For many people, the term "hernia" induces mental images of excruciating pain and nausea, but the symptoms of a hiatal hernia are often undetectable to the affected individual. Hiatal hernias cause serious health complications only in rare cases, says Frank Jackson, M.D., of the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology group, but regulating factors such as weight can reduce the risk of developing severe herniation.
Description
The hiatus is an opening on the left diaphragm that encircles the esophagus. Weakened tissue around the hiatus can cause the opening to widen. A hernia occurs when a piece of the stomach pushes through the hiatus opening, entering the chest cavity. In minor cases, the stomach slides in and out of the hiatus as the muscles contract, but in more severe cases, the stomach remains wedged in the hiatus and chest cavity.
Causes
While hiatal hernias are sometimes hereditary, they can also be the result of persistent abdominal pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Strain from intense coughing, vomiting, exercising, lifting heavy objects and constipation can result in stomach herniation. Obesity is a major risk factor for hiatal hernias because excess weight places constant strain on the stomach muscles.
Weight and Treatment
If a patient diagnosed with a hiatal hernia is obese, a physician may suggest weight loss as a component of the treatment. However, treatment is only necessary when the hernia is serious and accompanied by discomfort from symptoms such as inflammation; heartburn; gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD; chronic coughing or wheezing; anemia; and pneumonia. Weight loss does not cure a hiatal hernia, but it is beneficial for relieving pressure on the abdomen, and as a result, reducing draining of stomach acid into the esophagus.
Considerations
A severe hernia may involve surgery to reduce the size of the hiatus or thicken the tissue around the esophagus tube. Treatment for a minor hiatal hernia mainly focuses on relieving the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux by removing trigger foods from the diet, using prescription medications and avoiding overexertion of the stomach muscles. In both cases, weight loss is a minor component of the treatment process, incorporated primarily as a precaution to avoid further irritation of the herniated area. For individuals with a healthy body weight or a congenital hernia, obesity is not a factor at all and does not influence their condition.
