Hiatal Hernia Treatment

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.

Natural Hiatal Hernia Cure - Home Remedies For Heartburn

Hiatus hernia also known as diaphragmatic hernia is an annoying and serious health problems that should be treated immediately. Natural hiatus hernia cure is a more preferable approach rather than medical approach as natural approach can address the problem right to the root and leave no side effect.

1. The Symptoms:
Hiatal hernia occurs very often in overweight people, intense weight lifter, and older people. What can be so annoying are the symptoms that include heartburn, abdominal pain and nausea. Tea has worked for some people to ease the symptom, something you might want to try.

2. Making a Change in Your Lifestyle:
Lifestyle has been attributed as one of the common causes for various health problems. Avoid alcohol totally as this can worsen your hiatus hernia, as alcohol can increase stomach acid.

Overweight is another common cause. You want to lose some weight if you are overweight. Drinking a lot of water can help as well. It is quite surprising to see many people drinking coke, coffee, tea, alcohol except water. Smoking also can worsen your condition, stop smoking right now.

3. Honey:
Honey is a simple natural remedy for many health problems. Honey has been known as an effective cure for blocking infection, wipe out bacteria, reducing pain, ease inflammation, and improve blood circulation. Taking a teaspoon of honey or drink it with water can help a lot to cure your hiatus hernia.

4. Red Apple:
The red apple is an amazingly simple natural hiatus hernia cure. Eating red apple directly in the morning after breakfast, and you will be surprised with the progress you make in a course of a month, some people have been reported to have been permanently cured.

Natural approach has become more a preferable approach in treating this condition rather than medical approach, some of the examples are honey and red apple.

Acid Reflux/Heartburn - Simple Steps to Relief

As you may've seen the advertisements: Acid reflux is a horrible disease that can cause damage to the oesophagus and lead to cancer. Are these claims realistic, or simply exaggerated to sell over the counter medications? The fact is that doctors don't even agree on the causes, treatments, and long-term risks related to heartburn, so you can believe what you want about the ads.
Heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling resulting from acid reflux, or GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease (try saying that out loud a few times). It can feel like a burning sensation (hence, the name), but can also feel like pressure in the chest, which is why it is sometimes confused with feelings associated with heart attacks.
When the muscle between the stomach and the oesophagus gets weak or relaxes at the wrong time Acid reflux occurs. The result is that the stomach contents, including the acid, move up into the oesophagus. Because the oesophagus doesn't have the protective lining that the stomach does, the acid literally burns the oesophagus.
What Works?
Several non-prescription drugs may be effective for mild to moderate acid reflux, such as antacids, which neutralize stomach acids. These include well-known over the counter medications such as Tums and Rolaids. Another option is H2 receptor antagonists, which reduce the production of stomach acids. These include Axid AR, Pepcid AC, Tagamet HB, and Zantac 75. Pepcid complete is the only of these that combines an antacid with an H2 receptor antagonist. Which is the best treatment? One study found that Pepcid complete performed better than either an antacid alone or an H2 receptor antagonist alone.
Prescription drugs prescribed to treat acid reflux are called proton-pump inhibitors. These include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix. While these are equally effective, one study did find that Nexium may heal esophageal sores faster.
Homeopathic Remedies
Combined with homeopathic remedies, heartburn may be treated effectively with less reliance on over the counter or prescription medications. Together, these solutions may provide the answers where just one solution fails to deliver on the promise.
Natural options that may help reduce GERD include deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which may bring fast relief and help heal damaged lining. Aloe Vera juice may also act quickly to bring relief. For those with chronic problems, Gamma-oryzanol (rice bran oil) may be useful, as could choline, pantothenic acid, and thiamin. These natural solutions may provide more effective short-term relief as well as provide long-term dietary benefits.
Why Try a Homeopathic Remedy?
The benefits of natural solutions is that they are often less costly and reduce the chances of becoming reliant on a particular solution. Natural solutions include treating the cause as much as the affect, and experimenting with diet and alternative treatments may help lessen the cause of the problem. Additionally, all of the homeopathic remedies mentioned above can be used along with over the counter or prescription medications.
Does Acid Reflux Cause Cancer?
Studies on acid reflux and cancer vary. One study showed that chronic acid reflux increased the chances of oesophageal cancer by as much as eight times. Another study determined that the risk of cancer is not nearly as much as was once thought. Chronic acid reflux can lead to Barrett's oesophagus, or BE, which has been thought to lead to an increase in cancer. A study conducted by a group of medical doctors found that the risk of cancer from BE is not as much as previously thought, stating that BE will not cause cancer for most people.
What is not questioned is whether or not acid reflux is uncomfortable. Chronic GERD is difficult to live with, and experimenting with both traditional medications and natural remedies may be the best solution. As research continues on the causes and affects of GERD, additional options are likely to come along.
About The Author
Andrew Kelly keeps you up to date with the latest Acid Reflux/Heartburn relief tips and strategies. Learn simple and effective methods to help stop the burning. To recieve your free info please click this link: www.acidrefluxfree.com

