Hiatal Hernia Symptoms

Hiatal hernia is characterized by the movement of the upper part of the stomach through the diaphragm, hence entering the chest cavity or the pleura. The diaphragm delineates the pleura from the abdominal cavity and is responsible for helping the lungs expand and compress during breathing.

There are two types of hiatal hernia: sliding and paraesophageal hernia. This condition is usually asymptomatic, that’s why most people with this sickness find out only after they have gone to the doctor for a check-up. But symptoms may begin to show once the patient undergoes a condition termed as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GER, which shows symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, hemorrhage, and some chest pains. Regurgitation is a symptom of sliding hernia, while hemorrhage is a sign of paraesophageal hernia.