Hiatus hernia is the term used to describe a condition where part of the stomach pushes up into the lower chest through a weakness in the ...InthisseriesInthisseries:AcidRefluxandOesophagitis(Heartburn)Barrett'sOesophagusBariumTests(Swallow,Meal,FollowThrough)InthisseriesAcidRefluxandOesophagitis(Heartburn)Barrett'sOesophagusBariumTests(Swallow,Meal,FollowThrough)Hiatusherniaisthetermusedtodescribeaconditionwherepartofthestomachpushesupintothelowerchestthroughaweaknessinthediaphragm.Thediaphragmisthelargeflatmusclethatseparatesthelungsfromthetummy(abdomen)andhelpsustobreathe.Noteveryonewithahiatusherniadevelopssymptoms.However,ifyouhaveahiatusherniayouaremorepronetorefluxacidintoyourgullet(oesophagus),whichcancauseheartburnandothersymptoms.Ifsymptomsdooccur,treatmentwithacid-suppressingmedicationusuallyworkswell.InthisarticleUnderstandingtheuppergutWhatisaherniaandwhatisahiatushernia?TypesofhiatusherniaWhatcauseshiatusherniaandhowcommonisit?Whatarethesymptomsofhiatushernia?Howisahiatusherniadiagnosed?Whatisthetreatmentofhiatushernia?Whatarethepossiblecomplicationsofahiatushernia?InThisArticleHiatusHerniaInthisarticleUnderstandingtheuppergutWhatisaherniaandwhatisahiatushernia?TypesofhiatusherniaWhatcauseshiatusherniaandhowcommonisit?Whatarethesymptomsofhiatushernia?Howisahiatusherniadiagnosed?Whatisthetreatmentofhiatushernia?Whatarethepossiblecomplicationsofahiatushernia?UnderstandingtheuppergutThegut(gastrointestinaltract)isthetubethatstartsatthemouthandendsatthebackpassage(anus).Theuppergutincludesthegullet(oesophagus),stomachandthefirstpartofthesmallintestine(theduodenum).Foodpassesdowntheoesophagusintothestomach.Thestomachmakesacidwhichhelpstodigestfood.Afterbeingmixedinthestomach,foodpassesintotheduodenumtobedigested.Thewallsofthestomachcontainmuscle.Atthejunctionofthestomachandtheoesophagusthereisathickenedareaofmusclewhichiscalledasphincter.Thesphincteractslikeavalve.Whenfoodcomesdowntheoesophagusintothestomach,thesphincterrelaxes.However,itclosesatothertimest