Hiatal Hernia - The Hole In The Diaphragm

A Hiatal Hernia, also known as a diaphragmatic hernia, occurs at the opening of the diaphragm where the esophagus connects to the stomach. The esophagus is also referred to as the food pipe since it is responsible for carrying the food from the mouth directly into the stomach.

A hernia occurs anytime when one body part pushes its way into another body area where anatomically that body part does not belong. The diaphragm is a large dome-shaped muscular wall which separates the chest cavity from the abdomen and is greatly used in the mechanics of normal breathing. There is a small opening in the diaphragm known as the hiatus. With a hiatal hernia the stomach bulges up and into the chest through the opening known as the hiatus.

Although the exact cause of a hiatal hernia is unknown, it is thought that these hernias occur as a result of a weakening in the supportive and surrounding tissues. Other contributing factors may include obesity, smoking and advancing age.

Although fairly common, especially in those over 50, the majority of hiatal hernias are small and of no consequence. Many are only discovered through tests when your physician is actually looking for something else, such as evidence of acid reflux disease. However, large hiatal hernias can certainly cause their fair share of problems, including allowing food and stomach acids to back up into the esophagus causing heartburn.

Symptoms of hiatal hernia include heartburn, chest pain, burping, and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). These symptoms occur not as a direct result of the hiatal hernia itself but as a result of what the hernia allows...the backflow of food and stomach acid into the esophagus. Many people report an increase in symptoms when lifting heavy objects, lying down, leaning forward or straining.

Even if you have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, unless you have symptoms then you generally will not require any treatment.

However if you have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and are experiencing symptoms then it is important work closely you're your healthcare provider in order to determine the best treatment plan for your symptoms.

Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, if you are over weight, reducing stress, sitting up after eating, avoiding tight fitting close and limiting fatty foods may be enough to give you complete relief from the symptoms of a hiatal hernia. Other treatment options include medications such as antacids, histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors, and surgical repair if the hiatal hernia is large enough.

Relief can be found from a symptomatic hiatal hernia. Just ask the questions and you will find the answers just for you.

About the Author

For more important information on http://www.a-stomach-pain.com/. Be sure to visit a-stomach-pain.com. You will find advice on common stomach pain causes such as http://www.a-stomach-pain.com/ucr/stomach-ulcer.html, Crohn's disease, and more.

What Really Causes Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs because the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus fails to close properly. This muscle should work like a one-way valve, allowing food to enter the stomach, and stopping stomach acid from backing up.

Several factors will influence the way this muscle works. In infants and babies, the muscle may not close tight enough to keep the stomach acid in the tummy. This is commonly called colic. Colic can be miserable for both the baby and the family, but it generally disappears by about six to eight months of age, as the child's muscles develop and strengthen. Another common reason people suffer from heartburn is pregnancy, or being overweight. Both of these conditions cause extra pressure to build up along the diaphragm, and push on the lower esophagus. This can weaken the muscle, and promote acid reflux.

Almost fifty percent of heartburn sufferers have stomach muscles that work very slowly, this can result in delayed emptying of the stomach. When this occurs, food remains in the stomach longer than normal, increasing the chances that the stomach acid could splash up on the sensitive tissues of the esophagus.

Hiatal hernias can also cause the symptoms of acid reflux. The hiatus is a passageway in the diaphragm that permits food from the esophagus to pass into the stomach. A hiatal hernia is when a small part of the stomach actually protrudes up through the hole. This prevents the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus from working properly, and can lead to acid reflux.

Several common medications may also cause you to suffer the effects of acid reflux. Medications that irritate the stomach lining can aggravate the symptoms of acid reflux. The most common medications that do this are Motrin, Nuprin, and Advil. These medications are commonly used as pain relievers, and many sufferers report relief if the take these medications with food.

Different types of foods can also cause heartburn. If you suffer from this disease, keeping a food diary can help you discover the cause and prevent future suffering. Many people get into the habit of taking antacids several times each day. This only masks the symptoms of acid reflux, and provides short-term relief. If you find yourself using antacids more than three times each week, then it is time to visit the doctor. Several effective treatments will stop acid reflux, and prevent complications from starting.

