Telephone: (617) 983-6712. Fax: (617) 983-6770. www.mass.gov/dph/fpp. The Massachusetts Food Protection Program, within Bureau of Environmental Health in the Department of Public Health, strives to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle wall that separates the stomach from the chest. The diaphragm helps keep acid from coming up into the esophagus. When you have a hiatal hernia, it's easier for the acid to come up. The leaking of acid from the stomach into the esophagus is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Add a Comment1 Comments. That is a very good question. A hiatal hernia results when part of your stomach pushes upward through your diaphragm. The diaphragm normally has a small opening called the hiatus. The esophagus or food tube passes through the hiatus to connect to the stomach. The stomach can push through this opening and cause a hiatal hernia. Generally, a small hiatal hernia does not cause problems. Often, it.