What do we mean by a hiatal hernia?

The hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm (the muscular wall) which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. Normally, the esophagus (food pipe) goes through the hiatus and attaches to the stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening.

What does statistical data say about a hiatal hernia?

Statistically, approximately 60% of individuals who are above age 50 or older have a hiatal hernia.

In which age group is hiatal hernia very common?

The incidence of hiatal hernias increases with age. It is commonly seen in the older age people specifically in people who are above 50. 

What are the causes of hiatal hernia?

The most common risk factors are as follows: 

Obesity Congenital deformities, such as scoliosis
Certain types of surgery
Major trauma
Conditions which causes an increase in abdominal pressure within the abdomen, such as heavy lifting, or bending over, frequent or violent coughing, violent sneezing, violent vomiting, and straining during bowel movements
What are the types of a hiatal hernia?

There are four types of a hiatal hernia and they are as follows:

Sliding hiatal hernia: This is the most common variant of a hiatal hernia. It occurs when your stomach and esophagus slide into and out of your chest through the hiatus. It is usually asymptomatic.
Fixed hiatal hernia: It is also known as a paraesophageal hernia. In a fixed hernia, part of the stomach pushes through diaphragm and stays there.
Type III hiatal hernia: In this type, as a hernia goes on increasing, the phrenoesophageal ligament stretches and displaces the gastroesophageal junction above the diaphragm
Type IV hiatal hernia: Type IV hiatal hernia includes a large defect in the phrenoesophageal ligament causing other organs, such as colon, spleen, pancreas and small intestine to enter the hernia sac.
What are the sign and symptoms of hiatal hernia?

Common symptoms include:

Heartburn
Chest pain or epigastric pain, coughing
Difficulty in swallowing
Belching, eructation, and hiccups
How to diagnose the condition?

To diagnose this condition following tests or procedures are included:

X-ray of the chest and abdomen Barium follow-through examination of gastrointestinal tract (GI) to visualize GI tract.
Upper endoscopy for examining the esophagus and stomach from inside Esophageal manometry for measuring the rhythmic muscular contractions of esophagus while swallowing, and also, measuring the force exerted by the muscles of esophagus.
What is the treatment available for it?

It includes medications and surgery which are as follows:

Antacids to neutralize stomach acid and to reduce acid production
Medications that heal the esophagus 
Surgery of opening of diaphragm to make it smaller and for reconstruction of an esophageal sphincter

Hiatal Hernia - How Is it Diagnosed?

Hernia or what in Ayurveda is known as Antra Vriddhi, is a condition that takes place when an internal organ in your abdomen gets displaced and protrudes outward, giving rise to swelling in the abdominal region. 
Even though you can develop a hernia anywhere in your body, it mostly occurs in the abdominal region and can affect both men and women at any age.

The causes of hernia are: 
Even though hernia can be a hereditary condition, certain factors can contribute in causing it. These are:
1.   Persistent coughing
2.   Putting excess pressure while passing faeces
3.   Straining your abdominal muscles by exercising or lifting objects that are heavy
4.   Obesity
5.   Buildup of fluid in your abdominal cavity

Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that indicate you have hernia include a visible, hard protrusion, development of soft lumps and pain. However, some people may not experience any symptoms at all. Hernia can be of many types, depending on the part of the body affected and even varying on the basis of your gender. In worst cases, you may require surgery but Ayurveda can cure your hernia completely without the need of you going through a surgical process.

How does Ayurveda help?
Ayurveda helps in curing your hernia by focussing on your diet. If you follow these rules, you can cure yourself of hernia completely.

1.   Reduce the amount of food you eat in a day and take small meals frequently instead of the standard three meals.
2.   While eating, make sure you eat your food slowly.
3.   Drink lots of water and other fluids, but do not consume aerated drinks
4.   It is advised not to take water with your meals, but only to drink a glass of water an hour after and half an hour before each meal. By doing this, you reduce your chances of getting heartburn and aid in the proper functioning of the digestive system.
5.   Eating any form of raw food, such as uncooked meat and vegetables is strictly forbidden along with processed foods such as bread, cakes, cookies etc. However, when eating cooked food, make sure it's lightly cooked and not overcooked.
6.   Having a glass of juice freshly squeezed from vegetables or fruits is recommended, especially carrot juice as it is enriched with calcium and vitamin A that help in the healing process.
7.   Make sure that whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits are a part of your diet.
8.   Lastly, go for a walk after each meal and do not sleep after eating, especially if you've had a heavy meal.

