Hiatus hernia is a condition that is more common than often realised, affecting individuals of various ages and backgrounds. This type of internal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest through a widened opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscular sheet separating the chest from the abdominal cavity. Sometimes, it can weaken, leading to the development of a hiatus hernia. 

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, consultant bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon, metaheal- laparoscopy and bariatric surgery centre, Mumbai, Saifee, Apollo and Namaha Hospitals, Mumbai, says, “This condition can be present from birth and may also occur due to factors such as weight lifting, severe constipation, chronic cough, or in the elderly and individuals with obesity.”