Nikki Sommer, a nurse with Key West Surgical Group, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning for Medical Matters.
A hiatal hernia can be pretty painful.
Sommer said, “This happens when the upper part of your stomach pushes up through the diaphragm, which is the muscle that helps us breathe. There’s a small opening there for the food, it’s called the food pipe, or the esophagus, and the part of the stomach can bulge up through that opening, and that is what a hiatal hernia is. So think of it like a bulge through a hole. Kind of the same when we talk about other hernias, and maybe we’ll revisit those again in the upcoming weeks, of what hernias are, but remember, it’s usually a weakening or something that pushes through so this kind of pushes through that hole.”
Do most people with my hiatal hernias know they even have one?
Sommer said, “No, not always. Small hiatal hernias often don’t cause very many symptoms, and they can go unnoticed. Many people might have one, and they never know it, but they can cause symptoms. They can become symptomatic if they start to become larger and create a problem. So the most common symptom is heartburn. It’s that burning feeling in your chest after you eat. You might have that acid reflux, or regurgitation of food or acid up into your throat, difficulty swallowing and sometimes chest discomfort. Sometimes this actually can create, like a sensation of chest pain, so they flip, flop back and forth. So it’s important to know the difference and what’s going on.”
What are some treatment options?
Sommer said, “Treatment options can include eating smaller meals or smaller meals throughout the day. Avoid foods that trigger symptoms, like spicy foods, fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate and alcohol. Don’t lie down right after eating, because it puts pressure, pushes everything upward and lose weight if needed. Now, if your symptoms are problematic and you feel like your heart burn or reflux is worsening, there are certain medications that might be prescribed by your provider, such as omeprazole, Prilosec, and sometimes Pepcid. They work a little bit differently, but they both can help block and reduce acid.”
Sometimes surgery is needed.
Sommer said, “Only if the symptoms are severe and don’t improve with medical treatment. Surgery is more common for large or complicated hernias, especially those that can affect breathing, swallowing or cause ongoing pain. They can grow very large and push up into your chest and become very uncomfortable.”
Can you prevent a hiatal hernia?
Sommer said, “Maintaining a healthy weight, eating those smaller meals, avoid heavy lifting or extreme straining, that goes with protecting your back, but it also your abdomen is your core. So if you don’t have strong abdominal muscles, and you do a lot of heavy lifting or extreme straining, you can cause hernias in general. So trying to avoid that can help prevent this. And then again, staying upright after meals. Don’t lay down right away. These small things can help reduce the pressure on the diaphragm, again, preventing everything from pushing up into your diaphragm.”
For more information, click here: https://www.keywestsurgicalgroup.com/