Hiatal Hernia and Heartburn

Posted: Apr 28 in Diagnosing GERD by Staff

The acid that lines your stomach to aid in food digestion is a powerful substance. It helps to break down food in order to get it ready for the rest of its journey through your small intestines and colon.
Your stomach is made with a protective lining so that it can hold this acid without causing you any pain or damage to your organs. Sometimes, when you’ve eaten a large meal or spicy foods, you may feel heartburn because your esophageal lining has been irritated or because the cardiac sphincter that blocks stomach acid from entering your esophagus could be loose. If you have heartburn frequently, it could be a hiatal hernia.
Hiatal hernia’s occur when a part of your stomach comes up through your diaphragm, widening your cardiac sphincter and allowing stomach acid to pass freely to your esophagus. Hiatal hernias can be caused by scarring and shortening of the esophagus or a looseness between the esophagus and the diaphragm. Hiatal hernia’s can be operated on and should be to prevent damage to the esophagus from the stomach acid.