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Current Treatment Of Abdominal Hernias

Hernias tend to enlarge in time and a quick medical consult could in some cases exempt the patients from surgery. But many persons with typical symptoms of hernia choose to wear a truss bandage instead of seeking professional help. The truss assembles a belt and supports the abdominal wall keeping the hernia from protruding. Hernias are caused by heavy lifting and high physical stress on the abdomen so all patients refusing surgery must consider avoiding strenuous activities.

In time, worse symptoms like nausea, vomiting and continuous pain appear and the hernial bag cannot be pushed back into the abdomen anymore. The patient is now forced to seek medical help and requires emergency operation.

The intra operator procedure in case of hernias is pushing the content back into the abdominal cavity, sewing the adjacent muscle and sometimes adding a nylon support material over the abdominal lining. Such supplementary materials are needed when the hernia is old, the abdominal wall is weakened or in case of elderly persons.

If patients with severe hernia symptoms do not seek immediate medical help, severe even life threatening complications may occur. In cases when the hernial content is an intestinal strain, the intervention becomes an emergency due to the existing danger. The trapped bowel fragment will cause an intestinal obstruction with potentially lethal damages to the entire body. A prompt surgery is most important as to prevent the stopping in the blood supply of the intestines. The involved bowel fragment could actually die.

In case of hiatus hernias, surgical operations are only performed in very severe situations. The common treatment is changing the eating, drinking and life schedule: patients should avoid lying down after meals, eat small and frequent meals, avoid alcohol and spicy foods, stop smoking and enhance many fibers in their diet.

Hiatus hernia’s symptoms can also be relieved by medication. Antacids neutralize the gastric acid and lower heartburns. Other assembling products decrease the acid production or some medicines even increase the efficiency of the esophageal muscles. When the stomach is rapidly emptied, the risk of heartburn is reduced.

Homeopathic medicine recommends products like Deglycyrrhizinated licorice for its action of reducing the effect of gastric acids.

Alternative medicine shows the benefits of visceral manipulation meaning restoring the stomach on its normal position.

About 85% of the hiatus hernias are successfully controlled with diet changes and medication. All abdominal hernias have a 10% rate of reoccurrence.

To avoid developing an abdominal hernia, do not lift heavy objects, keep your body weight under control and take moderate physical exercises.

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Hernia - a Common Illness that Affects Millions

Millions of people discover that they have hernia each year only in the USA, because it's a common disease that can affect anyone at any age. Hernia is not a severe illness, but if it is not treated it can lead to serious complications and pain.

Hernia occurs when a part of an organ protrudes through the muscular fiber that has the role of keeping that organ in its place. This usually happens due to a weakness that appears in the muscles that are around the organ, and causes them to tear and let a part of it come out through the small opening that is created. That part of the organ that protudes will create a proeminent bulge that can usually be seen.

Hernia can appear in different parts of the body, but the most common place where it is encountered is the abdomen. An opening appears in the muscles of the abdominal wall and a part of the abdomen slips through it. The bulge that the abdomen creates can be seen, and it is more prominent when the patient coughs or sneezes and the abdominal pressure increases. This type of hernia is called hiatal hernia.

Other common types of hernia are:

-umbilical hernia, which is seen in young babies, and which appears when the belly button does not close properly after birth, and the abdominal contents slips through the opening -inguinal hernia, the result of the protrusion of the intestines out of the groin -femoral hernia, which occurs in the upper thigh -incisional hernia, that can appear after a surgery where the scar has not been closed properly.

The causes of hernia are weaknesses in the muscles. These can occur because of old age, or if the muscles are worn after many sporting activities. Those who practice a lot of sports, especially football and tennis often have a condition called sports hernia. Sports hernia is similar to hiatal hernia, but in sports hernia the lower abdomen protudes through the tear, and in hiatal hernia the upper abdomen.

Hernia symptoms are the appearance of the bulge in the affected place, and mild pain in that area. Many people can live with these symptoms so they choose not to treat their hernia, but it can get worse and lead to complications so the best thing to do is to consult your doctor, and if he advises you to treat it, then do it soon. Hernia can be treated by a simple surgery, so it's better to do it and get rid of the problem then suffer the pain for a long time.

If you want to find great information on different hernia subjects check out this link http://www.hernia-guide.com. You can find great content regarding Morgagni hernia, hernia surgery and many more.

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