For General Practitioners
Patient Information Fact Sheets
- Achalasia
- Anal Fissures
- Barrett's Oesophagus
- Bowel Cancer
- Coeliac Disease
- Colorectal Cancer (Bowel Cancer) Screening
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis
(Diverticular Disease) - Dysphagia
(Difficulty Swallowing) - Gallstones
- Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers ("Peptic Ulcers")
- Haemorrhoids
- Helicobacter pylori
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Hiatus Hernia
- Inoperable Gastrointestinal Malignancies
- Intestinal Parasites
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Peptic Oesophageal Strictures
- Reflux Disease
- Sedation for Endoscopy and Colonoscopy
- Ulcerative Colitis
- What is Colonoscopy?
- What is Endoscopy?
- What is Gastroscopy?
Hiatus Hernia
What is a hiatus hernia?
Normally, the junction between the food pipe (oesophagus) and the stomach is at the level of the diaphragm. When this junction (the gastro-oesophageal junction) moves up through the diaphragm taking with it some of the stomach, a hiatus hernia is present.
What causes a hiatus hernia?
With age, the elasticity of the diaphragm and supporting structures is reduced and thus the gastro-oesophageal junction and stomach can move up ("herniated") into the chest cavity. Hiatus hernias occur in about 20% of the population and frequently cause no symptoms.
What are the symptoms of a hiatus hernia?
Hiatus hernias are frequently associated with "reflux" where the stomach contents move up into the oesophagus. This gives symptoms of heartburn and indigestion.
What are the complications of a hiatus hernia?
Complications include:
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Ulceration and bleeding
- Fibrous narrowing of the oesophagus
(further information on fibrous narrowing of the oesophagus is available under Peptic Oesophageal Strictures Patient Information Fact Sheet