A hiatal hernia is what doctors call it when a part of the stomach moves up into the chest area. Normally, the stomach sits below the diaphragm, the layer of muscle that separates the organs within the chest from the organs within the belly, as per hiatal hernia doctor. The oesophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the abdomen, passes through a hole within the diaphragm. In people with a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes up through that hole, too.
There are two types of hiatal hernia:
- Sliding hernia – A sliding hernia happens when the top of the stomach and the lower part of the oesophagus squeeze up into the space above the diaphragm. This is the most common kind of hiatal hernia as per the hiatal hernia doctor.
- Paraesophageal hernia – A paraesophageal hernia happens when the top of the stomach squeezes up into the space above the diaphragm. this is not quite common, as per hiatal hernia doctor; however, it may be serious if the stomach folds upon itself. It also can cause injury to the stomach or bother respiratory function.