When Does a Hiatal Hernia Require Treatment?
In the realm of hernias, all are usually painful and warrant a trip to the doctor. However, paraesophageal hernias, a type of hiatal hernia, are incredibly dangerous if left untreated. First and foremost, what is a paraesophageal hernia? This type of hernia occurs when portions of the stomach slip upwards into the space where the esophagus is (the small opening that separates these is called the hiatus). Let’s take a look at what causes a hiatal hernia, how to determine if you need hiatal hernia treatment, and what hiatal hernia surgery involves.
What Causes a Hiatal Hernia?
While there are a few factors that may facilitate the physical movement of the upper stomach into the hiatus, the underlying cause is weakened muscular infrastructure in the area that forms the hiatus. This weakness can be facilitated by poor posture, being overweight, being a smoker, and doing lots of heavy lifting and straining. Sometimes, less serious hiatal hernias’ severity can be reduced by addressing these lifestyle factors.
How Do I Know if I Need Hiatal Hernia Treatment?
Part of determining whether or not you will need treatment will include how you feel. Hiatal hernias can either go completely unnoticed (for example, with a sliding hernia) or cause moderate pain. A hiatal hernia can feel like persistent chest or abdominal pain, especially when swallowing; it can also manifest as severe reflux, heartburn, and dysphagia.
To the patient, especially those with high pain tolerance, a hiatal hernia can feel like a minor, persistent disturbance. However, the team at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center would like to urge all reflux sufferers to see a specialist, simply because there are a wide variety of gastroesophageal symptoms that may or may not lead to a serious diagnosis. For example, a patient who thinks they simply struggle with heartburn may, in fact, be dealing with a paraesophageal hernia.
Why Do I Need to Treat a Hiatal Hernia Right Away?
Unfortunately, if left untreated, a paraesophageal hernia can cause serious complications, involving strangling the upper portion of the stomach. In these cases, treatment will be necessary, and lifestyle changes will not help.
What Does Hiatal Hernia Treatment Involve?
Treating a paraesophageal hernia requires surgery; there is a physical reason for which your stomach will not stay where it is supposed to be. Hiatal hernia surgery is fairly straightforward and will require a little bit of downtime on the patient’s part. Your surgeon will perform the following steps during your surgical repair:
Free up (cut) any attachments that are remaining in the upper portion of the stomach.
Pull the stomach back down below the diaphragm where it belongs.
Repair the integrity of the diaphragm so that the stomach will not revert to its herniated position.
Fold a portion of the stomach around the lower esophagus, creating a lump that is larger than the opening in the diaphragm, ensuring that the stomach will not revert. This step can also include measures to eliminate reflux for patients who struggle with this.
Hiatal Hernia Treatment in Tampa Bay
If you struggle with heartburn or have trouble swallowing on a daily basis, it’s time to see a specialist. Contact the team of reflux experts at the Tampa Bay Reflux Center today.