Your diaphragm, the primary muscle you use to breathe, is a dome-shaped, thin muscle that separates your abdomen from your chest cavity.
A hiatus is a hole in your diaphragm that allows your esophagus to connect to your stomach. This tube carries food from your mouth and stomach. Hiatal hernia is when the upper portion of your stomach presses through this opening.
Continue reading to find out how to treat a hiatal hernia at home, tips for preventing hernias, and when to seek professional medical assistance.
How to Fix a Hiatal Hernia Yourself
Trusted Source’s 2019 research found that treating symptoms of hiatal hernia by addressing gastric acid secretion is one of the first steps to treat it. These are some of the recommendations:
- Losing weight (if necessary)
- Reduced food portions
- You can eat several smaller meals throughout your day instead of one large meal.
- Elevating your bed’s head by 8 inches
- Avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bedtime or before you lie down.
- Avoiding or limiting trigger foods and drinks such as fried food, fatty foods, acidic beverages (citrus tomato, vinegar), spicy food, caffeine (coffee), carbonated drinks, and alcoholic beverages
- quitting smoking
- You can also take over-the-counter medications (OTC) such as antacids such as Gaviscon (aluminium hydroxide with magnesium hydroxide) or H-blockers such as Pepcid AC and famotidine.
- Avoid tight clothing that may increase pressure on your abdomen. This includes tight belts, tight hosiery, and other body shapers.
When is it a good idea to call your doctor?
Be aware of signs that could indicate a hiatal hernia or an obstruction to blood flow. If you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
- Can’t pass gas or empty your bowels
- Feel nauseated
- experience vomiting
- Have chest pain
Heart problems can also cause chest discomfort, which should be treated immediately.
Hiatal hernia can also be treated with natural remedies
Natural healing advocates suggest various anecdotal remedies for Hiatal hernias, including weight loss and avoidance of trigger foods. These are just a few of the suggestions:
- Yoga
- Self-massage: Massage your abdominal muscles downwardly while lying down on a flat surface.
- Consuming apple cider vinegar, cinnamon and slippery elm.
Warm water method
You can also try the warm water method to treat hiatal hernia.
- Drink a glass of warm or room-temperature water the first thing you do after getting up.
- Standing straight up, extend your arms straight out to your sides and bend your elbows so that your hands touch your chest.
- Keep your feet as high as you can while standing on your toes. Then, drop down quickly. Repeat this 10 times.
- For approximately 15 seconds, raise your arms in the air. Next, take a few quick deep breaths for about 30 seconds with your mouth.
Please note that The medical profession does not approve of these anecdotal remedies. You should consult your doctor before you try them.
Home remedies that don’t work
Your doctor may recommend surgery or lifestyle modifications if you cannot make a difference.
Hiatal hernia medication can be prescribed as:
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- lansoprazole (Prevacid)
- omeprazole (Prilosec)
- pantoprazole (Protonix)
- rabeprazole (Aciphex)
Three steps are typically required to perform hiatal hernia surgery. The surgeon:
- Move the hiatal hernia back into your abdomen from your chest cavity
- Repairs the valve at your esophagus, where your stomach joins your esophagus
- Your diaphragm hole (hiatus) should be tightened
Tips to prevent Hiatal hernias
The Esophageal Cancer Awareness Alliance (ECAA) states that Hiatal hernias can be quite common. They are found in as many as 60% of people who reach 60 years old. This type of hernia is not likely to cause serious conditions. Adults over 50 years of age are more likely to have Hiatal hernias.
The reason your diaphragm opens weaker and larger is not known at this time. This could be a result of a genetic condition or pressure buildup from things like:
- obesity
- straining during bowel movements
- Heavy lifting
- Exercises such as weightlifting
- Coughing
- vomiting
While you can’t stop hereditary conditions from happening, there are ways to treat them.
John E. Pandolfino, MD, stated in a 2007 interview that obesity is a risk factor for hiatus hernia. You might also consider the following prevention options:
- Avoid strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects.
- quitting smoking
- A balanced and nutritious diet is essential
Takeaway
Hiatal hernias can be quite common in older adults, particularly those over 50. It is rare for them to lead to serious conditions.
There are lifestyle changes that you can make to help with hiatal hernia. Talk to your doctor about these changes before making any major changes. Lifestyle changes include:
- Losing weight (if necessary)
- avoiding “trigger” foods
- Wear loose clothing
- quitting smoking
Your doctor might recommend prescription medication or surgery if home treatment fails to work.
