Hiatal Hernia
A hiatal hernia describes what happens when the upper portion of your stomach bulges through the diaphragm, which is the large muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. There is a small opening in the diaphragm, called the hiatus, and the esophagus passes through this opening before it connects to the stomach. When the stomach pushes through this opening and into the chest, hiatal hernia is the result.
If you have a minor hiatal hernia, you may never know. Larger hiatal hernias, on the other hand, can cause noticeable symptoms.
Common Symptoms
- “I had symptoms of acid reflux, and it felt like I was regurgitating food back into my mouth.”
- “I experienced heartburn, and I was having trouble swallowing food.”
- “I had chest pain and shortness of breath.ausea and vomiting.”