Do you also have a hiatal hernia that comes with chest pain? Let's talk about food and drink!

Do you also often feel a burning sensation in your chest and a sour taste in your throat? Your doctor may have told you that you have a "Hiatal Hernia". Many people with this condition do not show any symptoms. However, for someone who has symptoms, the food you eat can determine whether that day is a good day or a bad day. So today, let's talk about how to change your eating habits to control heartburn and acid reflux as a person with this Hiatal Hernia condition.

Simply put, what is a hiatal hernia?

Imagine, there is a muscular partition between our chest and stomach, or rather, between the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. We call this the diaphragm. The food we eat goes from our throat to our stomach, that is, our stomach, through a small hole in the middle of this diaphragm. This is called the esophagus . Now, in a Hiatal Hernia , a small part of your stomach pushes up through the hole in the diaphragm, that is, into the chest. When this happens, the acids in the stomach are more likely to come back up and into the throat along that food pipe. That is what we call heartburn or acid indigestion . The best thing is that most of these symptoms can be controlled by changing your diet and lifestyle.

Foods and drinks that can increase symptoms

There are certain foods that are highly acidic, or that weaken the valve at the bottom of our esophagus (the Lower Esophageal Sphincter). When this valve is weakened, it becomes easier for stomach acid to come up. This can cause heartburn. See the table below. Some of these may not be a problem for you, but these are the things that usually increase symptoms.

So, what should we eat? Foods that reduce symptoms

Now you're probably thinking, "Oh, so there's nothing to eat?" No, there are plenty of foods that you can eat without any problems, are low in acidity, and don't trigger heartburn. Below is a list of foods that usually do not cause problems.

Keep these things in mind when preparing food.

Just as choosing foods is important, how you cook them is also very important. Here are some tips that can help you:

• Baking, grilling, or steaming is much better than frying .
• When cooking meat, remove the layer of fat that rises to the top.
• It's okay to use a little bit of non-spicy spices, but don't add too much spice .
• Coconut milk is an indispensable ingredient in our meals.Instead, use less condensed milk and more evaporated milk .
• When boiling vegetables , boil them in water only. Reduce the use of butter , oil, and cream sauces as much as possible .
• If you're sautéing something with oil, it's best to use cooking spray instead of oil.

Let's change not only food, but also these habits!

Even small changes in your lifestyle can greatly reduce this chest inflammation.

• Don't eat until your stomach is full. Instead of eating a large meal at once, eat small meals several times a day. Also, eat frequently. Eating quickly can also increase heartburn .
• Don't lie down or go to sleep right after eating. Wait at least 3 hours.
• Don't get down too quickly after eating.
• If you smoke , stop it completely.
• If you are overweight, try to lose weight .
• Don't wear tight clothing that squeezes your stomach. It puts unnecessary pressure on your stomach.
• When sleeping at night, elevate the head of the bed about 6-8 inches . This can be done by placing something sturdy, such as a wooden block, under the legs of the bed. Elevating your head with pillows alone usually does not provide relief.

If your symptoms do not improve after doing all of this, or if you need more relief, be sure to see your doctor. You may need over-the-counter antacids or other medications that your doctor may prescribe. In very rare cases, surgery may be necessary. Only your doctor can give you the best advice on this. Hiatal Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, Heartburn, Acid Reflux, Diet, Gastritis, Symptoms, Lifestyle