Hiatal Hernia Causes

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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A hernia is a condition where an organ and/or other bodily tissues have broken through a natural barrier such as a wall of muscle. They are not usually dangerous, and are often not even painful, and many people will have a hernia for a long time without even being aware of it.

A hiatal hernia occurs when the top part of the stomach protrudes through the hiatus, which is a hole in the diaphragm. This can cause some unwelcome symptoms in some cases, but the patient will often not feel a thing. Treatment is available if necessary, but doctors will often decide against it.

1. Trauma

One way to acquire a hiatal hernia is through picking up an injury. Trauma can cause pressure on the abdomen area that forces the stomach through the hiatus, causing the hernia. In addition, an injury may also cause damage to the hiatus, making it larger and allowing the stomach to protrude through it more easily.

Depending on the nature of the injury, the hernia might go unnoticed and the patient will often experience no symptoms at all. If the patient has received significant trauma to the area, however, then medical professionals might want to investigate the area thoroughly, potentially revealing the hernia.