Hiatal hernias resemble many other disorders and diseases in their symptoms and are difficult to diagnose. A hiatal hernia itself is rarely the issue. Rather, the symptoms are a result of gastric acid or air buildup. Many people will never need treatment for a hiatal hernia, while doctors may require others to lose weight or perform stress reduction exercises. If a doctor deems surgery necessary, the most common procedure requires laparoscopically wrapping part of the stomach around a portion of the esophagus to prevent herniation of the stomach.

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