It is not felt to cause any significant symptoms by itself and usually requires no treatment. A paraesophageal hiatus hernia is very rare. As opposed to the sliding hernia, it should almost always be repaired surgically, even if it produces no symptoms, as it does pose a potential but significant threat to life. The condition which commonly causes problems is G astro E sophageal R eflux D isease, GERD for short. Since GERD almost always coexists with a hiatus hernia, these two conditions are often confused in popular speech.
People mistakenly complain of their hiatus hernia and speak of surgery to repair a hiatus hernia.
In some people this function is lost for poorly understood reasons. The gullet remains open and contents of the stomach flow freely back up toward and even into the mouth. A second, but perhaps even more common reason for GERD happens when the lower end of the gullet has normal closing pressures but just opens up much oftener than normal, allowing stomach acid into the gullet. Also very common is a sour taste or fluid in the back of the throat. There may be waterbrash .