Dear Dr. Roach: My father was recently diagnosed with a type 4 hiatal hernia. His doctor said that this can be very serious and he may need to have surgery to correct the problem. He's 85 years old.

A hiatal hernia is an enlarged opening in your diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle that contracts when you breathe. Organs in your belly push through this opening and into your chest. There are two main ...

A hernia hiatus occurs when the part of the stomach starts to squeeze through the diaphragm and then into the chest. The diaphragm is a thin sheet of muscles that is responsible for separating the ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...

A hiatal hernia occurs when a small portion of the stomach pushes upward through the diaphragm, a sheetlike muscle that separates the lungs from the abdomen. Usually this doesn't cause any symptoms, ...

While lifestyle changes can help treat hiatal hernias, it’s best to consult a doctor first. In some cases, you may need other treatment or surgery to remove it. Your diaphragm — which is your primary ...

Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD Key Takeaways The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing. The diaphragm helps ...

The co-occurrence of a giant Morgagni hernia (MH) and a large hiatal hernia (HH) is exceedingly rare. We describe key operative steps of simultaneous surgical treatment of a large MH and HH, including ...

Q: My father was recently diagnosed with a type 4 hiatal hernia. His doctor said that this can be very serious and he may need to have surgery to correct the problem. He’s 85 years old. Can you shed ...