Hiatal hernia is a condition where a section of the stomach bulges upwards into the chest. The chest and the abdomen are separated by a muscle sheet called diaphragm. The bulge appears through any of the openings from these muscles as they are weakened by the risk factors.
Obesity is one such risk factor along with age (above 50 years) and smoking in adults. The condition is present from birth in children. Its cause is not known yet.
Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia:
Obesity causes excess body weight to be bared by diaphragm. As over the period of time, the muscle weakens, it pushes the stomach towards the food pipe. Thus the signs appear not because of hernia but because of the disruptions caused by its bulging. Some of the signs to watch out for are:
- Difficulty in swallowing of food
- Chest pain
- Heart burn as the acid in the stomach reflux along the food pipe or the oesophagus
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations or abnormal beating of heart
- Asymptomatic or no symptoms in most of the cases
Though 60 percent of people above the age of 50 years develop this condition, the symptoms are diagnosed in only 9 percent of the patients. The diagnostic technique of endoscopy is used to find the signs of this condition.
When the symptoms are mild to moderate in severity, no treatment is required. Only when they become chronic and intense surgery is recommended by the doctors. It involves removing of the bulging which treats most of the signs.
How Obese People Can Deal with Hiatal Hernia:
The best way to combat this condition is to be aware of its risk factors and symptoms. Knowledge of the former can help in avoiding the chances of developing this condition. The latter can help us in seeking early diagnosis and commencement of treatment to avoid complications.
