatal hernia.

The treating doctor prescribes more than one method of treatment that can be done according to the diagnosis and the extent of the hernia, which are as follows:

In the case of a simple hernia in the diaphragm, acid-fighting drugs can be used to treat stomach acid reflux, which are antacids, which contribute to reducing the production of stomach acid or preventing its production permanently without the need for surgery.
When no tangible result appears when using acidity and heartburn medications, surgery must be performed to withdraw the part of the stomach and return it to the abdominal cavity and work to reduce the size of the opening so that the hernia does not occur again through the surgical endoscope.

How to prevent hiatal hernia.

There are several steps that contribute to the prevention of hiatal hernia, as follows:

The need to divide large meals into several meals of a smaller size.
Stay away from alcoholic beverages.
Reduce foods that contribute to increased heartburn such as tomatoes, onions, fatty and spicy foods and citrus fruits.
Sleep with the pillows of the bed lifted.
Stay away from smoking.
Do not lie down after meals at least for 3 hours after a meal.
Psychological stress should be avoided.

Thus, we have learned about the most important information related to hiatal hernia, in addition to clarifying its symptoms, causes and different treatment methods.

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