Hiatal HerniaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that divides the chest from the abdomen.
Hernia - hiatal
The exact cause of hiatal hernia is not known. The condition may be due to weakness of the supporting tissue. Your risk for the problem goes up with age, obesity, and smoking. Hiatal hernias are very common. The problem occurs often in people over 50 years of age.
This condition may be linked to reflux (backflow) of gastric acid from the stomach into the esophagus.
Children with this condition are most often born with it (congenital). In infants, it often occurs with gastroesophageal reflux.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Heartburn, worse when bending over or lying down
- Swallowing difficulty
A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms. Pain and discomfort are due to the upward flow of stomach acid, air, or bile.
The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Treatments may include:
- Medicines to control stomach acid
- Endoscopic therapy to repair the hiatal hernia through upper GI endoscopy
- Surgery to repair the hiatal hernia and prevent reflux
Other measures to reduce symptoms include:
- Avoiding large or heavy meals
- Not lying down or bending over right after a meal
- Reducing weight and not smoking
- Raising the head of the bed 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters)
Rarely, if medicines and lifestyle measures do not help control symptoms, you may need surgery.
Swedish Thoracic Surgery - First Hill
Alexander Farivar is a Thoracic Surgeon practicing medicine in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Farivar is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hiatal Hernia, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Achalasia, Hernia Surgery, and Endoscopy. Dr. Farivar is board certified in American Board Of Surgery and American Board Of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Farivar is currently accepting new patients.
General Surgery - Froedtert Hospital
Jon Gould is a Bariatric Medicine specialist and a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Gould is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. He is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hiatal Hernia, Hernia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Gastric Bypass, and Endoscopy. Dr. Gould is board certified in Surgery. Dr. Gould is currently accepting new patients.
John Pandolfino is a Gastroenterologist practicing medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Pandolfino is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Achalasia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hiatal Hernia, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy. Dr. Pandolfino is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology (Certified).
Treatment can relieve most symptoms of hiatal hernia.
Complications may include:
- Pulmonary (lung) aspiration
- Slow bleeding and iron deficiency anemia (due to a large hernia)
- Strangulation (closing off) of the hernia (very uncommon)
Contact your health care provider if:
- You have symptoms of a hiatal hernia.
- You have a hiatal hernia and your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment.
- You develop new symptoms.
Controlling risk factors such as obesity may help prevent hiatal hernia.
Summary: The aim of this study is to find out if using a certain kind of mesh can reduce the chances of hiatal hernias coming back after anti-reflux surgery. Participants undergoing antireflux surgery will be assigned to one of two groups, a group that has surgery with mesh, or a group that has surgery without mesh.
Summary: This study will evaluate hiatal hernia recurrence rate and post-operative complications following the use of OviTex Core Resorbable or OviTex 1S Resorbable.
Published Date: April 21, 2025
Published By: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 129.
Richter JE, Vaezi MF. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.
Yates RB, Oelschlager BK. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 43.