There is a tight valve which is placed at the section where the stomach is connected to the lower section of the esophagus. This valve prevents stomach acid and digested food from going backwards up the esophagus. The diaphragm, a sheet of muscle which separates the chest cavity and the stomach, works in combination with this valve. If you have hiatus hernia symptoms, this will be the region where you will experience it.
The formation of a hiatus hernia will occur when a section of the stomach slides through this valve into the cavity of the chest. The most common condition is a sliding hiatus hernia. This condition will not always have symptoms. Heartburn, which is a burning or warm sensation that you feel in the chest, may be experienced. The backward flow of stomach contents that contain acid causes this.
You may suffer from belching or hiccups. It may cause gurgling in the chest. There might be severe pain or discomfort in the chest. Waves of nausea may be present. Some individuals will develop a hoarse voice. These symptoms could start or become worse after meals. Once you lie down or if you attempt to bend forward, the symptoms may worsen.
Normally, medication will be prescribed. You can take antacids which will aid in the neutralization of the acids in the stomach. There are also medications that will aid in the reduction or blockage of the production of acids. In severe cases of this condition, surgery may be required.
There are alternative treatment options that have proven to be effective. Eat regular meals of small quantities of food rather than one or two large meals every day. There are foods that trigger heartburn, so you should attempt to avoid these. The foods in this category include onions, tomato based foods, citrus fruits, spicy foods and chocolate. Avoid alcohol.
Do not have anything to eat for at least 3 hours before going to bed. Do not lie down after eating. By lifting the head of your bed by more or less six inches, you will be able to prevent any form of acid reflux from your stomach into the esophagus. Drinking chamomile tea will cause reduction of any inflammation that might have been caused by the acid in your stomach.
As it is stated that one of the causes of hiatus hernia might be due to muscle weakness, you should do exercises to strengthen your diaphragm. This can be achieved by blowing up balloons or simulating the breathing methods that are used to blow up balloons.
If you have hiatus hernia, check out all the symptoms of hiatus hernia and what they mean here.