A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through an opening of the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. This opening usually is large enough to accommodate the esophagus alone. With progressive weakening and enlargement, this opening can allow upward passage or even entrapment of the upper stomach above the diaphragm.

The presence of a hiatal hernia increases the risk of having GERD, and when GERD is treated surgically, patients who have accompanying hiatal hernias, need surgical repair for this also; That is the reason why some patients and doctors use the term hiatal hernia to mean GERD indistinctly, even though they are two separate problems. BUT there are many patients with GERD who do not have hiatal hernia, and many patients with hiatal hernia that do not have GERD at all. That is why we decided to add this section to complement the one for GERD.

A hiatal hernia is a common condition; by age 60, up to 60% of people have it at some degree.

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