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Hiatal hernia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Hernia - hiatal

Symptoms:

Belching
Chest pain
Heartburn, worse when bending over or lying down
Swallowing difficulty

A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms -- pain and discomfort are usually due to the reflux of gastric acid, air, or bile. Reflux happens more easily when there is a hiatal hernia, though a hiatal hernia is not the only cause of reflux.

Signs and tests:

Barium swallow x-ray
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

Hiatal hernia - X-ray

Hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernia repair - series

Reviewed last on: 3/8/2008
Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier: 2008.

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