Heartburn/GERD Health Center
Understanding Hiatal Hernia - Prevention
How Can I Prevent a Hiatal Hernia?
To prevent symptoms of a hiatal hernia:
- Wear loose clothing. Anything that presses on the stomach can aggravate hiatal hernia symptoms.
- When your stomach is full, avoid bending over or lying down. This increases abdominal pressure and makes gravity work against you, so heartburn is more likely.
- Do not bend over or lie down for 2-3 hours after eating.
To prevent hiatal hernia:
- Maintain a reasonable weight.
- Don't smoke.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Martin E. Zipser, MD on December 15, 2008
© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