Hernia : Ayurveda Treatment for Hernia Problem

A Hernia may be defined as the protrusion of an organ into an adjacent connective tissue or muscle. The protrusion usually occurs through a tear or a weakened area in the muscle (Fascia). Hernia can be an Inguinal Hernia, Umbilical Hernia, Hiatal Hernia or Femoral Hernia. It can also originate from an incision (Incisional Hernia).

The Inguinal Hernia is commonly observed in males. Here, the intestine squeezes through a tear in the abdominal wall into the groin (Inguinal canal). At times, the small intestine bulges through the abdominal wall (weak spot) near the belly button, which results in Umbilical Hernia. In Hiatal Hernia, the upper part of the stomach passes into the chest through the diaphragm, and of all the hernia types, the Inguinal Hernia is the most common.

Severe strain and muscle tear or weakness can result in Hernia. Obesity, chronic constipation, chronic coughing and sneezing, ageing, damage caused by injury, medical conditions like Cystic Fibrosis, contribute to increased incidences of Hernia. In case of Hernia, the affected area tends to protrude or bulge out. If left untreated; Hernia can prove to be detrimental. One needs to consult a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Physical examination can help in the diagnosis of Inguinal Hernia. An ultrasound is needed to diagnose Umbilical Hernia. A Barium X -ray or endoscopy can be of great help in the diagnosis of Hiatal Hernia.

The severity of the Hernia depends upon its size. In case the Hernia is rapidly increasing in size, a surgery is needed for the repair. The surgery performed can be open or laparoscopic. In open surgery, Hernia is identified through an incision. Once located, the Hernia is removed from the adjacent tissues. In laparoscopic repair, small incisions are made in the affected region. Through these incisions, specialized instruments are inserted. It is through these instruments that the surgeon visualizes and performs the surgery.

In such repairs, a mesh, held in place by sutures is used as a scaffold. This facilitates the growth of new tissues in the affected person. This technique significantly lowers the chance of a recurrence. Certain factors must be well addressed, before performing a Hernia operation:

* Hernia operations, laparoscopic in particular, should be performed by experienced surgeons. Inexperienced surgeons will do you more harm than good.
* Laparoscopic Hernia operation should be avoided in case a patient has adhesions from previous surgery.
* Extreme care should be taken while performing a Hernia operation in infants and children.
* In some cases, Hernia surgery might affect or injure the vas deferens in men. This in turn can affect fertility in men.

What To Know About Hernia Operation

Hernia, is not life threatening, but is commonly experienced by a number of people. You will experience hernia when an organ pushes through the muscles or tissues surrounding them. A hernia can occur anywhere in the body. The most common areas affected by it are the abdominal area, upper thigh, groin and belly button. In most cases, a surgery is required to treat this condition.

There are 4 common types of hernias. These are:

Inguinal hernia: This is the most common type of hernia and affects more men than women. It occurs when the intestines push through the lower abdominal wall into the inguinal canal.
Hiatal hernia:This commonly affects elderly people and occurs when the stomach pushes upwards through the diaphragm. It may also affect children if they are born with a congenital birth defect.
Umbilical hernia: This affects children and occurs when the intestine pushes through abdominal wall near the bellybutton.
Incisional hernia:This occurs after an abdominal surgery when the intestine pushes through the scar or other weak tissues.
A hernia can develop overnight or over a period of time. It can be triggered by many factors that cause weakening of muscles and strain the body.

Some of these are:

Congenital defects such as the abdominal wall failing to close properly
Age
Persistent coughing
Surgical errors or injuries
Pressure on the abdomen caused by pregnancy
Straining as a result of constipation
Collection of fluid in the abdomen
Heavy weight lifting
Excess weight gain
If anyone in your family has a hernia, you are at a high risk of suffering from one as well. Being obese and smoking can also increase your risk. Cystic fibrosis can also indirectly trigger a hernia by causing a persistent cough.Sometimes a hernia has no symptoms. A bulge in the affected area is the most common symptom of a hernia.

