The diaphragm, a muscle that enables breathing, separates the upper part of the body from the abdomen. It also has an opening through which the esophagus goes to connect with the stomach. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes through the opening in the diaphragm and into the chest area. Treatment for a hiatal hernia depends on the cause and symptoms. People who have this condition may or may not show any symptoms.
Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic explains that symptoms of a hiatal hernia depends on how large it is. When small, a hiatal hernia shows no symptoms. However, when the hiatal hernia is large, symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, belching and heart burn may be present. These symptoms occur because acid and food in the stomach flow back into the esophagus, causing a condition called acid reflux disease.
Treatment
According to Medline Plus from the U.S National Library of Medicine, the aim of hiatal hernia treatment is to relieve its symptoms and prevent complications such as gradual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia from occuring. Treatment of this problem may involve medication, lifestyle changes or surgery.
Types of Treatments
Lifestyle changes such as sitting up after eating, consuming small meals and not laying down right after eating can help reduce symptoms of acid reflux disease associated with hiatal hernia. Also, medications such as antacids, histamine receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are used to treat acid reflux in hiatal hernia. Surgery is done when symptoms associated with hiatal hernia are not relieved by medication.
How They Work
Antacids reduce symptoms of acid reflux in hiatal hernia by neutralizing stomah acids, while histamine receptor treat these symptoms by reducing acid production in the stomach. Proton pump inhibitors on the other hand inhibit stomach acid production. Surgery for hiatal hernias involves pulling the protruding portion of the stomach back into the abdomen and reducing the size of the opening that allowed it to move into the chest area.
Side Effects/ Complications
Some complications of hiatal hernia surgery include bleeding, infection of the wound, damage to the surrounding organs and the return of the hiatal hernia after surgery. While antacids can cause constipation or diarrhea.
