Respiratory Complication
Many people are not likely to associate hernias with respiratory issues, although this is not as rare as it might sound. Hiatal hernias may cause acute and/or chronic respiratory distress, coughing more precisely, though often it is asymptomatic. This occurs as the contents of the stomach (i.e., undigested food and acid) reflux back up into the throat to cause discomfort. It can result in hoarseness, coughing, and even pneumonia. A patient is often unaware of the episodes of reflux because they occur at night while sleeping. In fact, there are often acid reflux problems in patients suffering from sleep apnea and asthma. Sleep apnea can be dangerous or worse if not treated; in some situations, for example, it can cause a heart attack or some other significant complication. [8]