Hiatal

What does "Hiatal" mean in a report or doctor's letter? In our medical dictionary, you will find a patient-friendly explanation of the meaning of this medical term.

Explanation

"Hiatal" in medicine refers to something related to a hiatus, which is a small opening or hole in a part of the body. Most commonly, it's used to describe a condition called a hiatal hernia. This is when a part of the stomach pushes up through a small opening in the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. This can cause discomfort and other symptoms like heartburn.

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