Hiatal hernia is something many people don’t know about until they start feeling strange pain. Maya, a 38-year-old woman, began to feel a burning pain in the middle of her chest. Sometimes, the pain moved to the top of her stomach. At first, she thought it was just gas or something she ate. But the pain didn’t go away. It got worse when she lay down after meals. She also had a heavy feeling in her chest, like something was pushing up from her stomach. The pain made her uncomfortable and sometimes even made it hard to breathe deeply.
After visiting the doctor, she found out she had a hiatal hernia. This happens when the top part of the stomach pushes through a small opening in the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest from the stomach). This opening is called the hiatus. Because the stomach moves where it shouldn’t be, it can cause pain, burning, or pressure. Source
Understanding where this pain is felt and how it affects women can help you know when to seek medical help and how to manage the symptoms. In this article, we will discuss where hiatal hernia pain is commonly located in women, what it feels like, and why it happens. We’ll also talk about symptoms to watch for and when to see a doctor.
A hiatal hernia happens when the top part of your stomach pushes through a muscle called the diaphragm. The diaphragm separates your chest from your belly. There is a small hole in the diaphragm called the hiatus. The oesophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) passes through this hole. In a hiatal hernia, part of the stomach moves up through this hole into your chest. A small hiatal hernia usually doesn’t cause any problems. Many people don’t even know they have it until a doctor finds it while checking for something else. But a large hiatal hernia can cause heartburn, because food and acid can move back up into the oesophagus. You can often treat it with simple self-care or medicine. In serious cases, surgery may be needed. Source
There are two main types: sliding hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hiatal hernias. Most people have the sliding kind, which is type 1. All of the other three types are paraesophageal hernias.
Type 1: Type 1 also called a sliding hiatal hernia — is the most common type, making up 95% of all hiatal hernias. In this type, the part of your oesophagus that connects to your stomach slides up through the hiatus (the small hole) and then slides back down. Source
Type 2: Types 2 and 4 are called paraesophageal hiatal hernias. “Paraesophageal” means “beside the oesophagus.” In type 2, the upper part of your stomach pushes up through the hiatus next to your oesophagus, making a bulge beside it. This is also called a rolling hiatal hernia.
Type 3: Type 3 is a mix of the first two types. The part of your oesophagus that connects to your stomach called the gastroesophageal junction, slides up through the hiatus. At the same time, another part of your stomach also bulges through, next to the gastroesophageal junction.
Type 4: Type 4 is rare, but it can be more serious. In this type, the hiatus is wide enough for two different organs to push through. The hernia includes your stomach and another organ from your belly, like your intestine, pancreas, or spleen.
The pain from a hiatal hernia can feel different for everyone. But in women, it often happens in certain areas because of how the body is affected. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Chest Pain
Many women feel a burning or tight feeling in the chest, which is often confused with heartburn or even heart problems. This pain happens because stomach acid moves up into the food pipe (oesophagus) due to the hernia. The pain can get worse after eating big meals or when lying down.
Upper Abdomen Pain
Pain in the upper belly, just under the ribs, is also common. This happens because the stomach pushes upward and puts pressure on nearby areas. Women often say this pain feels dull, cramp-like, or doesn’t go away easily.
Back Pain
Though not very common, some women feel pain in the back. This is called referred pain. It can feel like a spreading ache between the shoulder blades or in the middle of the back.
Throat Discomfort
Some women feel like there’s a lump or tightness in their throat, especially after eating. This happens when acid reflux causes the food pipe to get irritated.
So, where is hiatal hernia pain located on a woman? It usually affects the chest, upper belly, mid-back, and throat. The pain can change based on things like how much you eat, how you sit or lie down, and how bad the hernia is. If you have these symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor to find out what’s wrong and how to treat it. Source
A hernia can happen when there is a weak spot in the tissues that separate different parts of your body. This weak spot creates a small opening where a hernia can push through. A hiatal hernia comes through a natural opening called the esophageal hiatus, where your food pipe (oesophagus) goes through the diaphragm. This opening doesn’t need to get very big just a little wider can let a hiatal hernia happen.
Sometimes, a specific injury, surgery, or even a birth defect causes the weakness that leads to a hernia. But most often, it happens slowly, from years of pressure and strain on your body. Anything that puts extra pressure in your belly over time can make the diaphragm weak. Some common things that cause this pressure and help lead to a hiatal hernia are:
Chronic coughing or sneezing (that means it happens often).
Straining too hard to poop, like with constipation.
Being very overweight (body mass index, or BMI, over 30).
Throwing up often (frequent vomiting).
Lifting heavy things or doing hard workouts.
Being pregnant or giving birth. Source
Doctors find hiatal hernias on women by looking at pictures of your oesophagus and stomach. Sometimes, they find the hernia by accident while checking for something else. If they are checking for a hernia on purpose, it's usually because you have signs of acid reflux. They might start with a test called an esophageal pH test to see if there's acid in your food pipe. If acid is found, they’ll do more tests to see why it’s happening.
Tests that can find a hiatal hernia include:
Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray takes still, black-and-white pictures of the inside of your chest, where your oesophagus is.
Esophagram: This is like a moving X-ray of your oesophagus. It shows a video of what happens inside your body when you swallow.
Upper endoscopy: This test uses a tiny camera on a long tube to go inside your oesophagus and stomach. It shows live pictures on a screen.
Esophageal manometry: This test uses a thin tube in your oesophagus to check the pressure of your muscles. It turns the pressure into a colourful map to help doctors understand how your oesophagus works. Source
Most people with a hiatal hernia don’t have any symptoms and don’t need treatment. But if you have symptoms like heartburn or acid reflux, you may need medicine or sometimes surgery.
Medicine
If you have heartburn and acid reflux, your doctor may suggest:
Antacids that lower stomach acid. These work fast and can give quick relief. But using too many antacids can cause side effects like diarrhoea or sometimes kidney problems.
Medicines that lower acid production. These are called H-2-receptor blockers. They include cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), and nizatidine (Axid AR). Stronger versions need a doctor’s prescription.
Medicines that block acid and help heal the oesophagus. These are called proton pump inhibitors. They are stronger than H-2 blockers and help the oesophagus heal. You can buy some types without a prescription, like lansoprazole (Prevacid 24HR) and omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid). Stronger types are available from a doctor.
Surgery
Sometimes, surgery is needed for a hiatal hernia. Surgery may help people who don’t feel better with medicines. It may also help people with serious problems like swelling or narrowing in the oesophagus. Surgery for a hiatal hernia may include pulling the stomach down into the belly and making the opening in the diaphragm smaller. It may also include changing the shape of the muscles at the bottom of the oesophagus. This helps stop food and acid from coming back up. Sometimes, the hernia surgery is done at the same time as weight-loss surgery, like a sleeve gastrectomy.
Doctors can do surgery through one cut in the chest, called a thoracotomy. Or they can do it with laparoscopy, which uses a small camera and tools through a few small cuts in the belly. The surgeon sees the inside of the body on a video screen and does the surgery with those tools. Source
If you’re experiencing symptoms of hiatal hernia, it's important to seek advice from qualified healthcare professionals. At heal private, we offer personalised consultants for women dealing with this condition. Our expert consultants will take the time to understand your unique situation and provide you with professional, tailored care.
We ensure that you receive immediate attention without long waiting times, so you can start your journey to better health right away. Whether you need guidance on managing symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux, or require a treatment plan for surgery or medication, our team is here to help. Consulting with our experts means having access to the latest treatments, advice, and ongoing support, all in a private and comfortable setting. Don’t wait to get the care you deserve each out today and let us assist you in taking control of your health.