A hiatus hernia, also known as a hiatal hernia, is a medical condition that occurs when a part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. To understand a hiatus hernia, it’s helpful to know a bit about the anatomy involved:
The diaphragm is a large muscle that separates the chest cavity (containing the lungs and heart) from the abdominal cavity (containing the stomach, liver, intestines, etc.). There is an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus, through which the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) passes.
In a hiatus hernia, part of the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus and ends up in the chest cavity, above the diaphragm. This can happen for two primary reasons:
- Sliding Hiatus Hernia: This is the most common type. The junction between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) and a portion of the stomach slide up into the chest when pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, such as during swallowing or straining.
- Paraesophageal Hiatus Hernia: In this less common type, a portion of the stomach squeezes through the hiatus and lies alongside the esophagus, without the esophagus itself moving. This type can sometimes be more concerning, as there is a risk of the herniated stomach becoming strangulated (twisted) and causing blood supply issues.
Hiatus hernias can be caused by various factors, including age-related changes in the diaphragm, increased pressure in the abdominal cavity due to pregnancy or obesity, chronic coughing, lifting heavy objects, or persistent straining during bowel movements.
A hiatus hernia, also known as a hiatal hernia, is a medical condition that occurs when a part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. To understand a hiatus hernia, it’s helpful to know a bit about the anatomy involved:
The diaphragm is a large muscle that separates the chest cavity (containing the lungs and heart) from the abdominal cavity (containing the stomach, liver, intestines, etc.). There is an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus, through which the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) passes.
In a hiatus hernia, part of the upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus and ends up in the chest cavity, above the diaphragm. This can happen for two primary reasons:
- Sliding Hiatus Hernia: This is the most common type. The junction between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) and a portion of the stomach slide up into the chest when pressure in the abdominal cavity increases, such as during swallowing or straining.
- Paraesophageal Hiatus Hernia: In this less common type, a portion of the stomach squeezes through the hiatus and lies alongside the esophagus, without the esophagus itself moving. This type can sometimes be more concerning, as there is a risk of the herniated stomach becoming strangulated (twisted) and causing blood supply issues.
Hiatus hernias can be caused by various factors, including age-related changes in the diaphragm, increased pressure in the abdominal cavity due to pregnancy or obesity, chronic coughing, lifting heavy objects, or persistent straining during bowel movements.