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Hiatal Hernia Center - Altoona, PA

Altoona Gastroenterologist Doctors for Hiatal Hernia

Type of Physician: Gastroenterologist

What is a Gastroenterologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated.

Specialty: Gastroenterology

Common Name: GI Doctor

Gastroenterologist Doctors in Altoona *

Digestive Disorders Inc
Jonathan Grier
2525 9th Ave
STE 2A
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 941-7170

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Rajih A Alkhafaji
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Edmond Bouassaf
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Ronald J Brzana
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Lance C DeFrancisco
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Brian D Dodson
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Ralph D McKibbin
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

Blair Gastroenterology Associates
Todd E Stull
810 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814) 946-5469

James E Schall MD
James E Schall
12227 Warm Springs Ave
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-4876

Huntington Gastroenterology Associates
Michael F Gaugler
820 Bryan St
STE 1
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-1141

Huntington Gastroenterology Associates
Keith A Waddle
820 Bryan St
STE 1
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-1141

Digestive Health Physicians
Hira L Koul
321 Main St
STE 3F
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814) 535-1500

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Richard C Leib
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Premnath Narahari
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc
Rudolph Schilli
350 Southmont Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814) 535-2511

Geisinger Medical Group
Jeffrey L Lichtenstein
200 Scenery Dr
Gastroenterology FL 2nd
State College, PA 16801
(814) 231-6268

DMC Gastroenterology
Juan J Carrere
621 S Main St
Du Bois, PA 15801
(814) 371-0600

Mary Anne Barnicle MD
Mary Anne Barnicle
15 S 8th St
STE 300
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 463-8850

Shirish A Amin MD
Shirish A Amin
1265 Wayne Ave
119 Professional Ctr STE 301
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 465-6650

Juniata Valley Gastro Association
Charles W Everhart
310 Electric Ave
STE 100
Lewistown, PA 17044
(717) 242-2531

Juniata Valley Gastro Association
Joel B Haight
310 Electric Ave
STE 100
Lewistown, PA 17044
(717) 242-2531

Somerset Surgical Associates
Victor Novak
223 S Pleasant Ave
Med-Cor Ctr Bldg STE 302
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-2123

Mohammad J Saadat MD
Mohammad J Saadat
105 W Church St
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-5099

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Mark P Dobish
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
John G Enders
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Wayne C Hoover
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
M Farooq Khokhar
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd
Chad E Potteiger
835 5th Ave
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 263-0629

Chestnut Ridge Primary Care East
Chandrasekhara Rao Punukollu
555 Route 217
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724) 694-2723

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
Bruce A Bradley
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
David L Hykes
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
Douglas E Klions
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group
William J Provance
443 Frye Farm Rd
STE 200
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 532-2801

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Sarfraz Ahmad
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Robert DeJesus
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Rachelle Johns
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Juan A Lora
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Owais Rahim
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc
Rupam Sharan
545 Rugh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 836-5500

Pradeep Kumar MD
Pradeep Kumar
527 W Newton St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 837-8118

Digestive Disease Consultants
Kenneth A Glick
100 Park View Dr
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724) 545-7300

Digestive Disease Consultants
H David Lipsitz
100 Park View Dr
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724) 545-7300

Sannasie Chandrasekaran MD
Sannasie Chandrasekaran
828 W Main St
STE 1
Mount Pleasant, PA 15666
(724) 547-4148

Ronald P Cramer MD
Ronald P Cramer
713 Wood St
Clarion, PA 16214
(814) 227-2343

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Theodore F Berk
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Robert B Levy
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Gregory L Lewis
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Carlisle Digestive Disease
Jonathan Verrecchio
241 Alexander Spring Rd
Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 245-2228

Digestive Care Consultants PC
Balu B Shetty
8775 Norwin Ave
Ste 113 STE 113
Irwin, PA 15642
(724) 864-0503

Tarek Qutob MD
Tarek Qutob
1001 E 2nd St
Coudersport, PA 16915
(814) 274-9024

Rajesh Bajaj MD
Rajesh Bajaj
147 N Washington St
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 337-2684

Medical Gastroenterology Group
Richard Raizman
125 Daugherty Dr
FL 2
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 372-0210

Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC
Ernest L Sutton
125 Daughtery Dr
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 641-2164

Joel Kichler MD
Joel M Kichler
1 Kensington Sq
New Kensington, PA 15068
(724) 337-3531

Geoffrey D Block MD
Geoffrey D Block
831 Pittsburgh St
Springdale, PA 15144
(412) 826-9380

Mahesh Varindani MD
Mahesh Varindani
7555 Saltsburg Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 828-0100

Gastroenterology Associates
M Samir Ayasso
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Gastroenterology Associates
Michael Ennis
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Gastroenterology Associates
Farhad Ismail-Beigi
1000 Integrity Dr
STE 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
(412) 342-0036

Altoona, Pennsylvania

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Hiatal Hernia

What is a hiatal hernia?

A hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. Although hiatal hernias are present in approximately 15% of the population, they are associated with symptoms in only a minority of those afflicted.

Normally, the esophagus or food tube passes down through the chest, crosses the diaphragm, and enters the abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. Just below the diaphragm, the esophagus joins the stomach. In individuals with hiatal hernias, the opening of the esophageal hiatus (hiatal opening) is larger than normal, and a portion of the upper stomach slips up or passes (herniates) through the hiatus and into the chest. Although hiatal hernias are occasionally seen in infants where they probably have been present from birth, most hiatal hernias in adults are believed to have developed over many years.

What causes a hiatal hernia?

It is thought that hiatal hernias are caused by a larger-than-normal esophageal hiatus, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen; as a result of the large opening, part of the stomach "slips" into the chest. Other potentially contributing factors include:

  1. A permanent shortening of the esophagus (perhaps caused by inflammation and scarring from the reflux or regurgitation of stomach acid) which pulls the stomach up.
  2. An abnormally loose attachment of the esophagus to the diaphragm which allows the esophagus and stomach to slip upwards.

Are there different types of hiatal hernias?

Hiatal hernias are categorized as being either sliding or para-esophageal.

Sliding hiatal hernias

Sliding hiatal hernias, the mo...

Recommended Reading Related to Hiatal Hernia

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) »

GERD facts

  • GERD is a condition in which the acidified liquid content of the stomach up into the esophagus.
  • The causes of GERD include an abnormal lower esophageal sphincter, hiatal hernia, abnormal esophageal contractions, and slow emptying of the stomach.
  • GERD may damage the lining of the esophagus, thereby causing inflammation (esophagitis), although usually it does not.
  • The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea.
  • Complications of GERD include ulcers and strictures of the esophagus, Barrett's esophagus, cough and asthma, throat and laryngeal inflammation, inflammation and infection of the lungs, and collection of fluid in the sinuses and middle ear.
  • Barrett's esophagus is a pre-cancerous condition that requires periodic endoscopic surveillance for the development of cancer.
  • GERD may be diagnosed or evalua...

Emergency Contact for Altoona

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Altoona Hospitals *

Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus
2500 7th Ave
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)889-2011

Altoona Regional Hospital
620 Howard Ave
Altoona, PA 16601
(814)889-2011

James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center
2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)943-8164

HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital
2005 Valley View Blvd
Altoona, PA 16602
(814)944-3535

Nason Hospital
105 Nason Dr
Roaring Spring, PA 16673
(814)224-2141

Tyrone Hospital
One Hospital Dr
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814)684-1255

Miners Medical Center
290 Haida Ave
Hastings, PA 16646
(814)247-3100

J C Blair Memorial Hospital
1225 Warm Springs Ave
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814)643-2290

Windber Medical Center
600 Somerset Ave
Windber, PA 15963
(814)467-3000

Crichton Rehabilitation Center
320 Main St
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814)255-6800

Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus
320 Main St
Johnstown, PA 15901
(814)534-6000

Good Samaritan Medical Center
1020 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-9000

Memorial Medical Center
1086 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-9000

Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown
1086 Franklin St
Johnstown, PA 15905
(814)534-5000

UPMC Bedford Memorial
10455 Lincoln Hwy
Everett, PA 15537
(814)623-6161

Mount Nittany Medical Center
1800 E Park Ave
State College, PA 16803
(814)231-7000

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