Hiatal hernia

from the abdomen to the chest, through a hole in the diaphragm. This hole is called the esophageal diaphragmatic hiatus and normally allows the esophagus to pass through the diaphragm. In the case of a hiatal hernia, a more or less substantial part of the stomach rises through this opening, triggering the typical symptoms of the disease. The hiatal hernia is a rather widespread pathology, considering that it affects on average about 15% of Italians. Doctors distinguish three different types of hiatal hernia: types: sliding hernia, rotation hernia, and mixed hernia.

. In the diaphragm there are various openings that allow the passage to vessels, nerves and other structures, which from the thoracic cavity lead to the abdominal cavity and vice versa. One of these openings, called the esophageal hiatus, allows the passage of the esophagus.

The walls of the esophageal hiatus are particularly narrow and adherent to the esophagus, precisely to prevent the stomach from sliding inside the chest. Sometimes, however, it can happen that the hiatus ends up relaxing or dilating, letting a more or less large portion of the stomach rise. Thus appears the hiatal hernia, which can be accompanied by various ailments, first of all a strong burning sensation in the pit of the stomach.

or overweight, it is in fact present in about 90% of cases.

In the sliding hernia, the part of the stomach that goes up into the thorax is that of passage between the esophagus and the stomach; this border region is called the gastroesophageal junction or cardia. Once the cardia rises upwards, being no longer compressed by the hiatus and undergoing a misalignment with respect to its natural position, it loses its function. Consequently, the cardia is no longer able to effectively prevent the ascent of the acid content of the stomach into the esophagus, resulting in gastroesophageal reflux, a typical disorder of the disease.