When is GP consultation recommended for hiatus hernia?

A hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach moves through the opening in the diaphragm. It can make it easier for stomach contents to flow back into the oesophagus, causing heartburn, a sour taste, regurgitation, bloating, or discomfort after meals. Some people have no symptoms. A GP can assess the pattern, check for other causes, and decide whether medicine, tests, or specialist advice is appropriate.

Keep a short record of meals, symptoms, lying down, and any relief from medicines. Smaller meals, avoiding food shortly before sleep, raising the head of the bed, and identifying personal triggers may reduce reflux for some people. Arrange a GP visit if symptoms keep returning, disturb sleep, require frequent pharmacy treatment, or make eating difficult. Take any medicines or antacids you use to the appointment.

Seek urgent care for chest pain with sweating, breathlessness, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, because this can be a heart emergency rather than reflux. Prompt assessment is also needed for vomiting blood, black stools, repeated vomiting, sudden severe pain, or food becoming stuck. Unintentional weight loss or worsening swallowing difficulty should be assessed without delay.

Ask whether your symptoms fit hiatus hernia or another condition, how long to use any acid-reducing medicine, whether testing is needed, and which foods or medicines may worsen reflux. Ask what to do if swallowing becomes harder or symptoms return after treatment.