A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest.
It's not clear what causes a hiatus hernia. Anyone can have one.
But it's more common if you:
- are over 50
- are pregnant
- have extra weight
Symptoms of a hiatus hernia
You can have a hiatus hernia without knowing and without it being a problem. But it can cause symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
GORD is a common condition where acid from your stomach leaks up into your oesophagus.
Symptoms of GORD include:
- a burning feeling in your chest and unpleasant taste in your mouth caused by stomach acid (heartburn and acid reflux)
- bad breath
- burping and feeling bloated
- feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
- difficulty or pain swallowing
Urgent advice: Get an urgent GP appointment if
you have indigestion or acid reflux and:
- you've lost weight for no reason
- swallowing becomes difficult
- you're being sick or vomiting a lot
- there's blood in your vomit
- you have pain in your upper tummy
- your symptoms are very bad or getting worse
Treatment for a hiatus hernia
If your hiatus hernia is not causing symptoms, you do not need treatment.
Easing symptoms of GORD
If your hiatus hernia causes symptoms of GORD, there are things you can do.
Do
-
eat small meals often instead of 3 large meals a day
-
maintain a healthy weight
Don't
-
do not eat anything that triggers your symptoms - common triggers are coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, alcohol and fatty, spicy or acidic food and drinks
-
do not eat within 3 or 4 hours before bed
-
do not drink water during the night
-
do not drink too much alcohol
-
do not smoke - get help to quit smoking
Medicines for hiatus hernia
Ask your pharmacist about what medicines to take to help with symptoms of GORD.
They may recommend medicines that:
- neutralise the effects of stomach acid (antacids)
- produce a coating to protect your stomach and oesophagus from stomach acid (alginates)
- reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes - this includes H2-receptor antagonists and low-dose proton-pump inhibitors such as pantoprazole and omeprazole
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- medicines and lifestyle changes are not helping
Your GP can send you for tests to find out if your symptoms are caused by a hiatus hernia.
They may also prescribe:
- stronger medicines
- medicines for long-term GORD
Surgery for a hiatus hernia
Your GP might refer you to a specialist to check if you need surgery.
This usually only happens if:
- other treatments have not worked
- you keep having very bad symptoms
Keyhole surgery is usually used for a hiatus hernia. This involves making small cuts in your tummy (abdomen). It's done under general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation.
After surgery, it usually takes:
- 2 to 3 days before you can go home from the hospital
- 3 to 6 weeks before you can go back to work
- 6 weeks before you can eat what you want
- a few months to recover from side effects like bloating, burping, farting and difficulty swallowing
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
