Hiatal Hernia

A Hiatal hernia is common with more than 200,000 U.S. cases per year. it is considered chronic and can last for years or be lifelong. Lab tests or imaging is often required and a medical diagnosis is required but it is treatable by a medical professional. A hiatus is known as the small opening of your diaphragm. Your food tube known as your esophagus passes through your diaphragm before connecting to your stomach. A hiatal hernia is when the stomach protrudes up through your diaphragm opening and into your chest cavity. This can cause many symptoms including, chest or abdominal pain, heartburn, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, passing black stools or vomiting blood (which would be an indicator of gastrointestinal bleeding), acid reflux, and or regurgitation of liquids or food into the mouth, but most small hiatal hernias don't cause any symptoms at all. Hiatal hernias are most common among people who are over 60 or obese. Although it is not always clear why a hiatal hernia happens there are some known causes. Some of these causes include; being born with an unusually large hiatus, age-related changes in your diaphragm, an injury to the area (for example: after a trauma or certain types of surgery), intense and persistent pressure on the surrounding muscles, such as straining during a bowel movement or while vomiting or coughing, lifting heavy objects or exercising. Some hiatal hernias are treated with drugs and only a few types need to be repaired surgically but most hiatal hernias do not require any treatment.

References:

https://medlineplus.gov/hiatalhernia.html

https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/surgery/hiatal-hernia

https://www.medstarwashington.org/our-services/surgery/conditions/hernia/hiatal-or-paraesophageal-hernia/

https://www.healthline.com/health/hiatal-hernia-surgery

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiatal-hernia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373379