Along your digestive tract is an opening in the diaphragm that connects your esophagus and your stomach. When a small portion of your stomach pushes through this opening, also referred to as the hiatus, you develop a condition known as a hiatal hernia. Often referred to as a hiatus hernia, heredity is one of the main causes of this condition, but you may also sustain a hernia from trauma, strain, coughing or even being overweight. There are things you can do at home and under the care of a doctor to recover from a hiatal hernia.
No Treatment
For some people, no treatment at all is necessary to remedy a hiatal hernia. This is largely due to the size of the protrusion, as most hernias are relatively small, never causing any sort of discomfort or disruption in the digestion process. Actually, you may not ever know you even have a hiatal hernia, only learning of the condition after a routine examination by your doctor.
Self-Care
When a hiatal hernia is causing you discomfort, the first method of treatment usually involves self-care measures. This serves to reduce or eliminate any uncomfortable symptoms, such as acid reflux, heartburn, nausea and pain, caused by the protrusion. But it does not treat the actual hernia itself.
Of these treatments, dietary changes are probably the most effective, so start off by eating a number of smaller meals throughout the day. By eating smaller meals, your stomach doesn't expand as much as "normal," thus reducing the inflation of the protrusion and the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus. It is also important to eliminate foods that are high in fat as they can slow down digestion. The longer foods remain in your stomach, the higher are the chances of backflow into the esophagus, thus increasing the frequency and intensity of acid reflux, heartburn, nausea or pain. Eliminate caffeine from your diet, and you should also steer clear of onions, citrus, mint and spicier foods.
Cutting your caloric intake, especially when you're overweight, is another way to remedy symptoms of hiatal hernias. When you drop excess weight, it often lessens any pressure on your stomach and thereby reduces acid reflux, heartburn, nausea and pain.
Clothing, activities and even smoking can have an effect on your hernia, so wear loose-fitting clothes, avoid reclining after meals and take part in a smoking-cessation program.
Medicinal
Though most people respond well to self-care measures, it may be necessary to turn to medicines. Antacids are often used at the onset of treatment, but your doctor may prescribe H-2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors as well. These medications reduce or block the acid that may be escaping into the esophagus and causing your pain.
On rare occasions, namely when other modes of treatment fail, a surgical procedure is performed to fix the hernia. The protrusion is manually moved and the opening (hiatus) is reduced in size.
Tags: hiatal hernia, your stomach, acid reflux, acid reflux heartburn, heartburn nausea,