Do I Have Hiatal Hernia?

Are you over 50 years old?

Are you overweight and/or a smoker?

Do you have heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest) that often gets worse when you lean over or lie down, especially after eating?

Do you have chest pain or epigastric pain (right below your ribs in the area of your upper abdomen)?

Do you have regurgitation of food or liquids from your stomach into your mouth?

Do you have a bitter or sour taste in the back of your throat?

Do you have difficulty swallowing food?

Are you bloated and constantly belching?

Do you have shortness of breath (you feel like you cannot get enough air into your lungs)?

Are you vomiting or retching (dry heaves) frequently?

Do you have blood in your vomit or a black stool?

Are you involved in activities that can increase pressure in the abdominal cavity such as: physical straining trough working or exercising, heavy lifting, straining during a bowel movement or are you pregnant or coughing a lot?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is a condition where the upper part of your stomach bulges through an opening in your diaphragm (the muscle that separates your abdomen and chest) into your chest area. Very often, people with hiatal hernia have no symptoms so they do not know they have a problem; it is not uncommon for this condition to be discovered by accident during medical examination. If you feel heartburn or some slight discomfort in your chest it is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor and find out what is causing the symptoms.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia is a condition where the upper part of your stomach protrudes through an opening in the muscle that lies between your abdomen and chest, called the diaphragm. Most people who suffer from this condition have small hiatal hernia with no symptoms. Others, with large hiatal hernia have various symptoms that can be relieved with self-care measures, medications or even surgery, depending on the symptoms severity. Symptoms of hiatal hernia can resemble many disorders such as GERD, peptic ulcer or heart problems, so you need to make an appointment with your doctor for testing.