Sliding Hiatus Hernia (Hiatal Hernia Syndrome)
What is a hernia?
Hiatus Hernia (hiatal hernia)
Sliding hiatus hernia, also known as hiatal hernia syndrome
Symptoms of hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
Causes of hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
References
What is a hernia?
A hernia occurs when an organ such as the intestine or stomach protrudes through the wall of the cavity in which it normally resides. Hernias can occur in different parts of the body but most commonly involve the abdomen, and more specifically, the groin (about 27% of males and 3% of females develop a groin hernia at some time in their life.) A bulging area may occur that becomes larger when weight bears down on it.
Hernias my cause pain or discomfort especially with coughing, exercise or going to the toilet. Often the pain gets worse through the day and improves when lying down. However, about a third of people who have a hernia experience no symptoms.
Strangulation occurs when a blood vessel, nerve or other structure is blocked. This usually produces severe pain and tenderness in the area, and needs urgent medical attention.
Risk factors for the development of a hernia include: medical intrusions into the abdomen such as surgery or peritoneal dialysis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; obesity; pregnancy; smoking and collagen vascular disease. Hernias are partly genetic and occur more often in some families.
Hernias are usually diagnosed from their symptoms, but if surgery is going to be done then medical imaging or an endoscopy may be used to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.
Hiatus Hernia (hiatal hernia)
A hiatus hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach and/or the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) protrudes up into the thorax through a gap caused by a tear or weakness in the thoracic diaphragm. The protrusion is through the esophageal hiatus, a hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus and the vagus nerve pass.
About 60% of people aged 50 or older have a hiatal hernia. However, only about 9% of them show consistent symptoms of heartburn, chest pain or pain with eating. (1) About 95% of all cases of hiatal hernia are sliding hiatal hernia, with inconsistent symptoms. People of any age can get this ailment, but it is more common in older people.
The diagnosis of hiatus hernias is often by endoscopy.
Sliding hiatus hernia, also known as hiatal hernia syndrome
Sliding hiatus hernia occurs when on occasions the stomach and/or the LES slides up through this gap in thoracic diaphragm and then slides back down again. Some health professionals call it a "great masquerade" because it causes a wide variety of non-specific symptoms and can be confused with a number of other ailments.
Hiatal hernia syndrome causes many different symptoms because it can pinch the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a major nerve which affects many organs and systems.
Symptoms of hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
- Acid reflux (heartburn).
- Pain in the chest or left shoulder. Note: pain on the left side of the neck or in the left shoulder can also be caused by a blocked gallbladder or by some liver problems.
- Digestive problems, gas and frequent belching, pressure and sensitivity caused by gas around the waist, upper abdominal pain, feeling full even without eating. Vomiting or nausea.
- Heart and cardiovascular problems. Unexplained high blood pressure or fluctuating blood pressure. Rapid heartbeat.
- Lung problems. Pain, especially when taking a deep breath.
- Dry tickly cough.
- Anxiety.
- Fatigue.
- Hiccups.
Causes of hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
- Heavy lifting or straining.
- Bending over too far, too quickly.
- Frequent or hard coughing.
- Hard sneezing.
- Violent vomiting.
- Injury to torso or head.
- Poor posture, especially with head too far forward. Slouching. Excessive sitting, especially with poor posture.
- Chronic stress. Tight neck and shoulder muscles, or tension in the abdominal muscles.
- Excess fat in the abdomen which compresses the stomach.
Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for hiatal hernia syndrome/hiatus hernia
If you use any of these remedies, please come back next week (or whenever you have an outcome) and let us know about your experience. Please leave a comment as many people are interested.
See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.
- In most cases, sufferers experience little discomfort and no treatment is required. If there is mild pain or discomfort, 3 or 4 sips of room temperature water will usually relieve it.
- Elevate the head of your bed.
- Avoid lying down after eating for at least half an hour or more.
- You can do several simple exercises and self-massages to help position your stomach and LES back down where they should be. They are described below.
- When you rise in the morning, drink a glass of warm water. The water provides a little bit of weight in your stomach to help push the protrusion back down. After drinking the water, stand up and raise your heels off the floor, then drop them with a thud back on to the floor. You can thump on your heels a couple of times. If you are able, try to raise your arms out level with your shoulders while doing the thumping. This assists the process.
- Panting. Whilst standing, pant using your stomach to pull in each breath. This can help pull the stomach and LES back into its normal position.
- Self-massage. While sitting, place the fingers immediately under the left ribcage and under the sternum. Gently push with a small amount of movement while exhaling.
References
1. Goyal Raj K.
Diseases of the Esophagus.
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17e, Chapter 286.