After enjoying a hearty meal at your friend’s birthday party, you suddenly experience a painful sensation in the center of your chest. Could it be heartburn flaring up, or is it something more serious? While heartburn and regurgitation are often associated with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), they don’t necessarily mean you have this condition. A large hiatal hernia can also cause food and acid to back up into your esophagus, resulting in similar symptoms. So, how can you differentiate between simple indigestion and a hernia? Let’s find out more from India’s leading laparoscopic surgeon for hernia Dr Amita Jain in this blog.
What is a Hernia?
When part of your insides bulges through an opening or weakness in the muscle or tissue that contains it, a hernia occurs. Though there are various types of hernias the most common typically appear in the belly or groin areas.
Various symptoms like heartburn or chest pain, sore throat, frequent burping, difficulty swallowing, and regurgitation of sour liquids or foods often overlap with hiatal hernia.
What is a Hiatal Hernia?
When a hiatal hernia occurs, the upper part of the stomach bulges through a large muscle called the diaphragm. This muscle separates the abdomen and chest. The diaphragm has a small opening known as a hiatus. Through this hiatus, the esophagus, the tube for swallowing food, passes before reaching the stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes up through this opening into the chest cavity.
What is indigestion?
Indigestion on the other hand is discomfort in the stomach caused by difficulty in digesting food and feeling overly full. It can lead to acid reflux, which feels like pain behind the breastbone. Acid reflux symptoms include throat pain, especially after bending or lying down, and a bitter taste in the throat, often triggered by large or spicy meals.
Chronic indigestion occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a circular muscle at the end of the esophagus, fails to tighten properly, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. This malfunction, which can also happen with a hiatal hernia, leads to symptoms such as feeling a lump in the throat, worsening heartburn after meals or at night, persistent cough or laryngitis, disrupted sleep, and exacerbation of asthma symptoms. These symptoms help distinguish chronic indigestion or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from a hiatal hernia.
Treatment for hiatal hernia and indigestion often involves lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding trigger foods, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight. Medications may also be prescribed to manage symptoms.
In severe cases or when conservative treatments fail, surgery may be necessary to repair the hernia and alleviate symptoms. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and management of hiatal hernia and indigestion symptoms.
Therefore we can see that differentiating between indigestion and a hiatal hernia can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms. While both conditions may cause discomfort and acid reflux, understanding their distinct characteristics and seeking medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment is essential for effective management and relief of symptoms.
Dr Amita Jain is a surgeon with highest degree of professional competence, precision and surgical craftsmanship. Performed all complicated general surgery procedures with in depth knowledge of invasive and few minimal invasive and onco surgical techniques. Underwent special training in trauma, executed various trauma-related complex life-saving neurosurgical procedures, reconstructed injured mangled limbs and performed vascular and reconstructive procedures with critical care.
Dr Amita Jain holds 28 plus years of rich experience in Trauma and General Laparoscopic Surgeries (including Gallbladder stone removal, appendix removal, hernia repair surgery, piles and fissure surgeries). She was the Professor Surgery of at the Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital Delhi Cantt. In 1994 she was commissioned as Surgeon under the United Nations Mission in Congo. From 2020 to 2022, she worked with Bansals Hospital. Currently, Dr Amita Jain is the Senior Consultant, (Speciality: General and Laparoscopic Surgeon) at Artemis Lite Hospital, New Delhi