Does hiatal hernia cause shortness of breath?

Not usually: Hiatal hernias are usually without any symptoms. When they do cause symptoms, it is usually heartburn or gerd, gastroesophageal reflux disease. Sometimes nausea accompanies heartburn. Occasionally, people with severe heartburn may have a sensation of being out of breath, but it is not caused by an impairment of lung function.

Asthma-like symptoms: Some people with hiatal hernias may develop gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd), which usually causes heartburn. With severe gerd, stomach acid can reflux all the way up the esophagus and then down the trachea, causing asthma-like symptoms.

Rarely: If a hiatal hernia is very large, it may cause shortness of breath by impinging on the lungs. If the stomach gets caught in the chest through the hernia, this is a serious complication of a hital hernia and may lead to shortness of breath. Both of these scenarios are unlikley.

Likely scar tissue: The most likley reason is residual scar tissue left over from the blood that accumulated there. If the lump is soft and moves freely, it is likely nothing to be concerned about. However, i would show it to your doctor at your next scheduled visit.

Inreased Pressure: If you have a large abdominal content protuding thru the opening of the diaphram this may redue the capacity of the lung to expand causing shortness of breath.