Hernia Home Treatment

A hernia is a portion of tissue from your stomach or intestines that has pushed through another part of your body. Pain in your groin, abdomen or chest is one of the more common symptoms of the condition, but you may also experience nausea, heartburn and the presence of a bulge while dealing with a hernia. While it is important to seek medical advice when suffering from this condition, there are a few things you can do at home to help ease the uncomfortable and sometimes persistent symptoms.

Self-Care

• When you develop a hernia, particularly a hiatal hernia, most doctors recommend that you make certain changes in your lifestyle to help ease any associated discomfort from the condition. Many times, these changes can actually bring about permanent relief. It isn't until this method of treatment fails to provide results that you'll need some sort of medical intervention.

  Of all the things you can do at home to treat a hernia, losing weight may be one of the more effective. This is due to the increased pressure being placed on your stomach when you're overweight, so cut your caloric intake to shed those extra pounds. Eliminate highly processed foods as well as foods high in fat, while incorporating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats into your diet. Couple this with daily exercise and you should see some level of weight loss in as little as a week. Talk to your doctor before ever taking part in a weight loss program or exercise regimen. Medical professionals can offer great options for both plans.

  As you work to lose weight, you should also change the size of your meal portions. Larger portions, regardless of their nutrition, can cause your stomach to distend, which can trigger acid reflux and heartburn for people dealing with hiatal hernia. By eating smaller meals a number of times throughout the day, you keep your stomach from expanding too much and triggering symptoms of the condition.

  It's also important to pay attention to what you're eating. Certain foods can trigger symptoms of a hernia, so keep a food journal of what you eat and how you feel after a meal. Onions are an issue for many people, but you may also find that you suffer a "flare-up" due to chocolate, tea, coffee, soda, alcohol and highly spicy food. Once you determine which foods pose the most problems for you, eliminate them from your diet.

  Since most hiatal hernia issues seem to revolve around digestion, make sure that you take some time to rest after a meal. You don't want to upset your stomach and cause a backflow into your esophagus. While you rest, even if you haven't eaten, it's also vital to makes sure that you keep your head somewhat elevated. The flap between your esophagus and stomach may not close properly while dealing with a hernia, allowing backflow of stomach contents into your esophagus. By keeping your head up, you can often avoid this complication.