What is a hiatal hernia?

A hernia is when part of an organ goes through an opening in the muscle wall around it.

In a hiatal hernia, part of your stomach pushes up into an opening (the hiatus) in your diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle between your belly (abdomen) and your chest.

In most cases, your food pipe (esophagus) goes through the hiatus and joins your stomach. But with a hiatal hernia, the top part of your stomach moves up through that opening into your chest.

The top part of your stomach gets pinched. Stomach acid can back up (reflux) through the opening. This may cause heartburn and other symptoms.

There are two types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal.

What causes a hiatal hernia?

Experts don’t know what causes hiatal hernias. Some causes may include:

• Coughing

• Vomiting

• Straining while having a bowel movement

• Sudden physical effort

• Pregnancy

• Obesity

Who is at risk for a hiatal hernia?

You may be at greater risk for a hiatal hernia if you:

• Are age 50 or older

• Are overweight or obese

• Are pregnant

• Smoke

What are the symptoms of a hiatal hernia?

In many cases, a hiatal hernia has no symptoms.

Some people do have symptoms. These may include:

• Burping

• Feeling nauseous

• Vomiting

• Backflow (reflux) of acid or stomach contents into the esophagus or throat

• Heartburn

• Regurgitation

• Trouble swallowing

Paraesophageal hernias may have more severe symptoms. These can include:

• Having trouble swallowing sometimes, most often with solid foods

• Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food

• Belly (abdominal) or chest pain

• Abdominal bleeding

• Blood loss (anemia)

In some cases, a paraesophageal hernia can lead to a medical emergency. The stomach or abdominal organs may turn or twist, causing very bad pain. There is a danger that the stomach’s blood supply may be cut off (strangulation). This is an emergency. You will likely need surgery right away.

The symptoms of a hiatal hernia may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure.

How is a hiatal hernia diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will give you a physical exam. They will look at your past health.

You may also have tests, including:

• Chest X-ray. This may show that you have a hiatal hernia.

• Upper endoscopy, also called EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). This test looks at the lining of your food pipe (esophagus), stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum). It uses a thin, lighted tube called an endoscope. The tube has a camera at one end. The tube is put into your mouth and throat while you are sedated. Then it goes into your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Your healthcare provider can see the inside of these organs.

• Upper GI (gastrointestinal) series or barium swallow. This test looks at the organs of the top part of your digestive system. It checks your food pipe (esophagus), stomach, and the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum). You will swallow a metallic fluid called barium. Barium coats the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines so that they can be seen on an X-ray. 

• Esophageal manometry. This test checks the strength of your esophagus muscles. It can see if you have any problems with reflux or swallowing. A small tube is put into your nostril, then down your throat into your esophagus. This measures the pressure that your esophagus muscles make at rest and during swallowing.

How is a hiatal hernia treated?

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how bad the condition is.

In most cases, you won’t need treatment. But you may need medical care if your hernia:

• Is at risk of being twisted so much that blood supply is cut off to your stomach (strangulation)

• Is more difficult because of severe GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

• Is more difficult because of redness and swelling (inflammation) of your esophagus (esophagitis)

Your healthcare provider may suggest medicines to:

• Weaken or neutralize stomach acid (antacids)

• Reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes (H-2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors)

• Strengthen your lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that stops stomach acid from backing up into your esophagus

In severe cases, surgery may also be needed to:

• Make your hernia smaller

• Stop loss of blood flow to your stomach (strangulation) by closing the opening in your diaphragm

What are possible complications of a hiatal hernia?

In most cases, a hiatal hernia won’t lead to other health problems.

In some cases, it can cause other problems, such as:

• Severe GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)

• Lung problems or pneumonia because stomach contents have moved up into your esophagus and into one or both lungs

• Strangulation of the hernia, cutting off blood flow to your stomach (medical emergency)

What can I do to prevent a hiatal hernia?

Health experts don’t know what causes hiatal hernias. They don’t know how to stop them from happening.

Living with a hiatal hernia

Follow your healthcare provider’s advice for treating and managing your hiatal hernia. You may need to make some lifestyle changes, such as:

• Losing weight if you are overweight or obese

• Not eating for 3 to 4 hours before going to bed

• Not bending over right after eating

• Quitting smoking

• Elevating the head of your bed while you sleep

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms come back after treatment has stopped them. Let your healthcare provider know if symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms.

Key points about hiatal hernia

• A hiatal hernia is when part of your stomach pushes up into an opening (the hiatus) in your diaphragm.

• There are two types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal.

• Paraesophageal hernias are less common but can be more serious. You may need surgery.

• Experts don’t know what causes hiatal hernias.

• In most cases, there are no symptoms.

• In most cases, no medical care is needed.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.

• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.

• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.

• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.

• Know how you can contact your healthcare provider if you have questions, especially after office hours or on weekends.