How to treat a hiatal hernia

In a hiatal hernia, the upper portion of the stomach bulges out through the so-called hiatus, and opening in the diaphragm, a muscle that serves as a barrier between the chest and abdomen (and the organs in each of these two body parts).

A hiatal hernia can often be recognized fairly easily by its various symptoms if it is large, and it is quite likely that patients already suspect this diagnosis before a doctor confirms it.

Signs that are indicative of a hiatal hernia are pain behind the breastbone, problems with swallowing, more frequent episodes of heartburn, and constant burping. In severe cases, vomiting and a black stool color, which indicates internal bleeding, can also be present.

What is a hiatal hernia?

The diaphragm is a muscle separating your chest from your stomach. The stomach belongs to your abdominal area and is located underneath your diaphragm. The esophageal hiatus is a hole or opening in your diaphragm. That hole is the place where your esophagus connects to your stomach.

When a part of the upper portion of your stomach slips into your diaphragm through this opening, it presses on your esophagus. That condition is hiatal hernia.

Hiatal hernia can be present in newborns, in which case it is congenital. More often, however, this condition is a result of activities in life that can cause the diaphragm to lose its strength. Some of the more common causes of and risk factors for the appearance of a hiatal hernia are:

• Smoking
• Not enough sleep
• Gaining too much weight (obese weight category)
• Emotional and physical stress, the latter of which would include heavy weight lifting and conditions that put pressure on the diaphragm by inducing a chronic cough
• Age (being over 50 years old)
• Some people also naturally have a large hiatus, which also increases the risk of developing a hiatal hernia as a portion of the stomach can move into this area more easily

How is a hiatal hernia treated?

People with small hiatal hernias that do not cause any symptoms may not need any medical treatment. They can, however, still benefit from health-promoting lifestyle changes. Where any of these factors previously applied to them, patients can consult their doctors about helping manage hiatal hernia by stopping smoking, cutting down on or stopping drinking coffee and alcohol, losing weight if obese, and easing any physical exercise regimens that may be making the problem worse. Eating smaller meals more often rather than three larger meals can also help.

In managing hiatal hernia, even massage can help. By using your hands, find the end of your breastbone. Then put your fingers beneath the bone and push them gently down to the belly button. You have to be relaxed while doing this. This massage should be repeated a few times a day. It is the best to do this twice a day.

First, massage the belly in the morning, and then apply massage the second time before going to bed. While you are in the lying position, relax for five minutes and then drink a glass of water. After that, jump from a chair to the floor. When you have water in your stomach, it increases your belly weight so while jumping the part of the stomach that is dislocated upward will come down and release the pressure from the esophagus.

When you are under stress or having some other negative feeling, your autonomic nervous system can recognize those feelings and react. Those reactions affect the functioning of all the vital organs in your body, which also disrupts the function of your digestive tract. Therefore, you should learn how to relax, master some of the relaxation techniques in order to lose the tension. You can even consult a specialist regarding these relaxation techniques. When you learn how to relax and shut down all the negative feelings, it will help you in healing hiatal hernia. Sometimes this only is enough for treating the problem successfully.

Home treatments are not always enough, though, and some hiatal hernia patients who suffer from more severe symptoms will be prescribed antacids to manage their heartburn (acid reflux), and other medications that are meant to reduce stomach acid production. Some patients will even be offered surgery to correct their hiatal hernia.