Is Heartburn Caused by Hiatal Hernia?
For many years, heartburn seemed to be a result of hiatal hernia. It is now known that small hiatal hernias are common and usually innocent. Hiatal hernia is a condition in which a portion of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm and occupies a place in the chest cavity. In fact, the majority of people past the age 50 have evidence of a hiatal hernia after certain maneuvers during x-ray examination. Heartburn is not caused by such a hernia but, rather, results from the incompetent valve described above. What Can You Do About Heartburn? First of all, any chest pain (even burning) requires a medical evaluation. Chest pain is rarely caused by acid reflux. Other causes such as heart disease must be considered. If acid reflux is suspected, certain specific steps may prevent symptoms of heartburn. Avoiding foods that cause symptoms may be of benefit. Although no studies proving that such modification relieves heartburn have been conducted, many physicians note that patients improve aft
