A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle wall that separates the stomach from the chest. The diaphragm helps keep acid from coming up into the esophagus. When you have a hiatal hernia, it's easier for the acid to come up. The leaking of acid from the stomach into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). GERD may cause symptoms such as
- Heartburn
- Problems swallowing
- A dry cough
- Bad breath
Hiatal hernias are common, especially in people over age 50. If you have symptoms, eating small meals, avoiding certain foods, not smoking or drinking alcohol, and losing weight may help. Your doctor may recommend antacids or other medicines. If these don't help, you may need surgery.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Hiatal Hernia(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10141.html
- Hiatal Hernia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hiatal-hernia/DS00099/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Upper Endoscopy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/
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Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=uppergi
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=uppergi
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Upper GI Endoscopy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
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Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/
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Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 11/29/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=355
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Hiatal(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hernia,+Hiatal%22
- Article: A puzzling presentation of pancreatitis. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18719137&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The pathophysiological mechanisms of GERD in the obese patient. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18663576&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Elastic fiber depletion in the supporting ligaments of the gastroesophageal... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18656046&tool=MedlinePlus
- Hiatal Hernia -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=hernia,hiatal[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[MeSH]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/Apps/FindADoctor/search.aspx
- GI Physician Locator(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/phylocator.asp
- American College of Gastroenterology - http://www.acg.gi.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- Diaphragmatic Hernia(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site741/mainpageS741P0.html
- Hernias(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/hernias.html
- GERD - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gerd.html
- Hernia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hernia.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Hiatal Hernia is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/