Large hiatus hernia will not get better without surgery. There are measures that you can take to limit the symptoms. These include eating smaller meals more often and, if your hiatus hernia is causing acid reflux, taking regular anti-acid medication.
Non-surgical treatments
Hiatal hernias that do not cause symptoms do not require immediate treatment. However, symptom-producing hiatal hernias may need to be treated. They do not heal on their own and require surgical intervention.
There's no natural treatment that will completely reverse the atypical anatomy that causes hiatal hernia (but there are techniques that can help). The most common symptom of hiatal hernia is reflux (GERD), and treatments that improve GERD often improve the symptoms of hiatal hernia.
A hiatal hernia enters the esophagus and passes its way onto the stomach. Larger hernias may require surgery, but typical hiatal hernias can heal with exercises and stretches that can strengthen the diaphragm. These exercises can reduce the risk and may even relieve some symptoms.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Eat several smaller meals throughout the day rather than a few large meals. Avoid foods that trigger heartburn, such as fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onion, and caffeine. Avoid lying down after a meal or eating late in the day. Maintain a healthy ...
Most people who have hiatal hernias can live normal lives without any problems. However, if you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to see a doctor and get treatment. Left untreated, some hiatal hernias can lead to more serious health complications.
Treating a hiatus hernia
Treatment for a sliding hiatus hernia usually focuses on relieving the symptoms of GORD, such as heartburn. Lifestyle changes and medication are the preferred treatments. Surgery is usually only recommended as an alternative to long-term medication or if other treatments haven't worked.
Surgery is often recommended for large hiatal hernias that cause serious symptoms that are not controlled with medication. Occasionally these hernias can become emergency operations if the stomach twists and causes an obstruction or ischemia (lack of blood flow) to the stomach.
The exact cause of hiatal hernia is not known. The condition may be due to weakness of the supporting tissue. Your risk for the problem goes up with age, obesity, and smoking. Hiatal hernias are very common.
Anything that puts physical or physiological stress on the stomach, causing it to protrude into the esophagus, can contribute to the development of a hiatal hernia. This could be anything from physical damage from a car accident to the physiological stress of a chronically unhealthy diet.
A hiatal hernia may allow stomach acid and juices to back up into the esophagus (acid reflux). This can cause a feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain behind the breastbone. This feeling may often occur after you eat, soon after you lie down, or when you bend forward, and it may come and go.
Small, asymptomatic hiatal hernias don't usually need treatment. If you have a hiatal hernia causing mild symptoms, lifestyle changes and medication are sufficient treatments. It's the severe hernias that require surgery.
It is believed that the size of the hiatal hernia increases as patients age. We are not exactly sure why this happens, though it is most likely associated with the increase of intra-abdominal positive pressure over the years, which enlarges the diaphragmatic opening and pushes the hiatal hernia upward.
When is surgery required? Most hiatal hernias do not cause symptoms, and therefore, treatment is not usually necessary. Those who have more mild symptoms, such as heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), may be able to treat their condition with medications or lifestyle changes.
The easiest way to assess for a hiatal hernia is to place your fingers on the upper belly just below the sternum. Take a deep inhalation and feel if your abs expand.
Key points to remember
Hernias don't go away on their own. Only surgery can repair a hernia. Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia.
Light, low-impact activities that do not strain the stomach are usually best for people with hiatal hernias. Examples include walking, jogging, yoga, and swimming.
A hiatal hernia can mimic heart attack symptoms, but they are not related. Heart attacks are caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which results in a coronary artery becoming blocked, while heartburn is a symptom of another digestive problem that causes stomach acid to back up or reflux into the esophagus.
The weight loss itself may ease symptoms from a hiatal hernia or reduce the size of the bulge to the point where surgery is no longer necessary. If symptoms return, hernia repair may still be performed after some weight is lost following weight reduction surgery, or even along with a weight loss surgery.
How bad is a medium-size hiatal hernia? Typically, a medium-sized hernia will not cause pain. In fact, hiatal hernia problems typically only present in hernias larger than 6 cm or 2.5 inches. So long as your hernia is smaller than 6 cm or 2.5 inches, it should be manageable with self-care and medication.
Other diet tips known to lower the symptoms of hiatal hernia include: Eat frequent meals and snacks in small portions. Drink plenty of fluids (particularly water) each day. Keep a food diary to identify your triggers.