What Is The Correlation Between Hiatal Hernia And Heart Burn?

Posted on Thu, 28 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 Answered on

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : What is the connection between hiatal hernia and heart burn?

Answered by Dr. V. N. S. Parinam (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Relationship between heart burn and hiatal hernia

Detailed Answer:
Hiatal hernia increases or precipitates heart burn.
Normally there is lower esophageal sphincter that protects the reflux of the acid back into the food pipe. Heart burn is generally a symptom of acid reflux.
Since a portion of the stomach or upper part to be precise keep slipping into the mediastinum above the diaphragm in hiatal hernia there is a loss of sphincter mechanism. This leads to reflux of the acid into the food pipe and more heart burn.

Hope this is clear.

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar