Asthma and hiatus hernia

[Triobolium]

I have had a hiatus hernia for many years now and I wonder if this is common for asthmatics? It became apparent after a prolonged chest infection years ago when I just couldn't stop coughing.

[Lynkeogh]

Yes I think it’s often the case. I too have had severe asthma in the last few years (47 years ago I was diagnosed) I have been hospitalised twice I also have Barrett’s syndrome due to reflux. Waiting for an operation to repair my hiatus hernia but due to Covid then being diagnosed with severe anaemia my op is now on hold until they investigate the cause of my anaemia. I would suggest you ask your doctor to check for Barrett’s if you have reflux or Gerd hope this helps lynx

[Poobah]

I think there have only been small studies into the link between HH and asthma. What has been acknowledged is the high occurrence of HH in asthmatics who suffer with GERD. I have an HH but don't know how long I've had that, spotted in my twenties. My mum had HH too but didn't have asthma. One small study of 54 children with asthma showed 48% had a HH, whereas the occurrence in the control group was 13.5%. So not everyone with a HH has asthma but it certainly doesn't help if you're asthmatic with a HH as it's likely to cause GERD which is an irritant or trigger. And being overweight doesn't help anyone with a HH and the instances of GERD.

[nurse_ninja]

Hi Triobolium! I too, have asthma. Last year, I had an open hernia repair for umbilical hernia. My surgeon said, it was an asthma exasperation which caused it. The constant cough torn the muscle. I have a brand new belly button. Lol.

[Triobolium in reply to nurse_ninja]

Hi Nurse Ninja, yes I am not too surprised, the coughing seems to account for a lot of the problems. I get stinging in my throat now, had it checked out about 5 years ago and the Consultant said it was a combination of the acid reflux and my chronic rhinitis and mucus from asthma.

[Echoblue]

My husband and I each have a hiatus hernia. I have severe asthma and he doesn’t. He has the more severe symptoms of acid reflux than me. It may just be a coincidence thing that you are seeing as many people do appear to have a HH of varying degrees.

I do however like your trend of thinking and I am always happy to keep an open mind as we could hit on something that links/unlocks a key to helping us move forward with diagnosis/treatment/symptom alleviation 🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Triobolium in reply to Echoblue]

Hi Echoblue, yes it would be good to piece everything together.

[twinkly29]

As Lynkeogh mentions above, it can be linked to conditions involving acid reflux, probably particularly long term issues. I suspect these conditions are more likely to be related to hiatus hernia than asthma itself - looking at other people's posts the reflux type conditions seem the common denominator. It might be worth having these investigated (or reinvestigated) as such conditions can very often also cause symptoms that appear to be like asthma symptoms but don't respond to asthma medications - so thinking to your post where you mentioned that salbutamol has never helped you even not showing an improvement on breathing tests, it's possible that some of your asthma symptoms are not always the asthma itself but something linked to your hiatus hernia. Sometimes difficult to unpick but maybe worth investigating as could be easily improved?

[Triobolium in reply to twinkly29]

Hi twinkly29, I had bad asthma as a child and after my lung function tests they said because it wasn't controlled throughout the 1960s it had caused damage, hence a reduced lung function.

[twinkly29 in reply to Triobolium]

Oh I'm not saying it's not asthma but if you do have a hiatus hernia (and so possible acid reflux issues as they go hand in hand) then those symptoms can appear similar. Maybe you're already on treatment for it of course but if not it would at least eliminate the non-asthma coughing so at least then you've only got the asthma side to deal with.

[AutumnHedgerow]

Another hiatus hernia here, diagnosed post the late onset more difficult asthma diagnosis. There is a little film somewhere on t’internet about asthma sufferers in the US whose asthma was cured by an operation that repaired a faulty stomach valve connecting with the oesophagus (don’t know the name). It seemed to be quite miraculous, so much so I discussed the possibility with a doctor friend, who somewhat poo-pooed it, saying that you really should avoid surgical intervention if at all possible. Looking forward to more research on the matter.