You may have heard of a hernia, but did you know there are different kinds? Are you also aware of the symptoms of a hernia so that you can get the appropriate treatment if you do develop one? Let us give you the lowdown on this condition.
Boca Care Surgical Associates offers surgical treatment for hiatal hernias. Our provider, Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS, understands the needs of patients with this condition and can clearly tell you whether you have a hernia and whether it needs to—or doesn’t need to—be operated on right away.
A hernia occurs when tissue or an organ pushes through an unlikely or unnatural opening in the body. When this happens, you can experience many issues. But first, let’s discuss the types of abdominal hernias.
Depending on the situation, you may have a different type of hernia than someone else. Inguinal hernias are the most common type, but hiatal hernias, which we treat here at Boca Care Surgical Associates, are also very common.
Unfortunately, hiatal hernias often cause no or very few symptoms that would allow you to recognize them easily. If you feel a lump (as is usually a good way to identify a hernia), it probably isn’t this type of hernia. However, there are some ways you might be able to recognize the issue as a hiatal hernia.
For one, it usually causes or worsens the symptoms of GERD (or gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD causes heartburn, trouble swallowing, coughing, bad breath, difficulty breathing, and nausea or vomiting. It feels like constant acid reflux and can become worse due to certain triggers.
Another way to tell if you might have a hiatal hernia is if you’re experiencing these symptoms and you smoke or are overweight. People in these categories are more likely to experience a hiatal hernia. It’s important to remember, though, that you can’t diagnose yourself with a hiatal hernia. Only your provider can do this.
The first thing you should know about this surgery is that it’s the only way to get rid of a hiatal hernia. Other treatments may allow you to manage the symptoms or stave off additional issues, but a hernia won’t go away on its own.
If you’re currently dealing with a hiatal hernia that causes you few or no symptoms — or you can manage the symptoms you do have with lifestyle changes — you may not want to jump straight to surgery. But for those who are experiencing painful symptoms, surgery is the best, fastest answer that will allow you to get rid of the problem for good.
Surgery is usually not the first choice for someone with a hiatal hernia, but if you’re uncomfortable and regular lifestyle changes aren’t cutting it, it may be time to seek surgery. The best thing you can do is discuss this with your provider. They’ll be able to confidently say whether you have a hernia and if surgery is necessary.
You don’t have to live with the pain and discomfort sometimes caused by a hiatal hernia. If you’re not dealing with issues yet, at-home treatments may be helpful, but surgery will be the only way to fix the problem for good.
We’re happy to discuss your condition at our Boca Raton, FL, office. Just give us a call or make an appointment online. You’ll be glad you did.
