Follow up question about hiatal hernia and weight lifting

[Uringl2]

Hi HFHSM.D. Thank you for sharing your expertise about hiatal hernia. In relation to Cathy’s question, I also have hiatus/hiatal hernia. After years of acid reflux, then GERD, I finally was diagnosed with hiatal hernia through an endoscopy procedure. I believed that this hernia is causing these reflux symptoms. I can also feel chest pains, and upper mid abdominal sharp pains.

Lately, I was doing some weight lifting – bench press. After about three weeks of daily 10-15 minutes routine of bench press every morning right after I wake up, I started feeling chest pains and mild nausea. I am not sure if it’s the muscles improving or my hiatal hernia worsening or just my acid reflux. (I’m confused) Since you said that there are currently no known ways of strengthening exercises that reverse this disorder, are there any physical restrictions that we should be aware of? Is bench press specifically, exacerbates or worsens hiatal hernia? How about any lifting? Can a mild congenital hiatus hernia have a possibility to become paraesophageal?



This discussion is related to Can the muscles/ligaments be strengthened to reverse a sliding hiatal hernia?.