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Hernia (hiatus)
hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach bulges into the chest. It can cause severe heartburn but is treatable. A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, and the hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes. Hiatal hernias are classified into two main types: sliding hiatal hernias and paraesophageal hiatal hernias.