WHAT IS GERD?
GERD stands for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroesophageal reflux is the return of the stomach’s contents back up into the esophagus.
WHAT IS HIATAL HERNIA / HIATUS HERNIA / STOMACH HERNIA?
Normally stomach is situated inside the abdomen while the oesophagus is inside the thorax (chest cavity ). In some cases upper part of stomach is pushed into the thorax, the condition is called Hiatal/ Hiatus Hernia, which has symptoms same as GERD. There are two main types of hiatal hernias: sliding hernia ( The stomach and the section of the esophagus that joins the stomach slide up into the chest through the hiatus).and paraesophageal (The esophagus and stomach stay in their normal locations, but part of the ,stomach squeezes through the hiatus, landing it next to the esophagus).
WHAT ARE GERD/ HIATAL HERNIA SYMPTOMS?
- A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to your throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth.
- Chest pain.
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Dry cough.
- Hoarseness or sore throat.
- Regurgitation of food or sour liquid (acid reflux)
- Sensation of a lump in your throat