Hiatal hernias happen more often in women, people who are overweight, and people older than 50. Most people don’t notice symptoms of a hiatal hernia and don’t need treatment.

Hiatal hernias are common, affecting about 20 percent of people in the United States, and they tend to be more common in women. [ 11 ] Significant weight gain, obesity, or pregnancy may increase ...

Obesity is a risk factor for hiatal hernia. So is smoking. Friday morning, Wikipedia’s “Hiatus hernia” entry also listed “Laughing too hard while being Charlie Sheen” as a risk factor ...

However, some people with a hiatal hernia have an upward splashing of stomach acid into the esophagus. That's heartburn, or as it is medically called, GERD -- gastroesophageal reflux disease.

A hiatal hernia, which affects 50 percent of adults over age 50, won’t often directly cause pain. But it can lead to bothersome symptoms resembling g astroesophageal reflux disease (GERD ) .

At other times, a hiatal hernia produces GERD — gastroesophageal reflux — an upward spurting of acid and digestive juices from the stomach into the esophagus.

Hernias are a common ailment among Americans; more than 4 million people develop the painful condition. And although both men and women develop hernias, female patients may be harder to diagnose.

A hiatal hernia happens when the upper part of your stomach pushes up into your chest through an opening in your diaphragm. It can cause heartburn and other symptoms.