In a hiatal hernia parts of the stomach bulge up into the chest through the diaphragm at the site where the oesophagus enters the abdomen. It is also known as diaphragmatic hernia. It can be separated in two different types of hernia.
The oesophagus enters the abdomen through a gap in the diaphragm. In this gap it is secured with elastic fibres. These fibres can tire throughout life, the gap widens and parts of the stomach can bulge into the abdomen. It is also known as diaphragmatic hernia. If parts of the stomach bulge through the diaphragm together with the oesophagus, it is called axial hiatal hernia, if they bulge past the oesophagus into the abdomen, it is called para-oesophageal hernia.
Throughout life, the elastic fibres‘ functionality declines. Additional factors such as obesity, which increases pressure inside the abdomen, can cause this weakness to develop faster, resulting in a hiatal hernia sooner. Approximately every fifth adult suffers from hiatal hernia. Many patients experience heartburn, because gastric juices can enter the oesophagus easier. Para-oesophageal hernia causes mainly symptoms due to displacement of and pressure on the abdominal organs, especially swallowing disorders and belching, but also cardiac arrhythmias.
Treatment generally begins with a gastroscopy. This way, a hiatal hernia can be diagnosed, but the form can’t be verified. Nonetheless, the gastroscopy is important to rule out other conditions or complications such as gastric ulcers. An x-ray in combination with swallowing a contrast medium allows the differentiation in axial or para-oesophageal hernia, or a combination of both. The treatment depends on this differentiation. An axial hiatal hernia that causes no symptoms usually doesn’t need treatment. In case of oesophageal hernia, a combination, or an axial hiatal hernia that causes symptoms, surgery should be considered to avoid complications and consequential damages.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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