Do you have any recommendations for hiatus hernia?

The hole in the diaphragm that allows the oesophagus to carry food and liquid into the stomach is called a hiatus. If this hole becomes weak and gets bigger, a portion of the stomach may move up into the chest cavity. This is a hiatus hernia. There is no known cause, but it is believed to be hereditary or possibly caused by obesity or straining during exercise. It is quite a common condition.

Symptoms include chronic heartburn and belching, associated with inflammation of the oesophagus; ulceration of the lower oesophagus; anaemia, caused by bleeding of the lower oesophagus; scarring and the narrowing of the lower oesophagus, causing problems in swallowing food.

Guidelines for relieving some of the symptoms of hiatus hernia include avoiding foods and substances that tend to cause heartburn/reflux problems. These include nicotine, caffeine, chocolate, fatty foods, peppermint, spearmint, alcohol, spicy foods, fizzy drinks, some citrus fruits and tomato based foods. Chronic or recurring heartburn should never be treated lightly. Attend a GP to rule out serious illness.

Eat small, more frequent meals and include a small piece of fresh papaya or pineapple in your meal to aid digestion. Refrain from late night snacks. Drinking raw potato juice may help with heartburn. Raw potato juice has to be diluted with equal amounts of water and drunk immediately after preparation. A glass of cabbage and celery juice every day can be very helpful for heartburn. Aloe Vera juice aids in the healing of the digestive tract and herbal teas of ginger, chamomile and marshmallow root act as a buffer to stop heartburn.

Avoid strenuous lifting, bending or stooping. Wear loose clothing and avoid tight belts and girdles. A weight reduction programme will also help a lot, as does acupuncture. Lying on your left hand side can help relieve heartburn and elevating your head when in bed by putting pillows or a wedge under the mattress, can help prevent reflux.

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