Hiatus hernia

Hiatus hernia | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Hiatus hernia Hiatus hernia About hiatus hernia Diagnosing hiatus hernia Treating hiatus hernia Complications of hiatus hernia About hiatus hernia A hiatus hernia, or hiatal hernia, is when part of the stomach squeezes up into the chest through an opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large, thin sheet of musclebetween the chestand the abdomen (tummy). Hiatus hernia and heartburn A hiatus hernia itself rarelyhas any noticeable symptoms. However, it can cause a problem called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) . GORD is where stomach acid leaks into the oesophagus (the tube that carries food to the stomach). It can occur if a hiatus hernia prevents the valve at the bottom of the oesophagus from working properly. Your oesophagus can becomeseverely irritated, because its not protected against stomach acid. This can cause symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, an unpleasant sourtaste in your mouth, and swallowing problems ( dysphagia ). You should see your GP if you have frequent and severe symptoms of GORD . What causes a hiatus hernia? Its not exactly clear what causes hiatus hernia, but it may be the result of the diaphragm becoming weak with age, or pressure on the abdomen. Hiatus hernia can sometimes occur in newborn babies if the stomach or diaphragm doesnt develop properly. Whos affected Hiatus hernia can affect anyone, but its more common in people who are: over 50 years of age overweight pregnant Its estimated that a third of people over 50 have a hiatus hernia. Theres also arare type of hiatus hernia that affects newborn babies, whichis caused by a congenital defect of the stomach or diaphragm. Congenital means that it is present from birth. Types of hiatus hernia There are 2main types of hiatus hernia. They are: sliding hiatus hernias  hernias thatmove up and down, in and out of the chest area (more than 80% of hiatus hernias are of this type) para-oesophageal hiatus hernias  also called rolling hiatus hernias, where part of the stomach pushes up through the hole in the diaphragm next to the oesophagus (about 5 to 15% of hiatus hernias are of this type) These pagesmainly focus on sliding hiatus hernias. They can usually be diagnosed using an X-ray or an endoscopy, where a long, thin flexible tube with a light and video camera at one end is used to examine the inside of the body. Read more about diagnosing a hiatus hernia . Treating a hiatus hernia Treatment for a sliding hiatus herniausually focuses on relieving the symptoms of GORD, such as heartburn. Lifestyle changes and medication are the preferred treatments. Surgery is usually only recommended as an alternative to long-term medication or if other treatments havent worked. Lifestyle advicemay include: eating smaller, more frequent meals, rather than 3large meals a day avoiding lying down (including going to bed) for 3hours after eating or drinking removing any foods or drinksfrom your dietthat make your symptoms worse If a hiatus hernia isnt causing any noticeable problems, it doesnt usually need to be treated. Surgery is used to repair a para-oesophageal hiatus hernia if theres arisk of serious complications. Read more about treating a hiatus hernia . Further problems Its rare for a hiatus hernia to cause complications,but long-term damageto the oesophaguscaused byleaking stomach acid can lead toulcers, scarring and changes to the cells of the oesophagus,which can increase your risk of oesophageal cancer . Read more about the complications of a hiatus hernia . Diagnosing hiatus hernia A hiatus hernia can usually be diagnosed after a gastroscopy or X-ray. Gastroscopy Agastroscopyis a procedure where theinside of your body is examined using a gastroscope(a long, thin flexible tube with a light and video camera at one end), which sends images to an external monitor. The gastroscope will be inserted into your mouth and down your throat, and will be used to help identify any problems. The procedure may be carried out using a local anaesthetic or a sedative to help you relax. Barium meal X-ray The barium meal X-ray , also called the barium swallow test, is an effective way ofidentifying a hiatus hernia. As part of the test, youll be asked to drink some barium solution. Barium is a non-toxic chemicalthat shows up clearly on anX-ray. Once the barium moves down into your digestive system, a series of X-rays will be taken to identify any problems. If you need to have a barium meal X-ray, you wont be able to eat or drink anything for at least 6hours before the procedure, so that your stomach and duodenum (the top of the small intestine) are empty. You may be given an injection to relax the muscles in your digestive system. Youll be given a white, chalky liquid containing barium to drink while lying down. This will allow the specialist to see your stomach on an X-ray monitor more easily, as well as any ulcers or abnormal growths. Yourbed may be tipped slightly during the test, so that the barium fills all the areas of your stomach. A barium swallow usually takes about 15 minutes to perform. Afterwards, youll be able to eat and drink as normal, although you may need to drink more water to help flush the barium out of your system. You may feel slightly sick after a barium meal X-ray and the barium may cause constipation . Your stools may also be white for a few days afterwards, as the barium passes through your system. Treating hiatus hernia Treatment for a hiatus hernia is usually only necessary if its causing problems. In most cases, people with a hiatus hernia only experience problems if the hernia causes gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) . GORD can cause symptoms such as heartburn and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Lifestyle changes and medication are the preferred treatments, although surgery may be used as an alternative to long-term medication, or if other treatments are ineffective. Lifestyle changes There are several things you can do yourself to help relieve symptoms of GORD caused by a hiatus hernia. These include: eating smaller, more frequent meals, rather than three large meals a day avoiding lying down (including going to bed) for at least 3hours aftereating or drinking avoiding drinking during the night removing certainfoodsfrom your diet if you think they make your symptoms worse avoiding alcohol , caffeine, chocolate, tomatoes, fatty foods, spicy foods and acidic foodor drinks, such as citrus fruit juice, if they make your symptoms worse avoiding bending over or stooping, particularly after eating or drinking raising the head of your bed by around 20cm (8 inches) by placing a piece of wood or blocks under it; dont use extra pillows, because this may increase pressure on your abdomen If youre overweight, losing weight may help to reduce the severity and frequency of your symptoms. If you smoke, you should try to give up. Tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and may make your symptoms worse. Read about stopping smoking . Medication A number of different medications can be used to treat symptoms of hiatus hernia. These are described below. Antacids Antacid medicinescan relieve some of the symptoms of hiatus hernia.They come in liquid or tablet form andcan be swallowed or chewed. They help to neutralisestomach acid when they reach the oesophagus and stomach by making it less acidic. However, antacid medicines dont work for everyone. Theyre not a long-term solution if symptoms persist or youre in extreme discomfort. Antacids shouldnt be taken at the same time as other medicines, because they can stop other medicines from being properly absorbedby your body. They may also damage the special coating on some types of tablets. Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice. Alginates Alginates are an alternative medicine to antacids. They work by producing a protective coating that shields the lining of your stomach and oesophagus from the effects of stomach acid. H2-receptor antagonists In some cases,a medicine known as an H2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) may be recommended if a hiatus hernia is causing GORD. Examples of H2RAs include cimetidine,famotidine (PepcidTwo) and ranitidine. H2RAs block the effects of the chemical histamine, whichyour bodyuses to produce stomach acid. H2RAs therefore help to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Side effects of H2RAs are uncommon. However, possible side effects may include diarrhoea , headaches , tirednessand arash. Some H2RAs are available over the counter at pharmacies. These types of HR2As are taken in a lower dosage than the ones available on prescription. Ask your GP or pharmacist if youre not surewhether these medicines are suitable for you. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) Your GP may prescribe a medication called a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach. Examples of thePPIs you may be prescribed include omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole and esomeprazole. Most people tolerate PPIs well and side effects are uncommon. When they do occur, theyre usually mild and can include headaches, diarrhoea, feeling sick or constipation . To minimise any side effects, your GP will prescribe the lowest possible dose of PPIs they think will be effective. You should let your GP know if the prescribed dose of PPIs doesnt work. A stronger dose may be needed. Surgery Surgery is usually only recommended for a sliding hiatus hernia (hernias that move up and down, in and out of the chest area)if the problem fails to respond to lifestyle changes and medication. You may also want to consider surgery if you have persistent and troublesome symptoms, but dont want to take medication on a long-term basis. Prior to surgery, you may need further investigations to check how well the oesophagus moves (manometry) andhow much acid is being refluxed (24-hour oesopageal pH studies). Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication (LNF) A procedure called a laparoscopic nissen fundoplication (LNF) is one of the most common surgical techniques used to treat GORD and sliding hiatus hernias. LNF is a type of keyhole surgery that involves making a series of small cuts in your abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate your abdomen to give the surgeon room to work in. During LNF,the stomach is put back into the correct position and the diaphragm around the lower part of the oesophagus is tightened. This should prevent any acid moving back out of your stomach. LNF is carried out under general anaesthetic ,so you wont feel any pain or discomfort. The surgery takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete. After having LNF, you should be able to leave hospital after youve recovered from the effects of the general anaesthetic. This is usually within 2to 3days. Depending on the type of job you do, you should be able to return to work within 3to 6weeks. For the first 6weeks after surgery, its recommended that you only eat soft food, such as mince, mashed potatoes or soup. Avoid eating hard food that could get stuck at the site of the surgery, such as toast, chicken or steak. Common side effects of LNF include difficulties swallowing ( dysphagia ), belching, bloating and flatulence . These side effects should resolve over the course of a few months. However, in about 1 in 100 cases they can be persistent. In such circumstances, further corrective surgery may be required. Para-oesophageal hiatus hernia If you have apara-oesophageal hiatus hernia, where the stomach pushes up through the hole in the diaphragm next to the oesophagus, surgery may be recommended to reduce the risk of the hernia becoming strangulated (see complications of a hiatus hernia for more information). Complications of hiatus hernia Complicationsfrom a hiatus hernia are rare, but they can be serious. Hiatus hernias that slide in and out of the chest area (sliding hiatus hernias) can cause gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) . This is where stomach acid leaks into the oesophagus (gullet). This can damage the oesophagus, increasing the risk of problems. Oesophageal ulcers Damage to the lining of theoesophagus (oesophagitis) caused by stomach acid can lead to the formation of ulcers. The ulcers can bleed, causing pain and making swallowing difficult. Ulcers can usually be successfully treated by controlling the underlying symptoms of GORD . In most cases, over-the-counter medicines called antacidsor alginates are used to treat the condition. Read more about treating GORD . Oesophageal stricture Repeated damage to the lining of your oesophagus can lead to the formation of scar tissue. If the scar tissue is allowed to build up, it can cause your oesophagus to become narrowed. This is known as oesophageal stricture. An oesophageal stricture can make swallowing food difficult and painful. Oesophageal strictures can be treated using a tiny balloon to dilate (widen) the oesophagus. This procedure is usually carried out under a local anaesthetic . Barretts oesophagus and cancer Repeated damage to the oesophagus can also lead to changes in the cells lining your lower oesophagus. This is a condition known as Barretts oesophagus. Barretts oesophagus doesnt usually cause noticeable symptoms, other than those associated with GORD. However, Barretts oesophagus can increaseyour risk of developing oesophageal cancer . If you have persistent reflux symptoms for more than 3weeks, you should talk to your GP because you may need some investigations. Strangulated hernia In some cases, a hiatus hernia causes part of the stomach to push up next to the oesophagus. This is known as a para-oesophageal hiatus hernia. GORD doesnt usually occur in these cases, but theres a risk of the hernia becoming strangulated. Strangulation occurs when the hernia becomes knotted and the blood supply to the area is cut off. Emergency surgery is usually required to correct the problem. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 13 December 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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