A condition known as hiatal or stomach hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the chest due to an opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest and stomach. There are two types of stomach hernias: sliding hiatus hernia and para-esophageal hiatus hernia. The most common type is the former, which accounts for 80% of the reported cases. The latter is a less observed form but is of more concern.

Hiatal hernia
Typically, the connection between your food pipe (esophagus) and stomach passes through the hiatus. However, in a hernia, the lower portion of the esophagus and stomach move upwards into the chest through the diaphragm. These parts can sometimes end up next to each other, causing the stomach to become compressed and perhaps cutting off its blood supply.

Symptoms
Typically, people with hiatal hernia don’t experience any significant symptoms, but if they do, it is because of stomach acid, bile, or air entering the esophagus. Some common symptoms are:

• Heartburn
• Regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth
• Counterflux of gastric acid into the esophagus (acid reflux)
• Having difficulty swallowing
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Feeling full immediately after eating
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting of blood or passing of black feces

Causes
Doctors are not sure what causes hiatus hernia but here’re some possible reasons that might include:

• Born with a large hiatal opening
• Injury to the area
• Changes in the diaphragm as one gets older
• Abdominal pressure arising from pregnancy, high BMI levels, coughing, heavy lifting, or straining when defecating

Diagnosis
If the doctor suspects that you might have a stomach hernia, he will most likely recommend some tests to confirm the diagnosis. It may include:

• Barium swallow
  Consuming a liquid containing barium allows for more visibility of the body parts on an X-ray. This helps the physician to have a better view of the esophagus and stomach.
• Endoscopy
  An endoscope with a camera is inserted through the mouth during a medical procedure to capture images of the esophagus and stomach.
• Esophageal manometry
  When you swallow, a unique tube is inserted into the throat to measure the pressure in the esophagus.
• pH test
  This test is used to determine the acidity levels in the esophagus.

Treatment
People who have hiatal hernia and stay asymptomatic don’t require treatment. If you experience any indications, consult with your doctor to receive a diagnosis and therapy.

Surgery
When other treatments fail to relieve heartburn and acid reflux, or when there are complications like significant inflammation or esophageal narrowing, surgery is usually the only option. The surgical procedure for treating a hiatal hernia may necessitate repositioning the stomach into the abdomen, reducing the opening in the diaphragm, or reconstructing an esophageal sphincter.

Remedies
These natural remedies are effective in relieving the symptoms of hernia:

• Ice packs
  Applying ice packs to the affected area will help reduce inflammation by triggering contraction.
• Aloe vera juice
  Its anti-inflammatory property helps in reducing inflammation occurring during hernia.
• Black pepper
  It helps in the healing of the areas affected by the protrusion of organs.
• Lifestyle changes
  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and balanced meal routine can also help reduce the risk of developing hiatal hernias.