What Is A Hiatus Hernia?
A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest. It is a very common condition if you’re over 50 years old. It does not normally need treatment if it’s not causing you problems. It is possible to have a hiatus hernia without knowing and without it causing any problems.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a hiatus hernia, please contact MyHealthcare Clinic on 0207 099 5555 now for an appointment with one of our GPs. Same day, online and in-person GP appointments at our award-winning clinics are available Monday to Saturday.
Hiatus hernia symptoms
Some of the symptoms of a hiatus hernia include:
· Having a painful burning feeling in your chest, often after eating, known as heartburn
· Bringing up small amounts of food or bitter-tasting fluids, known as acid reflux
· Having bad breath
· Burping and feeling bloated
· Feeling or being sick
· Having difficulty swallowing
These are the symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
Treatment for a hiatus hernia
One of our GPs will advise a course of treatment for you to help with the symptoms of GORD, usually with suggestions to:
· Change your eating habits, for example, by eating smaller, more frequent meals
· Give up smoking, as it can irritate your digestive system, making symptoms worse
· Take some medicines to relieve symptoms of GORD
What causes a hiatus hernia
It’s not clear what causes a hiatus hernia. Anyone can have one, but it’s more common if you’re over 50, pregnant or overweight.
A GP may refer you to a specialist to check if you need surgery. This usually only happens if other treatments have not worked and you keep having very bad symptoms.
Surgery for a hiatus hernia
Keyhole surgery (also called a Laparoscopy) is usually used for a hiatus hernia. This involves making small cuts in your stomach. It’s done under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep during the operation.