In the digestive system, the diaphragm muscles help pass food from your mouth to your stomach via an opening known as hiatus. When any section of your stomach pushes into the chest cavity through the hiatus, you may call this condition a hiatal hernia. Furthermore, if a sensitive nerve gets pinched due to a hiatal hernia, it can lead to many health issues.
There are two basic kinds of hiatal hernia
- When a section of your stomach moves upwards, it is known as a sliding hernia.
- When a different organ of your body gets pushed upwards, it is known as a Paraesophageal hernia.
The leading cause of hiatal hernia is physical stress. When your stomach and esophagus get strained due to physical stress, your stomach is pushed upwards via the diaphragm. Physical stress can include weight lifting, labor, pregnancy, etc. A hiatal hernia can lead to other health problems like asthma, constipation, and many more.
Hiatal hernia: Symptoms
There are no noticeable symptoms in most cases. Hiatal hernia is a common occurrence and goes unrealized most often. However, symptoms of hiatal hernia may give a false alarm and resemble other health issues. Therefore it is most commonly referred to as the “great mimic.” But it would help if you kept in mind that hiatal hernias do not go away with time or repair independently. If you experience any symptoms like chest pain, vomiting, heartburn, or most common GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), you must consult a doctor right away.
Treatment procedures of hiatal hernia
In most common cases, a hiatal hernia does not cause other medical issues and does not require treatment. However, if you are experiencing underlying health issues and other symptoms, maybe it is time to consult a medical practitioner. In most hiatal hernia cases, you might notice GERD, so try to focus on the treatment. The method of treatment of GERD is mostly lifestyle changes which include
- Quit smoking
- Lose Weight if you are obese
- Focus on losing weight. You can consume small portion sizes of your meals.
- Try to avoid acidic food items like citrus fruits, juices, or tomato sauce should. Acidic food items can irritate the lining of your esophagus.
- Limit your consumption of fatty food items, fried items, and drinks with caffeine. It would help if you also avoid carbonated beverages, drinks with peppermint, alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid lying down immediately after eating. Make sure there is a gap of at least 3-4 hours in-between eating and lying down. Avoid bedtime snacks as well.
- Keep your body six inches below your head while resting on your back. Keeping your head above your body’s level may help gravity in pushing the contents of your stomach back to their place.
Chiropractic care as treatment
Chiropractor hiatal hernia adjustment will help in avoiding over the counter medications. Treating hiatal hernia via chiropractic care can be useful as it will help the underlying issues that cause pain. Chiropractors use a particular manipulation methodology to push the hernia back to its original place. Gentle chiropractic treatment can be efficacious for the nerves linked with the diaphragm and help release any tension or pressure. It will decrease your discomfort.
Your current chiropractor might also recommend specific lifestyle changes along with chiropractic treatment to avoid a hiatal hernia in the future.
