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The diaphragm: Anatomy and function

Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD Key Takeaways The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing. The diaphragm helps ...
A hiatal hernia is an enlarged opening in your diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle that contracts when you breathe. Organs in your belly push through this opening and into your chest. There are two main ...
Despite the scene in Friends where Joey develops an agonizing hernia, not all hernias are painful. A hiatal hernia, which affects 50 percent of adults over age 50, won’t often directly cause pain. But ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 74-year-old woman who is active and healthy. I recently had an endoscopy, and the findings were a hiatal hernia of about 5 centimeters with some inflammation. I have been having ...