Thursday, September 06, 2007

Heavy smokers, obesity and increasing in age are main cause of hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernia is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest. Heavy smokers, obesity and increasing in age are the main cause of getting hiatal hernia. For people above the age of 50 are high risk of hiatal hernias as this coditions may cause reflux of gastric acid from the stomach into the esophagus.

Most of the symptoms are heartburn, bleching, chest pain and finding difficulty in swallowing. To reduce the pain is to avoid taking heavy meals at one time and bending and lying down after each heavy meals. If you notice a bulge or swelling in your groin, abdomen, scrotum, or thigh, you should talk to your doctor. Sometimes a hernia may also cause sharp or dull pain and the pain may worsen when you are standing.