_:n7bb526af4f5f4ceeb951ebb4f11cf541xb8
<http://schema.org/text>
"Hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach partly rises through a small opening called the esophageal hiatus (located in the diaphragm, the respiratory muscle between the chest cavity and the abdomen). There are two main types of hiatal hernia:\n\n\nSliding hiatal hernia or type I, which accounts for about 85 to 90% of cases. When the junction between the esophagus and the stomach (cardia) rises into the rib cage, this can cause a burning sensation related to gastroesophageal reflux.\nParaesophageal (or rolling hernia or type II) occurs when the cardia remains in place below the diaphragm, but most of the stomach surrounds it and passes through the esophageal hiatus, forming a pocket. This hernia usually causes no symptoms, but can sometimes lead to severe complications.\n\n\nCauses\n\nThe exact cause of hiatal hernia is poorly understood. In some cases, it is present at birth and caused by a hiatus that is too wide, or the entire diaphragm is poorly closed. \nHowever, the elderly are more likely to suffer from a hernia because the elasticity and stiffness of the diaphragm tend to decrease with age and the hiatus tends to widen. In addition, structures that attach the cardia to the diaphragm and keep the stomach in place change with age.\n\nObesity or pregnancy may also be associated with hiatal hernia.\n\nSymptoms\n\nSliding hiatal hernia\n\nAs this type of hernia can sometimes cause or worsen gastroesophageal reflux, so its symptoms are similar to reflux:\n\n\nBurning sensations along the esophagus (acid reflux)\nBad taste in the mouth\nChronic cough\nSore throat or hoarseness\n\n\nParaesophageal hiatal hernia\n\nThis type of hernia does not cause heartburn or any other symptom. It may cause occasional discomfort.\n\nThe most common symptoms are:\n\n\nChest or gastric pain, such as stomach cramps\nFeeling of heaviness and bloating after a meal, giving the impression of having overeaten\nRespiratory discomfort, i.e. shortness of breath caused by the stomach compressing the lungs \nAnemia caused by minimal and continuous bleeding\n\n\nTreatment for hiatal hernia\n\nThe treatment for sliding type hiatal hernia is the same as for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Diet modifications and over-the-counter antacids (sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, etc.) are often sufficient. If symptoms persist, H2 histamine receptor antagonists (cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, etc.) can be used. The next step involves more powerful drugs called “proton pump inhibitors” (PPIs), such as omeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole. The rarely occurring and less symptomatic paraoesophageal type of hiatal hernia may require surgery that consists of moving the stomach back into the abdominal cavity and closing the hiatus to prevent the stomach from re-herniating."
<https://www.biron.com/en/education-center/neat-little-guide/digestive-disorders/>