When suffering from hiatal hernia there is a variety of different options for treatment. Most will recommend to try changes in many aspects of your lifestyle before moving onto medicine and or surgery.
First thing to do is change some of your activities. When suffering from hiatal hernia heavy lifting and strenuous activates such as continually bending over can aggravate your hiatal hernia so avoid these activities. Next watch how you are sitting and make sure you are not slouching when sitting or walking around. Also when going to sleep it is better to sleep on an incline, this is easily done by placing blocks under the top the bed where your head is. You just need to lift the bed up 4-6 inches. Also after eating it is advisable for you to go for a walk or any activity to keep yourself standing while your food processes. Also losing weight with more exercise will also stave off hiatal hernia symptoms.
Your next option is to improve your diet. Unfortunately you might be avoiding all of your favorite foods. Try taking caffeine, chocolate, fried foods, fatty foods, peppermint and alcohol out of your diet. Also you need to eat smaller meals and stop eating at least two hours before you go to bed.
If these hiatal hernia treatments don't clear up your symptoms there a variety of over the counter drugs that can be used. When suffering from acute symptoms reach for antacids like Tums and Mylanta. When being proactive look for antacids such as Zantac.
If none of the above treatments work you can go to your doctor for prescription drugs. You will receive prescription antacids such as Prevacid and Prilosec to try and ease the pain.
The next step down the line is surgery especially in cases of a strangulated hiatal hernia (complication of a hiatal hernia when part of the stomach that is herniated becomes twisted or pinched by the diaphragm). Hiatal Hernia Surgery is performed by tightening the opening in the diaphragm using either open or laparoscopic surgery methods. Laparoscopic surgery became very popular recently due to reduced risk of infection and minimal post-surgery hospital stay.
