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
Dr. Farivar is a multiple time recipient of the Seattle Top Doctor Award and most recently received the 2023 Seattle Magazine Top Doc Award. Dr. Farivar has a broad-based thoracic surgery practice. He enjoys helping patients and their families through their healthcare journey. He takes great effort to incorporate the needs and beliefs of patients and their families in his treatment plans. Dr. Farivar has a particular interest in lung and esophageal disorders, including cancer treatment. He also has interests in the appropriate use of robotic surgery to address thoracic surgery pathology, as well as malignant pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Farivar is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. He is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hiatal Hernia, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Hernia, 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.
Swedish Thoracic Surgery - First Hill
Dr. Louie most recently received the 2024 Thoracic Surgery Top Doc designation and has received the Seattle Top Doc award for multiple consecutive years. Philosophy of care: Dr. Louie’s practice involves all aspects of general thoracic surgery including the lung, esophagus, stomach and mediastinum. He has particular interests in minimally invasive surgery that involves the use of laparoscopy, robotics and endoscopy for both cancer and non-cancerous diseases. He believes that care is about helping patients and their families understand their illness and guiding them in selecting treatment that is appropriate and individualized for the patient at his or her stage of life. Dr. Louie is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. He is also highly rated in 15 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hiatal Hernia, Diaphragmatic Hernia, Hernia, Hernia Surgery, and Endoscopy. Dr. Louie is board certified in American Board Of Surgery. Dr. Louie is currently accepting new patients.
Sjhmc Physician Services
The Center for Thoracic Disease and Transplantation at The Norton Thoracic Institute believes in treating all patients with dignity and respect.Using a multidisciplinary approach, the Center works to diagnose and treat some of the most complex thoracic and esophageal diseases in the Southwest through a team of physicians who provide patients with a plan of care.Patients receive treatment with state-of-the-art technology to ensure a full range of treatment options. We offer treatment and care in accordance with national guidelines. Dr. Mittal 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 Hiatal Hernia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hernia, Endoscopy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Mittal is board certified in Surgery General Surgery. Dr. Mittal is currently accepting new patients.
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 purpose of this study is to identify markers in the blood and tissue that could indicate risk factors for the development and progression of esophagus cancer. This research aims to collect medical history, blood, and tissue samples from patients who present with an esophageal disorder. Identifying genetic and behavioral risk factors involved in the development of esophageal cancer might allow ...
Summary: A prospective, retrospective, non-randomized, multicenter study with two independent hernia study cohorts (Ventral / Incisional Hernia Repair and Diaphragmatic / Hiatal Hernia Repair). The primary objective of this study is to collect GORE® ENFORM Biomaterial product commercial-use data on device functional performance and short-term patient experience.
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.