What is a Hiatal Hernia (in the stomach)?? What are the symptoms and what is it !
Question:
What is a Hiatal Hernia (in the stomach)?? What are the symptoms and what is it caused by?
I suspect that my sister is bulemic, she has been sick for a long time. She just had an endoscopy done and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia... and I am wondering if there may be a link?
Answers:
Yes bulimia can certainly contribute to the development of a hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia is when the stomach slips up through the hole in the diaphragm that the esophagus normally comes through. Frequent vomiting, which strains the gastroesophogeal junction, could weaken that area and cause a hernia. Symptoms are usually heartburn, nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort. The main thing that usually causes it is obesity.
Hiatal hernia is a common chronic condition, not an acute one. Normally nothing is done about it unless it is causing severe symptoms.