What Are the Treatments for a Hiatal Hernia?
When the top of your stomach makes its way up into your chest via your diaphragm, you’ve got a hiatal hernia. Sure it might sound somewhat painful, but it’s not, at least not in the way you might think it is. The hiatal hernia itself usually doesn’t cause discomfort. It’s the heartburn-like after effect that’s bothersome. That’s why treatments for hiatal hernias are practically the same as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms You can have a minor hiatal hernia for years and not have any obvious symptoms. But if it’s a major hernia, you’ll get heartburn, belching and nausea, which are the typical symptoms of GERD. It’s considered a medical emergency if you develop severe chest pain or can’t swallow because of your hiatal hernia. That’s because you might have a strangulated hiatal hernia and the blood flow in the hernia is cut off.
