Signs and symptoms
... Most small hiatal hernias cause no problems at all. But larger hernias can contribute to heartburn and sometimes to belching or chest pain — common problems associated with gastroesophageal refl...

Causes
... Your chest cavity and abdomen are separated by your diaphragm — a large dome-shaped muscle that''s responsible for a good part of normal breathing. Your esophagus passes into your stomach throug...

When to seek medical advice
... Many people discover they have hiatal hernias when they see their doctor for another problem, such as heartburn. Most cases of heartburn are mild and temporary. But if your symptoms are severe, occur ...

Screening and diagnosis
... Your doctor may discover a hiatal hernia while trying to determine the cause of heartburn, or chest or upper abdominal pain. In that case, it''s likely to be found during one of the following procedur...