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Can stress trigger a hiatal hernia

By Anonymous November 17, 2017 - 2:28am
 
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I have a hiatal hernia i have noticed that when i get really stressed out it triggers it an the pain can be excruciating ive ended up in ER 2xs for this it starts usually w a really bad tightening across my chest an my sturnum then gets a feeling like a knife is in it an usually accompanied w a burning like my guts are on fire it is hard not to stress and i really concerned because nausea an pain an burning plus i have chronic gastritis i don't know what to do im going to see my primary on sat but im really scared

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HERWriter Guide

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

Emotional stress generally does not cause a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper part of the stomach moves up through a small opening in the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the muscular wall that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity.

It sounds like you may also have GERD (heartburn). Most people with hiatal hernias have no symptoms.

Symptoms may occur when stomach acid moves up into the esophagus (swallowing tube). This is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can cause:

Heartburn , especially after eating or lying down
Pain or discomfort in the stomach, chest, or esophagus
Belching
Hoarseness
Throat irritation (frequent clearing of the throat)
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
Bleeding from the stomach or esophagus

Anon, while stress does not cause this, it can certainly make things worse. Discuss this when you see your doctor tomorrow.

Best,
Susan

November 17, 2017 - 2:06pm
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