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The Best Thing to Do for Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up into your chest through an opening in the diaphragm. Doctors generally prefer to control the symptoms of hiatal hernia instead of operating, and controlling those symptoms often is a matter of taking certain medications and adopting a few simple lifestyle changes.

  1. Medicine

    • Acid reflux is one of the biggest symptoms of hiatal hernia, and there are three kinds of medicine to reduce it: Antacids, H--2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors. Antacids neutralize stomach acids, H-2 blockers reduce your stomach's acid production, and proton-pump inhibitors block stomach-acid production

      Antacids and H-2 blockers are available over the counter. Proton-pump inhibitors require a prescription.

    Lose Weight

    • If you are overweight, your extra body mass puts pressure on your stomach. According to the Mayo Clinic, reducing this excess pressure may be the most important measure you can take to alleviate the symptoms of hiatal hernia.

    Portion Control

    • When you eat too much, your stomach stretches. A stretched stomach can protrude into the chest, triggering the symptoms of hiatal hernia. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating frequent meals, eating slowly and eating only to the point of fullness--not past it.

    Avoiding Certain Foods

    • Certain foods and substances such as onions, spices, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol increase acid production. Avoiding them can help you avoid triggering an episode of acid reflux.

    After Eating

    • Sit up after you eat; don't take a nap or go to bed right away. Also, wait a few hours to perform strenuous activity. You can, however, take an after-dinner walk or perform low-intensity exercise right after you eat.

    Head Elevation

    • Use a foam wedge to elevate your head while you sleep. This puts gravity on your side to keep acid from backing up into your esophagus.

    Other Lifestyle Changes

    • Relax; if you're under too much stress, digestion slows and acid production goes up. Also, avoid tight-fitting clothing; like excess weight, it puts pressure on your stomach, and reducing the pressure can reduce your symptoms. Thirdly, quit smoking; smoking increases acid reflux and reduces acid-neutralizing saliva.

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