Question: What is a Hiatal Hernia?
Answer: A hernia occurs when an organ slips through the muscle wall that holds the organ in place. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm, and up into the chest. This opening is called the esophageal hiatus or diaphragmatic hiatus. Some people suffer from Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) because they have a hiatal hernia.
