I believe you're referring to a hiatal hernia. This type of hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm. The diaphragm, which is a large muscle that expands the lungs during an inhaled breath, has a small opening (known as the esophageal hiatus) through which a person's esophagus (food tube) passes on its way to the stomach. But if a muscle tear or weakness occurs in this area, the stomach can push up through that opening and cause a bulge known as a hiatal hernia.
This type of hernia normally doesn't cause any problems if it's small. But if a person has a large hiatal hernia, food and stomach acid can back up into the esophagus and cause heartburn, nausea and acid reflux. The pressure
Although it's not always clear what causes a hiatal hernia, some possible causes are:
People who smoke, are obese or are over 50 years old tend to be more prone to hiatal hernia.
Treatment typically involves medication, and self-help remedies such as avoiding food that causes heartburn, not lying down right after eating, avoiding fatty foods, losing weight (if a person is overweight), and reducing stress. In severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the hernia.
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