A hiatal hernia is the protrusion of the stomach upward into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm, according to Penn State University. The stomach is normally located in the abdomen. The diaphragm separates the chest from the...
The esophagus, which attaches to the stomach, is the portal where food passes through. The diaphragm is an opening in the chest cavity where the stomach and esophagus meet. When a gap forms in one body part and another body part goes through it, a...
The diaphram has a small opening, or hiatus, that allows the esophagus to pass food through to the stomach, according to MayoClinic.com. When a hiatal hernia is present, a small part of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphram opening....
A hiatal hernia happens when your stomach pokes up through the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest cavity, which can cause food and stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, according to MayoClinic.com. Many hiatal hernias are small...
A hiatal hernia is a medical condition in which part of the stomach juts up into the chest through a hole in the diaphragm muscle, due to a weakness in the muscle tissue of the diaphragm where the esophagus connects to the stomach. According to...
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach passes upward through an abnormally large opening--a hiatus--in the diaphragm, which is the drum-like muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is the primary muscle involved...
Alleviate some of the uncomfortable symptoms that are consistent with a hiatal hernia with over-the-counter and prescription medications. A hiatal hernia is a small hole in your diaphragm through which a small section of your stomach protrudes....
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a disease that causes stomach acid to escape back into the esophagus. The Mayo Clinic reports some common causes of GERD include diabetes, obesity, pregnancy and/or the presence of a hiatal hernia. In...
A hiatal hernia is a normal find for healthy people over the age of 50, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. A hiatal hernia can, however, contribute to acid reflux. Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD,...
A hiatal hernia is a medical condition in which the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm, often protruding through the diaphragm. While it can be asymptomatic, in some cases, it can cause irritating symptoms. And, if chronic irritation of...
People who have large hiatal hernias may experience symptoms that are similar to indigestion. A hiatal hernia occurs when a hole is created in your diaphragm and allows a small part of your stomach to poke through. When the hernia becomes...
Approximately 40 percent of Americans have a sliding hiatal hernia, according to 2006 information from the Merck Manual. The esophagus--the tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach--passes through an opening in the diaphragm, the sheet of...
Hiatal hernia is a weakening of the diaphragm that causes the stomach to move into the chest cavity. When the stomach moves into the chest cavity, it can cause pain and other symptoms that affect the stomach and esophagus. The signs and symptoms...
A hiatal hernia is a piece of the stomach that gets caught in a hole between the diaphragm and the esophagus. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who smoke and are over age 50 are more likely to develop hiatal hernias than younger non-smokers....
A hiatal hernia occurs when a segment of the stomach bulges into the chest cavity. The diaphragm, a sheet of muscle used for breathing, separates the abdominal and chest cavities. The condition is very common and often occurs in people age 50 and...
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of your stomach tissue pushes into your thorax, or the upper part of your torso. About 50 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have hiatal hernias, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription...
A hiatal hernia can cause significant amounts of pain in those affected. Some hiatal hernias are small and cause no symptoms at all, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, the large hiatal hernias can cause significant symptoms to the patient and...
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which upper part of the stomach pushes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. A hiatal hernia is caused by weakening of muscles that surround the hiatus opening. You are more likely to develop...
A diaphragmatic hernia, or hiatal hernia, occurs when a piece of a patient's stomach migrates up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm muscle. Women older than the age of 50 who smoke or are overweight are at the highest risk of...
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm's small opening, the hiatus, which is responsible for allowing the esophagus to pass through to the stomach. When a hiatal hernia occurs, the hiatus cannot...
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm. The hernia occurs from weakening of diaphragm muscles that prevent the stomach from bulging into the chest. A...
A hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality that occurs when a portion of your stomach pushes upward through the hiatus, a natural opening in your diaphragm. Hiatal hernias are common -- especially in adults over 50 years old -- and often cause...
Hiatal hernias occur when a portion of the stomach pushes up through a defect in the diaphragm. If the hiatal hernia becomes large, this condition causes food and acid to back up in esophagus, leading to acid reflux and heartburn, according to...
Hernias are areas of tissue that protrude through a weakened area of muscle. Most hernias occur along a portion of the abdominal wall. Risk factors for developing hernias include obesity, lifting heavy objects, constipation and pregnancy. Men...
The diaphragm has a small opening known as a hiatus that allows the esophagus to pass through and connect to the stomach. If the stomach pushes upwards through the hiatus, this is known as a hiatal hernia. Many risk factors can contribute to the...
If you have a hiatal hernia, you may question the conventional wisdom that exercise is good for you. When you have acute symptoms, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. Perhaps you have found that certain types of exercise make your...
A stomach hernia, also called a hiatal hernia, may cause you to feel uncomfortable. However, it shouldn't interfere with regular exercise. While you can't always know why this condition occurs, it is somewhat hereditary and is more prevalent in...
Hiatal hernias are characterized by parts of the stomach pushing through a hole in the diaphragm. The hiatus is a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the esophagus to attach to the stomach. However, in a case of hiatal hernia, the hiatus...
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach pokes through the diaphragm, according to the Mayo Clinic. The hiatus is the opening where the esophagus leads through the diaphragm and into the stomach. According to MedlinePlus, hiatal...
There are three types of hernias: inguinal, umbilical, and hiatal. Learn how to avoid getting a hernia from a certified personal trainer in this health video.