A hiatus hernia is a problem affecting the stomach. It can cause stomach acid to travel up to your throat.
Symptoms of hiatus hernia include a burning feeling in your chest (heartburn), burping and feeling sick.
Treatments for a hiatus hernia include taking antacids, eating smaller portions and losing weight. You may need surgery if it does not get better.
It's not clear what causes a hiatus hernia. It's more common if you're over 50, pregnant or overweight.
Read more on the NHS website.
Symptoms of hiatus hernia include a burning feeling in your chest (heartburn), burping and feeling sick.
Check if you have a hiatus hernia
You can have a hiatus hernia without knowing and without it being a problem.
With a hiatus hernia you may:
- have a painful burning feeling in your chest, often after eating (heartburn)
- bring up small amounts of food or bitter-tasting fluids (acid reflux)
- have bad breath
- burp and feel bloated
- feel or be sick
- have difficulty or pain when swallowing
These are the symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
Read more on the NHS website.
Treatments for a hiatus hernia include taking antacids, eating smaller portions and losing weight. You may need surgery if it does not get better.
Medical treatments
Broadly, treatment follows these steps:
- Change your eating habits – for example, eat smaller, more frequent meals and do other things to help with the symptoms of GORD.
- If you smoke, try to give up – tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system and make your symptoms worse.
- Buy medicines from the pharmacy – ask the pharmacist what you should take to help with the symptoms of GORD.
- See a GP – if medicines from the pharmacy and changing your eating habits do not help, a GP can prescribe stronger medicines.
- Further tests – if stronger medicines do not work, a GP can send you for further tests to find out if your symptoms are caused by a hiatus hernia. They might also prescribe medicines for long-term GORD.
- Surgery – a GP might 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.
Read more on the NHS website.
It's not clear what causes a hiatus hernia. It's more common if you're over 50, pregnant or overweight.
Read more on the NHS website.