Acid reflux and Hiatal hernia may seem like two independent medical conditions, often they are interrelated. Let’s understand the reason behind it with the help of brief understanding.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a comparatively common medical condition, in which the acid present in the stomach moves up to the esophagus. It is okay to experience this once or twice in a week or so. But a frequent happening of acid reflux indicates a more severe issue of GERD. Though there are several factors that may trigger it, a hiatal hernia is one main reason for it. In fact, a large number of patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia operation often complains about the same.

What Is A Hiatal Hernia?

The stomach releases several enzymes and acid for breaking down and digestion of food. Now, the diaphragm lies in the abdomen that separates several organs from one another. A Hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach bulges outside through the diaphragm. This happens due to the exertion of excessive pressure on the muscle sheet of diaphragm.

How It Leads To Acid Reflux & GERD?

This triggers the acid reflux. The repeated events of acid reflux turn to a GERD when this starts to happen with more frequency than casual. This mainly happens when the stomach undergoes vigorous digestion, and by producing these acidic enzymes in larger quantities. This happens particularly while digesting spice, oily food repeatedly.

The situation worsens while coughing or straining as the muscle sheet under stress produces unbalanced pressure and can initiate another episode of acid reflux.

What Can Be Done To Improve It?

The acid reflux is prevalent among people with no hernia as well and it can be treated by making few changes in lifestyle and diet habits. Though take note that these will help to improvise the current situation, which means it will stop it from happening frequently. It cannot cure the hernia or the GERD altogether.

What Is The Permanent Solution?

Since changing diet and lifestyle does not fix it permanently, it needs some more scientific approach. The laparoscopic hernia operation is usually the most recommended and employed solution for the same. In this surgical repair, the present condition of a hernia is evaluated for any possible incarceration and strangulation through the help of camera and a laparoscope.

The hernia is then tucked back in the cavity and the weakened spot is sewed close to prevent its recurrence.