A person is said to have a hiatal hernia when his/her part of the stomach protrudes or niates, through the opening of the diaphragm and into the chest cavity.

The causes of hiatal hernia are poor diet, food allergies, weakness of stomach muscles, pregnancy, trauma to the stomach area, stress, and inherited tendency.

The symptoms of hiatal hernia are usually worse after eating, bending over or lying down, belching, pains and muscle spasms in the chest and acid reflux.