The hernia can be simply understood as a discomforting situation that arises due to the unusual expansion of an internal body part, acquiring more space than it was originally meant to acquire. Hiatal, on the other hand, is a space in the diaphragm which actively sorts out different organs of the chest and abdomen and keep them separated for proper functioning.
However, during hiatal hernia, the stomach gets expanded and reaches the chest while crossing through space in the diaphragm. Hiatal hernias are classified into two categories – para esophageal hernia and sliding hernia. Out of both the versions of hiatal hernia, sliding hiatal hernia occurs more commonly as compared to the para esophageal hernia. During, sliding hernia and some parts of the esophagus creeps inside the space between the diaphragm to reach the chest.
We have prepared for you a list of 10 most common hernia Hiatal symptoms that will help you detect growing signs of hernia.
Symptom No.1: Chest burns
Also known as Heat burns, these burns are commonly referred to as inflammatory sensations in the chest. The condition ranges from mild chest burn to excruciating pain in the back and chest while lying down. However, the infrequent heat burns are easily neutralized by simple diet changes and a mild dosage of over the counter medicines but episodic and frequent heat burns are extremely lethal and can dig deep holes in your personal and professional life.
Heat burns mostly occur during the night after a heavy dinner or right before sleeping. An individual suffering from regular heat burns combined with discomforts like nausea, or poor appetite then it’s strongly advised to seek proper medical guidance.
Symptom No.2: Bitter or bad mouth taste
A common symptom of hiatal hernia that occurs due to the spiked up reflux of the stomach contents during hernia. The sudden and spontaneous reflux reaches the throat which then gets translated into a bitter mouth taste. Gargling is the most effective way to eliminate bad mouth taste. However, excessive reflux of stomach contents can’t be permanently eliminated through gargling and it interferes with the taste of the food you eat, unpleasantly degrading the taste and experience.
Symptom No.3: Excessive burping
Even though burping is quite common and harmless, but the constant state of burping can be an active cause of hiatal hernia. Individuals suffering from hiatal hernia tend to burp or hiccup exponentially more than a normal person, burping mostly occurs post a meal and excessive belching may also cause unbearable pain in the topmost part of the abdomen.
Symptom No.4: Sore throat
Even though sore throat is a common symptom of respiratory illnesses, sore throat during hiatal hernia is caused by the excessive production of stomach acids which then start moving up to the upper parts of the stomach and throat. Upon reaching the throat these acids can wreak havoc by causing conditions like croaky voice. The acid content keeps rising till the mouth is not able to diffuse the ticking time bomb through a sufficient amount of saliva.
In extreme cases, the uprising of the acid content can also result in irreversible damage to vocal cords. Excessive seeping of the acid will also result in toxic conditions like tongue burns, damaged teeth, and swollen throat.
Symptom No.5: Pain in the chest
Individuals suffering from hiatal hernia can experience severe cases of chest pains and chest tightness. The condition is triggered due to the constant activity of hernia sliding back and forth in the diaphragm space. Chest pains are experienced while trying to put pressure on the abdomen during bowel and it can lead to a chain reaction of unbearable pains in different parts of the body.
Symptom No.6: Stomach bloating
Just like sore throat, stomach bloating is also a common symptom that can be triggered due to numerous causes. However, it’s imperative to recognize the right symptom to be able to seek proper treatment. Bloating during hernia is experienced soon after the consumption of a heavy meal, and an individual should stay away from the foods that trigger bloating in the stomach. Little changes in lifestyle and diet can result in permanent elimination of stomach bloating, in extreme cases, therapies and medications should be used.
Symptom No.7: Dysphagia
Dysphagia refers to the problem in swallowing, a condition that can be extremely painful and discomforting, Extreme dysphagia cases are combined difficulty in swallowing with a feeling of choking and heat burns. Immediate medical guidance should be taken as dysphagia is also an active symptom of esophageal cancer and erosive esophagitis.
Symptom No.8: Persistent coughing
As the levels of stomach content acids reach toxic the patient would feel frequent acid reflux that would then reach to his throat and ultimately to the mouth. This seeping in of acids under the throat leads to damaging coughing that can then cause pains in the throat or even swelling. The relationship between chronic cough and reflux in interoperable and both of them can in-turn be the reason for each other’s occurring. A patient suffering from reflux and cough should be treated under the careful supervision of an expert gastroenterologist and a pulmonologist.
Symptom No.9: Feeling of asthma and wheezing
Researches establish a direct relationship between an excessive degree of acidic reflux and the occurrence of asthma. According to a study, almost 60 % of the patients suffering from asthma also experience symptoms of high acid reflux. When the reflux spikes up to the esophagus and makes its way through the alleys of the wind pie then it triggers breathing difficulties by actively obstructing oxygen intake resulting in wheezing and excessive coughing.
Symptom No.10: Feeling of nausea, dry retching, and vomiting
Patients of hiatal hernia experience aggravated symptoms of nausea and that’s not all, the symptoms of nausea after hours of chest pressure and stomach pain leads to vomiting finally due to the acid secretion reaches its maximum capacity. Additional to nausea and vomiting, the patient also suffers from dry retching where the vomiting does not really discharge any of the stomach content and in-turn translates into an extremely painful ordeal that puts unrestrained pressure on the esophageal.
The recurring episodes of all these three symptoms can even result in blood loss or permanent damage to esophageal. It is advised to seek proper medical attention as this lethal combination of highly malaise conditions can lead to unrepairable mental and physical damage.