Hiatal hernia: When treatment is needed

For older adults, a hiatal hernia is a fairly common extra finding when undergoing abdominal imaging, such as a CT scan, for another reason. For most people, this type of hernia doesn’t cause any problems. But if you develop symptoms such as frequent heartburn and acid reflux, you may need drug treatment, lifestyle adjustment or surgery — or a combination of options — to help manage your condition.

Your torso has two main sections, the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. These two cavities are separated by the diaphragm, a large, thin muscle that helps your body expand and contract as you breathe. The diaphragm is located just under the rib cage.

The diaphragm has an opening — called the hiatus — through which the esophagus passes before connecting to the stomach. Sometimes, the upper portion of the stomach can push up through the hiatal opening and into the chest cavity. This is called hiatal hernia or hiatus hernia.