How a Hiatal Hernia Is Treated
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper part of your stomach bulges through an opening in your diaphragm.1 Different types of hiatal hernia, such as a paraesophageal hernia, can require different treatments. A sliding hiatal hernia is the most common type.2
The diaphragm is the thin muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. When part of the lower esophagus (the tube that runs from the mouth into the stomach) pokes into the chest through the diaphragm, stomach acid can come up into the esophagus, which can lead to heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
