WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HIATAL HERNIA?
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May 31, 2010 | By
A hiatal hernia is a condition that occurs when the upper portion of the stomach protrudes into an opening of the diaphragm called the hiatus. When this occurs, stomach acid leaks back up into the esophagus, causing bothersome symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint a single underlying cause of a hiatal hernia as they can develop as a product of multiple lifestyle, behavioral and congenital factors.
MUSCLE WEAKNESS
Weak muscle tissue surrounding the hiatus can cause a hiatal hernia. According to the National Institutes of Health, these muscles are naturally more likely to weaken with increasing age. Certain health conditions, such as obesity and lifestyle choices like smoking, can also cause a weakening or thinning of the tissue around the esophagus. The Cleveland Clinic notes that injury to the area around the esophagus may also theoretically cause a weakening of this muscle tissue.
CONGENITAL CAUSES
A hiatal hernia can be a congenital condition that is present at birth. According to the National Institutes of Health, most cases of hiatal hernias that are diagnosed among children are congenital in nature, caused by a random chromosomal or genetic defect, or a problem that occurred while the fetus was in the womb. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD--a condition in which food, liquid and stomach acid leak backward into the esophagus because the sphincter muscle that normally prevents backflow fails to work properly--is commonly associated with hiatal hernia in infants.
Some people are also born with an abnormally large hiatus. According to the Mayo Clinic, a large opening in the diaphragm makes it more likely that the stomach will bulge upward into the opening, spilling its contents and stomach acid backward and up into the esophagus.
Some people are also born with an abnormally large hiatus. According to the Mayo Clinic, a large opening in the diaphragm makes it more likely that the stomach will bulge upward into the opening, spilling its contents and stomach acid backward and up into the esophagus.
PRESSURE OR STRAINING
Some doctors and researchers believe that chronic and unrelenting pressure, or pressure that suddenly increases to extreme levels, may cause a hiatal hernia. For example, excessive weight and fat around the organs and abdominal region associated with obesity can put unusual pressure on the abdomen and surrounding muscles, increasing the risk of hiatal hernia, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Women who are pregnant and gain substantial amounts of weight may also increase their risk. Coughing, straining to lift something heavy, vomiting, overexerting oneself during physical exercise, or even straining during a bowel movement or during delivery of a baby, may all put intense and abrupt pressure on the muscles around the hiatus, diaphragm and stomach, again increasing the risk of hernia.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/135739-what-are-causes-hiatal-hernia/#ixzz2B5xQHr1j
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