A hiatal hernia is a common medical condition where a portion of the upper stomach pushes through a hiatus, or opening, in the diaphragm muscle and into the chest. While it’s most common in older ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

A hiatal hernia occurs when a small portion of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm, a sheetlike muscle that separates the lungs from the abdomen. Usually this doesn't cause any symptoms, ...

A hiatal hernia can increase the risk of GERD, as the stomach’s upper part pushes into the chest cavity, hindering proper food passage and diaphragm pressure on the esophagus, which can lead to ...