A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and into the chest region. Normally, the stomach is below the diaphragm, but in people with a hiatal hernia, a portion of the stomach pushes up through the muscle. The opening it moves through is called a hiatus. This condition mostly occurs in people who are over 50 years of age. According to the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association, it affects up to 60% of people by the time when they’re 60 years old.
The exact cause of many hiatal hernias is not known. In some cases, injury or other damage may weaken muscle tissue. This makes it possible for the stomach to push through the diaphragm.