Some other symptoms that you may notice are:

Pain in the affected area
Weakness or pressure in the abdomen
A burning or aching sensation in the affected area
Acid reflux
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a doctor or ask a free question.

Things to know about Hernia

Recovery from a hernia after the surgery will need a time of approximately 2-3 weeks. The time for recovery also depends upon the surgery performed. An open surgery performed through a large incision across the region of a hernia will require a longer hospital stay and a longer time for recovery, whereas, in contrast, a laparoscopic surgery performed with 2-3 small incisions will heal faster and will need a shorter hospitalization.

The recovery process can be speeded up by taking appropriate care, and recovery tips for it are as follows:

Medication should regularly be taken as recommended by the doctor to lessen the symptoms of the surgery. 
Wound care should be taken properly. 
Dressings should be kept clean and dry, and they need to be changed very frequently in order to avoid the infection.
A persistent cough and sneezing need to be treated with the proper medication. 
Keep a pillow nearby. 
Every time while coughing and sneezing hold the pillow over the suture in order to prevent pressure on the sutures. 
Use an abdominal binder of a proper size. It supports the abdominal muscle and maintains abdominal pressure.
Use clothing which is expandable and has elastic waistbands whenever there is swelling. 
Swelling over the incision is a common complication after the surgery. Thus, the incision area should not be closed tightly by wearing tight clothing. 
Wearing expandable cloths will give more comfort and will not cause pain due to pressure. Take a stool softener before and after surgery. 
Constipation should be treated before the surgery and should be avoided after the surgery by using stool softeners. 
Straining for the stools will create pressure over the incision and hernia repair site and will delay the recovery. 
Eat healthy food. The food should be fiber-rich as it will help to improve the bowel movements, and it will avoid the risk of constipation.
Drink plenty of water to avoid constipation and improve the bowel movement.
Do not bend to pick up the things or maintain personal hygiene, i.e., cutting toenails as it will create pressure on the sutures and it may break open.
Avoid lifting of any objects as it will create pressure on sutures and will increase the risk of rupture. After a certain period of time, lift only light items (less than 20 pounds), and always use back muscles and knees. 
Do moderate exercises, such as walking, as it will speed up the recovery. Do not start with heavy exercises. 
Smoking should be avoided after the surgery as it will improve breathing and blood circulation, which will help in the healing process.

Hernia Surgery: Quick Recovery Tips!

Hernias are mostly treated by surgeries as definitive care. Post-operative period has become comfortable with the invention of minimal-invasive surgeries. Postoperative recovery is smoother and faster after laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. 

Yes, the patient has to go for a surgery, if hernias spreads to quite an extent. In such cases, there are several steps that need to be taken as a part of the post-operative care for this surgery. Hernia surgery is quite common in today s medical world. All you need to have is a good medical practitioner who would operate on you and you need to have complete trust on the expert and their methods of treatment. There are several ways to take care of yourself after the surgery. Some of these are explained below.

Diet includes liquids at first: During the first few days after the surgery, the patient is offered only liquids. Due to the anaesthesia, it becomes difficult to consume solid food initially. Only when the doctor sees that the patient is fit enough to consume solids, will solid foods be given to the patient. This is also an indicator that the patient is recovering well and might be let off soon from the hospital.
Patient is discharged only after anaesthetic effects are completely gone: For some time after the surgery, the patient is under the effects of the anaesthesia. If it is a local one then it would take a few hours for its effects to completely subside. But if it is a complex one, then it might take some more time for its effects to completely withdraw. Only after the patient is completely out of the effects of anaesthesia, will he/she be allowed a discharge.
Avoid headache: Patients are made to lie down flat on their back for at least a few hours after the surgery so that they do not experience anaesthetic headache. This can be painful and unbearable at times. But this can be avoided if the patient lies down for quite some time till the effects of it have worn off.
Shower: Usually there is a restriction in getting the operated area wet. But a shower can be carefully taken after at least two days of the operation.
Thus, these are some of the most important post-operative hernia surgery care tips. If you adhere to these points, your recovery process will speed up and it would prevent you from getting affected by any other health problems in your recovery period.

Hernia Surgery - Post Operative Care Tips 

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