Hiatal hernia is a condition that affects the esophagus. It occurs when part of the stomach pushes through a hole in the diaphragm into the chest cavity.
In the United States alone, about 20 million people are affected by the condition. While most people don’t experience any symptoms, some may feel a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen near the heart. Others may experience regurgitation of food from the esophagus into the mouth (called reflux) after eating or lying down quickly after eating.
This can be painful, primarily when someone lies down or bends over. The condition may be treated with home remedies, natural treatments, and surgery, depending on the severity. Treatment may not be needed for those that show no discomfort. If a physician diagnoses a hiatal hernia, a patient will be referred to a surgeon for further evaluation.
Here are a couple of things at home to help alleviate and treat the symptoms of a hiatal hernia.
Drink a Lot of Water
Drinking a lot of water is one of the best ways to treat hiatal hernias. It’s one of the first things doctors recommend for patients with this condition. Drining at least eight glasses of water daily is recommended, but more is always better.
Drinking water before meals helps prevent overeating by making an individual feel fuller and faster and reducing hunger pains. This also helps stop heartburn by decreasing the acid released into the esophagus while eating. However, more food means more acid production, which may cause further damage.
Drinking during meals can help reduce heartburn by diluting stomach acids before reaching the esophagus. However, if a person is eating spicy or fatty foods, they require extra work from bile acids to break down properly. Also, some people have less bile than others.
If an individual feels thirsty during the day, they should grab something cold and drink up! This will hydrate them without filling up on empty calories, which could lead anyone back around again.
