Hiatus Hernia

A hiatus hernia occurs to a surprisingly large number of people in their fifties and is sometimes quite insignificant and causes little or no trouble. However, on other occasions there are symptoms similar to heartburn and these can be quite painful.

Additionally, there may be a sloshing sound, almost like primitive plumbing, in the chest area accompanied by quite sharp pain. On other occasions a person might have a hiatus hernia for years and be untroubled by any symptoms.  

Under normal circumstances the stomach is located beneath the diaphragm but in a hiatus hernia the stomach moves into the cavity of the chest area. The movement is sometimes referred to as “sliding” and covers around 75% of all people with this problem occurring when the higher part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm. 

 

Other folk suffering from this ailment seem to be affected by another variation referred to as rolling hiatus hernia. This happens if a section of the stomach protrudes into the diaphragm. 

It is unclear why people get this problem as they begin to age although there are a number of well-grounded theories. Generally, it is thought that the muscles around this area of the anatomy lose their elasticity as folk get older. As well, if you carry too much weight this will cause extra stress inside the stomach and may well be part of the problem. In a similar way, pregnancy can produce similar symptoms which add to the stress on the stomach. 

If your qualified medical professional suspects a hiatus hernia they can suggest an endoscopy which involves putting a camera down through the throat and, in effect, having a look around. Many people have no trouble with an endoscopy and are unaffected while others find it quite invasive and tend to gag. However, modern anaesthetics can usually provide the necessary calming effect and allow the unhindered completion of the procedure.

Alternatively, you may have a barium meal test which is a solid type of drink in conjunction with an X-ray. Both types of test will show up any problems such as ulcers or weak spots in the stomach lining.  

Many modern health problems have certain common denominators and this is true of some of those associated with widespread digestive problems. Generally, a small change in lifestyle with attention to some basic principles can be helpful such as: 

• Avoid stress 
• Do not smoke 
• Limit caffeine intake 
• Watch your weight 
• Avoid tight belts and anything restrictive  
• Do not indulge in late night binging 
• Have small meals and pass up on the banquets 
• Limit alcohol 
• Avoid foods high in acidity 

To many people this will appear to be common sense while others will see it as destroying a whole lifestyle. The choice is yours; do you want to be well? If you do then perhaps you will have to make some changes. 

Alternatively, you can put up with the problem or obtain some relief through many of the modern drugs such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors or H2-blockers. If you want to stay away from chemical solutions to your ailments you could try the many home remedies which have appeared on the market in recent years. As usual, it is always recommended that any course of action is discussed with your doctor, pharmacist or other qualified medical practitioner.        

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