What Is The Best Treatment For A Hiatal Hernia?
Hiatal hernias, especially small ones, are fairly popular. It’s not uncommon to have a hiatal hernia without even knowing it. In fact, nearly 90% of people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have a hiatal hernia as well. In this article, we will discuss what a hiatal hernia is and what the best hiatal hernia treatment options are for you.
What is a hiatal hernia?
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through an opening in your diaphragm called the hiatus and bulges into the chest or diaphragm.
What causes a hiatal hernia?
The exact cause of a hiatal hernia can’t be pinpointed, but it could be due to weaknesses in the muscles around the hiatus. Your risk of getting a hiatal hernia increases are you get older, as they are very common in people over 50. Some lifestyle factors can also increase your risk of developing hiatal hernias including obesity and smoking.
Symptoms of a hiatal hernia
Most small hiatal hernias cause no signs or symptoms, which makes them difficult to diagnose. However, larger hernias can present one or more of the following symptoms:
Regurgitation of food or liquids
Difficulty swallowing
Pain in the chest or abdominal
Shortness of breath
Vomiting or bloody stools
Hiatal Hernia Treatment
While most small hiatal hernias will disappear on their own, severe hiatal hernias called paraesophageal hernias can cause the stomach to become strangled, which usually requires surgery. A surgical approach can also be used to repair hiatal hernias that have not become dangerous, in order to keep it from returning. This type of hiatal hernia treatment surgery involves three steps:
First, your surgeon will move the stomach back through the diaphragm back into the abdomen.
Then, he or she will repair the opening in the diaphragm and making it smaller.
Finally, your reflux surgeon will fold and fasten the stomach around the lower esophagus, which prevents the stomach from rising into the chest again.
It’s best to speak with a reflux specialist to determine the best course of treatment for your hiatal hernia. If you are looking to make an appointment with a reflux specialist in Tampa, call Tampa Bay Reflux today.