Hiatal Hernia is a medical condition wherein the upper portion of the stomach protrudes into the lower part of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is what separates the body’s chest and abdominal region. Its main role is to prevent the acid from the stomach from coming back up into the throat, which may cause complications such as acid reflux or heartburn.
Hiatal Hernia in particular does not usually display any symptom. However, since most of its cases develop into acid reflux, the symptoms and indicators relate to the condition instead. Here are 10 signs and symptoms of hiatal hernia.
1. Heartburn
Heartburn is the most common sign of hiatal hernia and occurs when acid travels from your stomach to your throat. It is characterized by having a burning feeling in your chest area that may extend to your throat as well. Heartburn can occur for multiple reasons such as eating or drinking certain food such as red wine, citrus fruits, or tomatoes.
Most of the time, heartburn will only bring discomfort to the patient. However, in some cases, it tends to be severe and may cause a lot of pain. If this happens or if your heartburn is recurring regardless of your activity or the food you eat, you may be at risk of Hiatal Hernia.
