A hernia is a condition in which a part of an organ pushes through the opening of the organ wall made up of muscle tissue or membranous material. The most common site for hernias to develop is the abdomen. Hernias may or may not display any outward symptoms. Hernias are usually treated surgically. If the blood supply at the herniated portion is cut off then it becomes a medical emergency. Muscle weakness and straining too hard at an activity can cause hernias. A person born with weak abdominal muscles is more likely to acquire the condition, particularly if he leads a sedentary lifestyle without any form of exercise.
The stomach is a muscular sac that lies between the esophagus and the small intestine in the upper abdomen. The stomach is not the only part of your digestive system that absorbs food but rather is a part of the digestive system and important for churning food into a consistency that is easier to digest for the rest of your intestines.
The incidence of hiatal hernia increases with age and occurs in approximately 10% of the adult population. In patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal x-ray examination, with abdominal compression hiatus hernia was diagnosed in half of the patients undergoing the study. Approximately 95-99% of all hiatal hernias are type I (sliding) are either asymptomatic or cause symptoms of reflux that are treated by medicines.
The hiatus is a normal opening in the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen which moves up and down with breathing. Although the hiatus is a normal opening, there are occasions when this opening enlarges and the stomach or other organs can slip up inside the chest. This occasion of an abnormally large opening of the hiatus is called a hiatal hernia. Paraesophageal hernias account for only 5% of all hiatal hernias. A paraesophageal hernia is a type of hiatal hernia where the junction of the stomach and the esophagus remains in place, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus.
The esophagus is a relatively simple organ but it does have several locations where problems are more likely. The most problematic area is at the bottom (technically, in the lower thoracic section) where the esophagus connects with the stomach – the gastroesophageal junction. At the junction is the lower gastroesophageal sphincter, a hole into the stomach controlled by a set of muscles that opens to allow food to enter the stomach, and closes to prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus. When this sphincter is not functioning properly, especially as a chronic long-term condition, there are many potential problems, some of which may lead to cancer.
From the back of the mouth (the pharynx) to the top of the stomach, the esophagus is a muscular tube for foods and liquids. It’s relatively tough and resilient as organs go, built to take most of the material human beings ingest. For the most part, it’s not a very complicated organ. Depending on the height of the person, it’s about 10 inches long (25 cm) and 1 inch in diameter (2-3 cm). The esophagus’ geography usually divides into three sections: cervical at the top, thoracic in the middle, and abdominal at the bottom.
The hiatus is a normal opening in the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen which moves up and down with breathing. Although the hiatus is a normal opening, there are occasions when this opening enlarges and the stomach or other organs can slip up inside the chest. This occasion of an abnormally large opening of the hiatus is called a hiatal hernia. Paraesophageal hernias account for only 5% of all hiatal hernias. A paraesophageal hernia is a type of hiatal hernia where the junction of the stomach and the esophagus remains in place, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus.
